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Chapter 9: A Visit to a Law Firm

On Friday morning, Nikola put on her most business-like pants suit and headed out. She found the law firm's address by calling information, and arrived there shortly before eleven o'clock. The offices were located in an ultra-modern glass and steel office building, with over fifty floors and four banks of elevators. The lobby bustled with activity, and it took Nikola several minutes to locate the building's directory. Once she did, she learned that the firm occupied the entire thirty-second floor. She proceeded to the appropriate elevator bank and rode up. When she arrived, the elevator doors opened onto a large glass wall with double doors in the center, through which she could see the reception area.

 The modern luxurious reception area consisted of leather furniture surrounding a receptionist's desk over deep pile carpeting. Original pieces of abstract modern art adorned the walls of the reception area, as well as the hallway behind it. The hushed atmosphere had an air of quiet efficiency that seemed designed to impress, or perhaps even intimidate. When Nikola entered, the receptionist inspected her before issuing any greeting. The receptionist's expression informed Nikola that her attire was not quite up to the firm's dress code. Nikola smiled nervously at the older woman's disdain, trying to look more confident than she felt.

"Excuse me, but I'm looking for a lawyer that I believe works here. I'm afraid I've forgotten his name, but it's very important that I find him. Would it be all right if I describe him to you?" she inquired.

"Go ahead," the receptionist replied, raising an eyebrow.

"He's in his mid-sixties, medium height, walks with a cane, thin..."

"I'm afraid there's no one here answering to that description," the receptionist interrupted crisply.

"But he must be. I absolutely must find him and I know he's associated with this firm somehow..."

"I am quite sure that he is not a lawyer here. I've been here for over five years and I can tell you absolutely that the only lawyer we have here over sixty does not carry a cane and is rather well rounded. I'm afraid you have the wrong firm."

"Oh, I see," Nikola said, at a loss for what to do next. "Well, I'm sorry to have disturbed you." She backed out of the main glass doors and stood in front of the bank of elevators for a while, without calling one. She refused to give up so easily and forced herself to think of a new approach. She decided to go back in and try a more honest tactic.

"Back so soon?" the receptionist asked when she saw Nikola come back in.

"Yes. You see, my name is Nikola Hesse. I am an artist. This firm has been buying quite a few of my paintings over the years and I'd like to know why. If it's at all possible, I'd like to speak with whoever is responsible. I would like to know who the new owner of my paintings is."

The receptionist eyed Nikola suspiciously, and said, "I'll see what I can do. Please have a seat. What was your name again?"

"Nikola Hesse."

"Okay, I'll find out about it."

The woman at the desk made a phone call and about ten minutes later a tall, well-proportioned, middle-aged man with sandy-blonde hair came into the reception area and approached Nikola. He shook her hand and introduced himself.

"Hello, I'm Scott Foley, a partner here at Morse, Chester. Why don't you come into my office and maybe I can help you."

"Thank you. I'm pleased to meet you."

"Likewise."

Nikola followed him down a series of hallways. She carefully inspected the artwork in the halls, a mixture of prints and original paintings, mostly abstract. She didn't see any of her own paintings. By this point, she really didn't expect to, but she had to check. The question was, where were they?

Mr. Foley led her into an impressive office lined with books. He closed the door behind them, and asked, "What can I do for you?"

Nikola, unsure of how to start, hesitated for a few moments before speaking. She felt slightly uncomfortable in front of this man, who seemed in complete control of himself and his surroundings. Finally, she gathered the courage to speak, and, once again, she went for the direct approach.

"This firm has purchased quite a few of my paintings over the years, and I came to ask for the name and address of the person responsible. I would like to thank him or her for their patronage and, with their permission of course, add them to my mailing list, so they can get news of future exhibitions." Nikola was almost breathless after this speech, but she was afraid to breath too deeply and let her anxiety show. She wanted this visit to appear completely casual.

"I'm sorry, Miss Hesse, but we cannot reveal the name of our client. He has requested anonymity and we must respect his wishes."

"But I like to keep track of my paintings. It's my right to know if they're exhibited and that they're properly taken care of."

"I'm afraid, legally, in this country your rights are quite limited once you sell a painting. You do, of course still retain the copyright, and I can assure you that it will not be infringed upon."

"I was just concerned about them, that's all," Nikola said, frustrated by his pat responses.

"You have nothing to worry about. Our client is a true art lover, he takes excellent care of his paintings, and hangs them in his home for his own enjoyment. He has no plans to exhibit them or re-sell them. And, as for your mailing list, feel free to send exhibition announcements here, to my attention. I'll see to it that our client receives them. Here's my card."

With that, he dismissed Nikola from his office and ended the discussion. She could think of no further objections, so she took his card and left. Disappointed with her trip, she felt as if she had no more information than when she arrived. The one thing she did find out was that the man Martha described didn't work for the law firm, which meant that he must be the client himself. However, she didn't think that there was anything she could do with the sketchy physical description. There were probably thousands of men who fit it, and she didn't know where to begin to look.

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