by Andrew Grey
Gerald glanced at Dieter to make sure he was okay, and his only reaction was a hard look in his eyes that only Gerald would probably understand. “We understand that. What we're hoping to find are some interesting stories that will help add life and interest to our work. Many works of art make quite a journey before they arrive home, and it's some of those stories and the facts behind them that we're interested in.” Gerald felt the bullshit flow off his tongue like water off a duck's back. He knew if he let on to their true purpose, the archive doors would close and lock faster than a stripper could remove his Velcro pants.
"There are some things I can help you with,” Hanna explained as they got settled at one of the tables. “When the Nazis entered a country, they'd done their research. They already knew what was in the museums and they also found out where the important private collections were located. Two of the largest collections in Vienna at the time were the Mintz and the Meinauer collections. While the soldiers were parading around the Ringstrasse, teams were already entering those residences to confiscate the art. We could start there. Some of the works ended up here. The works from the Mintz collection that were in the museum's collection at that time were returned to the family after the war. The works from the Meinauer collection were left to the museum, so they remain here.” She walked to the catalog and pulled out a drawer. “I believe we have the inventory lists from a number of these private collections,” she explained and began to search for a few minutes. “I'll be right back. These lists might be a place for you to start."
As soon as she was gone, Dieter moved to sit in the chair next to Gerald. “You lied to her,” he whispered.
"No, I didn't. I just bent the truth a little. We are researching the journey of looted art, just the trip of some very specific pieces. She doesn't need to know that,” Gerald cautioned.
"But she seems so nice,” Dieter countered innocently.
"She probably is. But she's also an employee of the Ministry of Culture, the same ministry that denied your Gram's claim. And if she had an inkling of why we were really here, she'd tell her supervisors, and we'd find ourselves outside this room and this building in no time flat,” Gerald told Dieter a little more harshly than he meant and saw him flinch a little. “Sorry. Remember that we're here for your case, and I'm here as a lawyer doing research. I may have to say things or do things that you may not agree with, but know I'm doing them for your benefit."
"Can I ask you about them?” Dieter inquired, biting his lower lip nervously, and Gerald wondered if bringing him along was such a good idea.
"When we're alone, you can ask me anything at all."
Hanna returned, wearing gloves, carrying a book. She gave each of them a set of gloves that she had them put them on before setting the book on the table and carefully opening it.
"These are some of the German records from 1936 to 1940 that relate to their artistic endeavors.” She carefully turned the pages until she found what she wanted. “Here's the list of items from the Mintz collection and their disposition.” She pointed down the handwritten page. “These eight works ended up here because they weren't of interest to the Germans. These were taken into the Reich collection. That was their euphemism that meant they ended up with Goering, Himmler, or one of the other officials, and these two were presented to Hitler himself. It also lists all pertinent information about the work."
"Would it be possible to get a copy of this list?” Gerald asked, seeing a flicker of confusion in Dieter's eyes.
"Of course. I need to make them on a special copier so it doesn't degrade the paper. If this is for research, would you like an official copy? Each one is five Euros."
"That would be fine."
"Would you like to see the other lists?"
"If I could,” Gerald replied, hiding his excitement.
Hanna slowly turned some additional pages. “This is the list of items from the Meinauer collection,” Hanna explained, and Gerald saw Dieter perk up and he shot him a quick warning glance. “You can see the disposition of these paintings as well. There are twelve still in the collection, and the others were taken into German hands. Would you like a copy of this as well?"
Gerald explained that he would, and they continued through another, smaller collection and Gerald had a copy made of that list as well. When Hanna left, Gerald smiled at Dieter before concentrating on the tack he wanted to take. Hanna returned with the copies, each bearing an impressed seal, and Gerald handed Dieter the lists. “Let's pick one of these and see what we can find.” Gerald hoped Dieter would get the idea, and he seemed to, shuffling through the pages before handing her the page that listed the work from his family's collection. “If we can get what we need from this today, we can move on tomorrow,” Gerald explained, hoping Dieter understood.
"I'll see what I can find,” Hanna said, and hurried to check the catalogs before entering something in a computer. “It'll be a few minutes because the materials are not bound like these.” After awhile she left the room, and Dieter scoured the list of his family's collection.
"I feel dishonest,” he said softly.
"Shhh,” Gerald said. “Remember, we'll talk later."
They waited quite awhile this time, and Gerald asked Dieter questions about the paintings from his family's collection that were still in the museum and made notes so they could be researched further. When Hanna returned, she brought another man with her, and he sat at another table and began asking her questions. Eventually Hanna brought a folder to them, setting it on the table before explaining to them the rules for handling the documents.
Following her instructions, Dieter opened the folder and carefully removed the first document. “This is the detailed description of each artwork,” Dieter explained before turning the pages slowly, one after another.
"We'll need those,” Gerald said, thankful he had plenty of Euros in his pocket, because the bill for copying was going to be enormous. “What's that?"
"The letter from Anna,” Dieter answered his hand shaking slightly as he held the letter in his great-grandmother's handwriting.
"Read it if you like, but we have a copy already,” Gerald explained, reminding himself to add that letter to the lawsuit as well.
"No, this one is different. There's a second page that wasn't copied, and it seems rather personal,” Dieter explained softly, adding the letter to the documents to be copied before carefully looking through the rest of the file.
There was plenty of information, but other than the additional paintings they hadn't been aware of, they hadn't found anything that would really aid their case. When they'd looked through the files, Hanna returned, and they asked for copies of what they needed, and when she returned she informed them that she would be going to lunch in an hour and that the research library closed for the day at that time.
Dieter began asking her questions in German, and at first she shook her head, but then Dieter must have hit on something because she nodded and went to the catalogs once again.
Dieter explained to Gerald, “I asked her if the information was filed under the paintings rather than the family. At first she said no, but when I asked if they kept records by artist, she agreed to look. I don't know if there is anything, but we can try."
Hanna helped the others in the room, and they waited, the clock ticking down until closing time. Finally, she returned with another folio. “These are some documents on our Pirktls. I'll be back to make any copies you need in fifteen minutes, and then I have to close."
Gerald nodded. “Danke,” Gerald said with a smile as Dieter began looking through the documents. There wasn't time to read them in detail, but Dieter said that some of the documents appeared to reference The Woman in Blue, so Gerald made a command decision and had the entire folio copied, knowing he was probably throwing away the money, but what the hell. They could come back tomorrow to follow up on anything else, and they needed to look into the other collections to maintain their cover. Gerald knew that even though Hanna was being professiona
lly helpful, she was also monitoring every document they looked at. Hanna made the copies, and Gerald paid her almost two hundred Euros for them before thanking her and placing the copies in his case.
By the time they left, both he and Dieter were shivering from the temperature controls in the research room, and Gerald turned his head toward the sun when they reached the street. “Let's get something to eat, and then we can visit the museum.” Gerald knew Dieter was anxious to actually see his great-grandmother's portrait.
"What about your bag?” Dieter asked. “Shouldn't we take it back to the hotel?"
"I can check it at the museum,” Gerald said as they walked toward what appeared to be a business district nearby and found a small restaurant for lunch.
Inside, Dieter took over, speaking to the maitre d', and they were seated near the window. The menus were in German, so Dieter translated for him. “I'd like the schnitzel,” Gerald told Dieter, and he ordered for both of them when their server came to the table.
"I ordered you one of the local beers too,” Dieter said, and the server brought tall glasses of a light-colored beer that went down smoothly when he tasted it. “How do you think it went?” Dieter asked when the server was gone.
"Pretty well, I think. We got a lot of information, but we'll need to figure out what we have so we can determine what we need to try to find tomorrow.” Gerald took another drink of his beer. “Is there anything you want to talk about?"
"Yes, but I'm not sure how,” Dieter told him, looking concerned. “I know you were being a good lawyer, but I have difficulties when I see you act like the hard-edged lawyer because I can't reconcile it with the sweet, caring man I slept with two nights ago.” Dieter took another gulp of his beer, and Gerald could see the conflict behind Dieter's eyes. “You're doing this for me, I really do know that, and you're trying to get me what I want, I know that, too, but I sort of wonder which is the real you.” Dieter set down his glass, and Gerald felt Dieter's gaze bore into his eyes.
"They're both me, sort of. The caring person you know is very much me, as is the lawyer. I guess the best I can say is that the lawyer in me loves to win, and the rest of me feels like he already has,” Gerald tried to explain. “I want you to think about this. I told Hanna a story based on the truth today. I did it so we could get the information we needed. I understand that you may not like what I did, but we found out a number of things. Your grandmother appealed to the Ministry of Culture to get back what was rightfully hers, and they used only part of the story to deny her claim. What we're trying to do is get the rest of the story.” Gerald lowered his voice, not that anyone was listening, but he didn't want to appear harsh. Dieter's questions were valid, and he needed to know the truth. “We're not asking for access to information that isn't available to other people, and we're not stealing it. We just need to know what they know. And we got some good news today. They have more than just the five paintings, and the so-called letter that they're basing their claim of ownership on is a little note from Anna to Joseph explaining her wishes. It's not legal or binding. Joseph was free to decide what he wanted, and he never donated the paintings, so their claims are pretty weak."
"I guess you're right,” Dieter said, but he didn't sound very convinced. “You've never treated me in any way but wonderfully."
"And I promise I'll always try to treat you that way. But there will be times when I go into lawyer mode, though I'll try not to do it when it's just us.” Gerald reached across the table and lightly touched Dieter's hand. “You don't have to be afraid."
"I'm not really afraid. It's just that everything's so new, I keep wondering if it's for real. It seems so easy, too easy, maybe,” Dieter said, but he didn't continue when the server brought their plates. “Let's eat and we can go back to the museum. And when we get back to the hotel, we can take a look at those papers we had copied.” Dieter took a bite of his veal, and Gerald tried his own dish as well. “I shouldn't be so sensitive."
Gerald swallowed and took a drink of beer. “You're a good person, and you see that same goodness in others. It's one of the things I really like about you. So don't change, just try to understand, and I'll do the same,” Gerald explained.
"Okay,” Dieter replied with a half-smile, and they continued their lunch. “Is there anything planned for this evening?"
"Once we've reviewed the documents, the time is ours. I thought we could take the subway to the city center, and I thought we could walk part of the Ringstrasse one evening. I'm really going to need your help with these documents. I have no idea what they are, and unless we can determine what we have, I can't figure out what we need."
"Then after we look through the museum, let's go back to the room and get the work done. That's why we're here, after all. Once we're done, we can look around the city. The lawyer's right,” Dieter said, giving him a wink, “we need to get the work done first. Just don't get a big head and start thinking the lawyer's always right."
Gerald smiled. If Dieter could joke, then maybe he was beginning to understand. Dieter was his boyfriend and his client; maybe that wasn't the most ideal situation, but he wasn't willing to give up either one of those right now. They continued talking as they finished their lunch.
"I'm so full, I think I need to walk around for the next few hours,” Dieter commented happily, a huge, satisfied smile on his face as they left the restaurant.
"Are you feeling better?” Gerald asked, still a little unsettled about their earlier conversation. He was a good attorney, he knew that, and he also knew from some of the stories in the office that the job could take over your life. He could feel a bit of that threatening already, and he was determined not to let that happen. He liked having someone wonderful in his life, and he was becoming convinced that his Mr. Wonderful was Dieter. He also knew that he had to be who he was. He just hoped that Dieter could accept that.
"Yes. I think so,” Dieter said as they walked back toward the museum, “and I'm beginning to realize that there's more to you than just the kind person I know. Not that I'm disappointed. In fact, I should have expected it. We met in your office, and I wanted you on my case because you cared and because you're a good lawyer. I shouldn't fault you for doing your job well."
"I know it can be difficult. Half the people in my office are divorced, some more than once. I asked Steven, one of the partners, about it once, and he told me that success comes with a price,” Gerald explained as he moved closer to Dieter. “I've always hoped I wouldn't be one of those people who paid that price and sold their soul for their job."
Dieter stopped walking and turned toward him, an unreadable look on his face. “What if I'm the price?"
"Then it's too high,” Gerald said, the words tumbling out before he could think about them. Other people walked around them on the sidewalk as Gerald stared back into Dieter's eyes. He seemed to be looking for something, and Gerald hoped he found it.
"You're serious,” Dieter commented softly.
"Yes. I won't lie to you or just tell you what you want to hear. That's not who I am. I may have to bend the truth sometimes in order to help my clients, but I don't lie, and I won't lie to you,” Gerald said firmly, but with a slight smile he hoped softened the message. Gerald wasn't angry with Dieter, he just hoped he would understand. “Would you like to go inside?"
Dieter nodded and they climbed the steps, entering the museum once again. This time, Gerald stood in line to check his case, making sure it was locked before handing it over, and after paying the entrance fee, he and Dieter walked into the museum.
Like the Louvre, this museum had once been a palace, and the setting for the Austrian paintings was spectacular, with baroque decoration of the walls almost as breathtaking as the art. They walked through room after room, quietly looking at each painting before moving on. With each room they saw, Gerald could feel Dieter's expectations and excitement rise until they walked into the room with four Pirktl landscapes hanging on the walls.
Dieter stopped, staring at each pain
ting in turn. “They're beautiful,” Dieter murmured so softly Gerald barely heard him.
Gerald had purchased a guide and he opened it, finding the pages that explained the paintings. “It says these landscapes were commissioned by a prominent Austrian family and that they were the only four landscapes he ever completed. The scenes are from the wood outside Vienna where the Meinauer family once had property. Each painting depicts the same stand of trees from different angles at different times of year.” Gerald stopped reading as he joined Dieter in staring at the canvases. They weren't massive, by any means, but they weren't small, and having seen where they originally hung in one of Dieter's photographs, Gerald knew they had been painted for a specific location.
"Can you imagine the lights, music, glittering jewelry, and gorgeous gowns as people danced in the ballroom where these paintings hung?” Gerald looked away from the paintings and saw that Dieter's eyes were closed, as if he were imagining the scene, and slowly Dieter's head began to nod, his eyes sliding open the way they did first thing in the morning.
"They're spectacular. I thought the portrait would be moving, but I wasn't expecting these to be so beautiful. They're the same and yet different,” Dieter told him without taking his eyes off the canvases. “It's the same group of trees, and each painting is serene and you can almost hear the wind and the rustling of leaves or the muffled sound of the snow, and yet, each one is different. The vibrancy of spring, the lushness of summer, autumn's last burst of color, and winter's quiet beauty. I know it sounds cliche, but it's not.” Dieter tilted his head, looking at the depiction of spring. “It looks like the trees are happy, sort of dancing, and in summer, look at this limb, you can almost imagine it swinging back and forth, sort of like the trees are fanning themselves from the heat. They're almost playful.” Gerald stepped next to Dieter, afraid to touch him or disturb him in any way. Eventually, he felt Dieter move closer, and Gerald touched his arm lightly. “I think I'm ready to move on,” Dieter said, but as they left the room, Gerald saw Dieter look back at the paintings.