A Paw-sible Theory

“I gave an order to a cat, and the cat gave it to its tail.”

––Chinese Proverb

CHAPTER TWENTY: A Crook or Whistle Blower

Tired and hungry, I was profoundly grateful that Hunter was able to interview George Lucas at Antiques & Designs instead of his home. I had accompanied Alyx to Lucas’s house once or twice and I knew that George lived in a rural area outside the city limits. There were a few farms and some homes, mostly on large tracts of land––some large enough to have horses. His house was a modest two-story home with a detached garage and a large shed separate from the house. A long, dirt driveway led to the house, guarded by gigantic Florida pines. The large shed was full of broken furniture, pieces of furniture, lumber and a large inventory of architectural items. In contrast to the shed, the living room was clean, uncluttered, and tastefully decorated. He had told Alyx that very few pieces were authentic––the rest were reissues or reconstructed. Some parts were authentic, some parts not.

Luckily, I did not have to travel so far out today. The two men were settled at one of the antique tables in the front showroom. I listened in from behind a potted palm.

“I read an article in the Times,” said George, “that said the hot market for modernist furniture is calling into question the authenticity of the pieces as they are rebuilt, repainted, reproduced, or newly assembled. I read that a twentieth-century trestle table sold for over three million dollars. I’d hate to be the owner of that piece and then discover that it wasn’t authentic.”

Hunter asked him if he used authentic parts to reconstruct the items he sold.

“Yes, I do, but not just with modern pieces, I also do it with antiques and other pieces of furniture.”

George quickly provided an explanation.

“Antiques & Designs’ customers are fully aware of what they’re buying. I put a sticker on the back of each piece I work on, with my signature and an explanation of what was done to the piece.”

“Do you have other clients besides Antiques & Designs?” asked the lawyer, checking his ever-present recorder.

“I’ve had other clients in the past. Lately, I just work for myself––selling at flea markets and shows, and Antiques & Designs.”

“Did your other clients disclose the origins of the pieces they sold?”

“I prefer not to answer that, if you don’t mind. Buyer beware has always been understood with antiques and it’s the same now with modernist furniture.”

“How long have you known Alyx?”

“We’ve run into each other at antique fairs and estate sales for years, and she always made a purchase or two at antique shows and fairs for just as long.”

“Do you tell all your customers about the authenticity of your pieces?”

A terse, “Yes, I do,” was his answer.

“Do you know anything that might help Ethan’s case? Anything you heard or saw that seemed unusual?”

“I regret to say, no.”

“What about Antiques & Designs’ other employees? Ever hear them discuss any grievances?”

He shook his head. “I never heard them say one derogatory word about Alyx or Maggie. Customers here are treated well and seem to appreciate it, as far as I know.”

“Just to make sure I have this right––you and Alyx never argued about making customers aware of the authenticity of the pieces you worked on?”

George stood up. “No, there has never been a question about it, and if you don’t mind I have a lot of work to finish.”

The interview was obviously over. Hunter turned off the recorder and handed Lucas his card. “It’s my job to ask unpleasant questions. Please call me if you have anything to add to our conversation, and thank you for your time.”

Hunter received a call from his assistant as George left the room and I gathered from the one-way conversation that Dan Ramsey had agreed to see him on short notice.