Nothing but Trouble_ A Kevin Kerney Novel - Michael Mcgarrity [75]
They sat at the conference table, and Fitzmaurice, who had introduced Sara as his wife, took the lead.
“We’ve fallen in love with those Italian-style villas on Coast Road,” he said. “Surely someone might be tempted to sell.”
Quinn shook his head. “They rarely become available. I had a gentleman stop by earlier in the summer asking for the same inquiry to be made on his behalf, and it all came to naught.”
“Yet a resident we spoke to said one had sold recently.”
“Yes, to a client of mine,” Quinn replied, looking quite pleased with himself.
“To the gentleman you mentioned?” Fitzmaurice queried.
“No, to a woman. She’s hired a builder to refurbish it completely, once the planning council approves the architect’s plans. It’s a protected property, and nothing can be done until then. But I have other properties equally as charming you might wish to consider.”
“But nothing on Coast Road?” Fitzmaurice asked.
“Sadly, no,” Quinn said, with a shake of his head.
“That’s too bad,” Fitzmaurice said. “I suppose it’s all a question of timing, isn’t it?”
Quinn nodded in agreement. “The villa came on the market unexpectedly and I had a ready buyer.”
“A woman, you say?”
“Yes.”
“Tell us about the gentleman who inquired about the villa earlier in the summer.”
Quinn cocked his head and gave Fitzmaurice a sharp look. “What is this about?”
Fitzmaurice took out his Garda credentials, laid them on the table, and passed a photograph of George Spalding to Quinn. “Is this the gentleman in question?”
Quinn shifted his gaze from the photograph to Fitzmaurice and then to Sara.
“Please answer the question,” Sara said.
“Yes.”
“What name did he use?” Sara prodded.
“George McGuire.”
Fitzmaurice plucked the photograph from Quinn’s hand. “We know he purchased the property in Joséphine Paquette’s name, yet you said his inquiries came to naught.”
Quinn’s ruddy complexion deepened. “There is nothing improper about purchasing property to benefit another person.”
Fitzmaurice smiled as he slipped his Garda credentials into his pocket. “It’s just as you say, indeed. You’ve a keen sense of right and wrong, Liam. A very fine quality in an estate agent. But why did you lie to us?”
“I merely maintained a confidence. Mr. McGuire wished to preserve his anonymity by having the deed registered in Ms. Paquette’s name. He wishes to move to Dún Laoghaire without drawing attention to himself. That is not so uncommon as you might think. Some of the wealthy have an obsession with privacy.”
“Why didn’t you tell the police about McGuire?” Sara asked.
Quinn tugged at the collar of his shirt. “It didn’t seem to be of any consequence.”
Fitzmaurice glanced at the framed photograph on Quinn’s desk of a woman holding a chubby-cheeked infant. “Is that your family, Liam?”
Quinn nodded.
“It must be difficult to make your way as an auctioneer and estate agent and a family man running a business all on your own in such a competitive market. As I understand it, independents such as yourself constantly risk being either driven out of business or absorbed into the big national estate companies.”
“It’s been a very good spring and summer for sales,” Quinn replied stiffly.
Fitzmaurice leaned forward across the table. “Made even more profitable for you by a sum of money in your pocket not reported to the taxman?”
Quinn stood up. “I resent that.”
“Sit down, Mr. Quinn.” Fitzmaurice waited a beat for Quinn to comply. “What if I were to tell you that McGuire is an international fugitive who used ill-gotten gains to buy the villa?”
“I know nothing about that.”
“Of course not,” Fitzmaurice said, staring hard at Quinn. “The thought never entered your mind that McGuire might be attempting to hide criminal assets.”
“It is not my responsibility to determine the source of a client’s wealth,” Quinn replied sharply.
“I’m sure we can clear this up easily to everyone’s satisfaction,” Sara intervened with a smile. “Tell us about your dealings with Mr. McGuire.”
Quinn’s stormy expression cleared slightly. “He came to me three months ago asking about the villas.