Michelle McPhee

The guy at the center of all the activity, a guy named Brian Quinn.

The guy at the center of all the activity, a guy named Brian Quinn.

So this bubblegum gangster was treating R&D like his own personal strip club. Sara was immediately drawn to him. His brashness, his confidence.

So this bubblegum gangster was treating R&D like his own personal strip club. Sara was immediately drawn to him. His brashness, his confidence.

The first year or so that Sarah and Brian knew each other, they weren't close, but they'd often run into each other.

The first year or so that Sarah and Brian knew each other, they weren't close, but they'd often run into each other.

It's something I started to notice about Sarah. She's a girl who likes to live a few drinks deep. Brian Quinn, for his part, is one of those guys that no one really knows what he does. The kind of guy who seemed to have a lot of secrets, but everyone knows his name.

It's something I started to notice about Sarah. She's a girl who likes to live a few drinks deep. Brian Quinn, for his part, is one of those guys that no one really knows what he does. The kind of guy who seemed to have a lot of secrets, but everyone knows his name.

Pelican Hill is a resort in the O.C.,

Pelican Hill is a resort in the O.C.,

I've actually been there myself. The rooms are exquisite, with private little yards and a sprawling golf course. Very classy. But the restaurant is where the action is. Sitting at the bar at its old-school steakhouse-y restaurant, I could definitely pick out the resort guests from the full-time residence by how the Italian bartender was pouring their wine.

I've actually been there myself. The rooms are exquisite, with private little yards and a sprawling golf course. Very classy. But the restaurant is where the action is. Sitting at the bar at its old-school steakhouse-y restaurant, I could definitely pick out the resort guests from the full-time residence by how the Italian bartender was pouring their wine.

And yet, this was the place where Sarah said you could find Brian Quinn dancing shirtless on the bar. Who was this guy?

And yet, this was the place where Sarah said you could find Brian Quinn dancing shirtless on the bar. Who was this guy?

Sarah saw something in Brian, a freedom she envied, a swagger she wanted. He was like my brother. You know, we became fast friends. They started talking and found out that they had both lived in Rancho Santa Fe, a fancy town where Sarah's parents used to live on a golf course.

Sarah saw something in Brian, a freedom she envied, a swagger she wanted. He was like my brother. You know, we became fast friends. They started talking and found out that they had both lived in Rancho Santa Fe, a fancy town where Sarah's parents used to live on a golf course.

Now, Sarah said she heard the rumors that Brian was a crook, allegedly. But that didn't stop her and Gerard from doing business with him.

Now, Sarah said she heard the rumors that Brian was a crook, allegedly. But that didn't stop her and Gerard from doing business with him.

Sarah was looking for excitement and money. How she got there was less important. And something else about her. She can be taken in. By money for sure, but most definitely by personality. Brian's charisma overpowered doubts some people had about whether this guy was a legitimate businessman.

Sarah was looking for excitement and money. How she got there was less important. And something else about her. She can be taken in. By money for sure, but most definitely by personality. Brian's charisma overpowered doubts some people had about whether this guy was a legitimate businessman.