Bloody Valentine - James Patterson [19]
‘Did Jack say anything to you about Zee’s relationship with Ted?’ Amy set her notebook on the desk.
‘No. I think he ignored it because in his eyes Zee could do no wrong.’
‘Are you saying he was faithful to Zee but not to Jodie?’ Amy checked.
‘Jack was besotted with Zee but I doubt he was faithful to her. It’s not in his nature. He doesn’t only have an office above his restaurant. There’s an apartment with a hot tub and luxury bedroom and bathroom. Possibly he takes his women there.’
‘You’ve seen it?’ Ben was surprised.
‘Mamie and I stayed there for a few nights when the heating failed in our apartment last winter. But, as I said, Jack’s always been the same. He’ll chase after any woman who flashes a smile and a thigh. I think that’s why he encouraged Jodie to buy a place she could retreat to in Wales when he was working – or so he claimed.’
‘Why Wales?’ Amy was curious.
‘Jodie had family there. Jack thought it would be a good idea for her to have her own place close to her mother.’
‘Was Jodie happy about it?’ Ben queried.
‘She didn’t complain, but Jodie was a saint compared to Zee. Pretty, educated, she’d lectured in ancient history before marrying Jack. Zee was a waitress; a nobody when she flung herself at Jack.’
‘Your brother must have thought something of Zee to marry her,’ Ben commented.
‘As I said, he married her only after she told him she was pregnant. He showered her with presents. Gave her a credit card and paid the bills every month. Money was no object after Zee moved in with Jack.’
‘Did Jack complain about Zee’s spending?’
‘I keep telling you, Inspector, he was blind to her faults, but I saw through her. She tried to take over my charity work. Asked if she could help, then claimed credit for my efforts. Well, I wasn’t having that. That’s why I wouldn’t answer the door to her this morning …’ Leila faltered.
‘You knew Zee knocked on your door this morning, yet you didn’t answer it?’ Amy recalled the roses and cards that Zee had delivered to everyone.
‘I knew it was Zee. Anyone coming in from outside would have been announced on the intercom by the doorman. I looked through the spyhole, saw her standing there and walked away. I have better things to do with my time than waste it on Zee.’
Amy looked up at a knock on the door. ‘Come in.’
‘Sergeant Reece is asking if you can come upstairs immediately, ma’am. It’s urgent.’
Chapter Seventeen
Amy and Ben heard the shouting before the lift doors opened on to the studio floor.
‘Damn, I forgot about the sculptures.’ Amy ran into the studio. Sergeant Reece was speaking slowly, calmly – in contrast to Anni Jones, who was hysterical.
‘No, you can’t break open that sculpture. You’ll kill it. I’ll not allow it. It took me months …’
‘Don’t you dare touch it.’ Michael Barnes grabbed a constable, who was moving towards one of the sculptures that lined the studio walls.
‘Everyone stop!’ Amy shouted at the constables who were searching the room.
‘We’re being careful, ma’am,’ Sergeant Reece reassured Amy.
‘Those sculptures are a nightmare.’ Ben stared at the life-sized pieces.
Amy gazed at the bronze and marble sculptures. ‘The bronzes have been cast for some time.’ She wrapped her fingers in a tissue and tapped the marble sculptures that depicted the same man and woman in a series of classical poses. ‘And these are solid. They’re also excellent.’
‘Now you’re an art critic?’ Michael mocked.
‘No, but I studied fine art at college. You want to move these?’
‘Some of them,’ Anni confirmed.
‘The bronze and marble sculptures can be moved, Sergeant Reece,’ Amy said.
‘And these? Your savages want to cut them open.’ Michael indicated a row of colourful papier-mâché fairytale figures. They ranged from witches, goblins and princesses to dwarves and giants. Like the bronzes and marble, all