Bloody Valentine - James Patterson [27]
‘Nice work if you can get it,’ Ben commented.
‘I don’t need my brother’s money,’ Michael agreed.
‘And your sisters?’
‘Our father left money in trust for Mamie. Leila gave up nursing to care for her when our parents were killed. I have no idea how much is in the trust. I’ve never asked. Jack supplements it. I asked him if he wanted me to contribute. He didn’t.’
‘Do you know if your brother has made a will?’ Amy saw Michael hesitate. ‘I’m asking you because I’d rather not press Jack at the moment.’
‘Before he married Jodie, I was executor and a beneficiary along with Leila and Mamie. After he married, he changed his will in Jodie’s favour. When she died, he reverted to his original will, which he changed again when he married Zee. His last will favoured Zee and the child she was carrying.’
Amy closed the interview. ‘Thank you, Mr Barnes.’
Ted had been cautioned and was under guard in his apartment. Damian was at the porter’s desk. Skinny, pale-faced, he looked like a man who seldom ventured out into fresh air. He glanced at the photograph of Ted’s shirt that Amy was showing him.
‘Ted wore it the day before yesterday.’
‘Are you sure?’ Ben questioned.
‘Positive,’ Damian retorted. ‘The guy only has five shirts and he bought three of those from the charity shop after he started work here. There’s blood on it.’
‘We noticed,’ Ben said dryly.
‘Surely you can’t think …’
‘What, Mr Clark?’ Amy asked.
‘Ted worshipped Mrs Barnes. If it hadn’t been for her persuading Mr Barnes to give Ted a job and flat, he’d be in a hostel, or living rough.’
‘You like Ted?’
‘Not when I first met him. I’d seen him selling The Big Issue. I thought Mrs Barnes had picked him up because she felt sorry for him. The way some people take in stray dogs. Ted knew what I thought of him because I wasn’t very welcoming, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work. He took on the dirty jobs from his first day: collecting the rubbish, putting out the bins, checking the chemicals in the pool, and if I want an hour or two off, he’s always willing to cover for me.’
‘You’re trying to tell us Ted Levett is a nice man who isn’t capable of murder.’
‘I’m a writer, Sergeant Miller. I study people,’ Damian said pompously. ‘I believe we’re all capable of murder if we’re threatened, but there’s no way Ted Levett killed Mrs Barnes. He thought too much of her.’
‘Thank you,’ Amy ended the interview.
‘Do you want to interview Ted Levett?’ Ben asked Amy.
‘Not before I interview Mamie Barnes.’
‘Why Mamie?’
‘I’ve been told people with Down’s Syndrome don’t lie. I thought I’d test the theory.’
Chapter Twenty-three
The constable on duty outside the penthouse opened the door when Amy and Ben approached.
Irene Conway met them in the hall. ‘Michael, Leila and Jack’s secretary, Alice, are with Jack in the den. Mamie’s in the living room. Anni went to the gallery.’
Amy entered the living room. Mamie was sitting on a sofa holding a rose and Valentine card.
‘Hello, Mamie.’
‘You know my name?’
‘I’m Amy Stuart, this is Ben Miller. We’re police officers.’
‘You’re here because someone did something bad to Zee, aren’t you, Amy?’
Amy hesitated, unsure what Mamie had been told.
‘Zee gave me these.’ Mamie held up the card and rose.
‘They’re lovely, Mamie.’
‘Please sit down.’ Mamie had been taught to play the hostess.
Amy and Ben sat on a sofa opposite Mamie.
‘Is Zee dead?’
‘What did your brothers and sister tell you?’ Amy asked cautiously.
‘That Zee’s in heaven and I won’t see her any more.’
‘That’s right, Mamie,’ Amy answered.
‘I liked Zee.’ Mamie paused. ‘Now Jack hasn’t a wife again. Jodie, his first wife, was nice like Zee. She used to take me to the park.’ Mamie’s eyes filled with tears. ‘She died.’ Mamie fumbled beneath her blouse. ‘Jodie gave me something