Bloody Valentine - James Patterson [3]
His younger brother, Michael, lived below him and Zee, with his girlfriend Anni. As they were both artists, Jack had turned the floor below their apartment into a studio where they worked.
When Jack reached the studio floor, he saw Michael and Anni carrying one of Anni’s life-sized sculptures into the lift.
‘Need help?’ Jack asked.
‘Don’t we always when Anni wants to move one of these?’ Michael was breathless.
Jack took the sculpture’s feet. ‘What’s this one stuffed with? Dead bodies or iron bars?’
‘Dead body, Jack. They’re easier to turn into sculptures.’ Anni had an odd sense of humour.
‘Dead body with wings. A fairy or angel?’
‘Angel. It’s going to my solo exhibition in the Knightsbridge gallery.’
‘Zee and I are looking forward to the opening.’
‘We’ll take it from here, Jack.’ Michael pushed the sculpture into the lift.
‘The leak,’ Anni reminded Michael.
Michael led Jack into the studio and showed him a pool of water under the sink. ‘The pipe’s split. If it’s not fixed, the water will drip through on to Leila and Mamie’s ceiling.’
‘I’ll ask the porter to see to it. If he can’t sort it, he’ll have to call a plumber.’
‘How’s Zee?’ Michael asked as they walked back to the lift.
‘Happy, growing. They both are.’
‘Anni and I can’t wait to be an aunt and uncle.’
‘Fatherhood can’t come soon enough for me.’ Jack left them and walked down to the next floor.
The apartment on that level was occupied by his older sister Leila and his youngest sister Mamie. Leila was in her early forties, Mamie, who had Down’s Syndrome, seventeen. Their front door opened when he reached the landing.
‘You two look smart,’ Jack complimented. ‘Going somewhere special?’
‘The whole school’s going to the matinee of Hamlet in the Aldwych.’ Mamie was eager to tell Jack about her outing.
‘You going as well?’ Jack asked Leila.
‘No. I have a committee meeting.’
‘Which charity?’ Their parents had been killed in a car accident ten years before. Leila had given up her nursing career to care for Mamie. When Mamie left primary for secondary school, Leila had taken up charity work to fill the time that Mamie spent in school. Jack had lost count of the number of causes she supported.
‘Cancer Research. We’re organising a sponsored cycle ride.’
‘You’ll sponsor me, Jack?’ Mamie asked.
‘Of course,’ he promised. ‘So will Zee.’
‘We must go, Mamie, or you’ll be late.’ Leila pressed the lift button. ‘Is Zee over her morning sickness, Jack?’
‘She hasn’t thrown up for a week.’
‘That’s good. Have you asked if it’s a boy or a girl?’ Leila checked.
‘No, and we won’t. It’ll spoil the surprise.’
Jack ran down to the next level. No sound came from the apartment. It was occupied by the senior chef he employed, Bruno Gambrini, and his partner, sous chef Adrian Wills. Bruno created recipes for Jack’s chain of restaurants. Jack assumed that both of them would have been at work for hours.
The next floor housed the communal gym and swimming pool. Jack continued down the stairs and into the foyer that opened on to the street. Most of the area was taken up by a conference centre, with offices and en-suite guest rooms.
‘Good morning, Mr Barnes,’ the night porter greeted him.
‘Day porter not on yet, Damian?’ Jack looked around for Ted Levett.
Zee had been at school with Ted but had lost touch. Three months ago she’d seen him selling the Big Issue outside a tube station. Ted had abandoned his medical studies and was living in a hostel after his release from prison for drug dealing. He told her he’d been in rehab and was ‘clean’.
Zee had persuaded Jack to employ Ted. But Jack had made it clear, even after three months of satisfactory work, that Ted was still ‘on trial’.
‘I’m here, Mr Barnes.’ Ted appeared on the stairs that led down to the basement. ‘I’ve been checking the chemicals in the swimming pool.’
‘Are they all right?’ Jack was concerned because Zee used the pool.
‘Everything’s fine. You can swim any time.’
‘If you’ve nothing