Bloody Valentine - James Patterson [4]
‘To write another book?’ Jack asked. Damian worked the night shift so he could write his science fiction and horror books in peace – although he had yet to sell one.
‘Just started a new one, Mr Barnes.’ Damian disappeared down the stairs leading to the basement apartments that he and Ted occupied.
‘There’s a leak under the sink in Michael and Anni’s studio, Ted. Look at it after you’ve taken in the post. If you can’t fix it, call a plumber.’
‘Will do, Mr Barnes.’
Jack stepped outside. He loved London. The old buildings, the newspaper boys and stalls on street corners.
The twenty-minute walk to his office above his flagship restaurant in Soho was his ‘thinking time’. Given the plans he was making for his romantic weekend with Zee, he was enjoying his thoughts.
Jack heard Adrian as he turned the corner. Every chef who worked for him had a voice louder than a rock star and a vile temper. He wondered if the profession attracted angry people, or if they became that way after working in hot kitchens.
He entered the restaurant. Adrian was standing outside the kitchen door, the staff crowding around him, open-mouthed, listening to his every word.
Chapter Three
Adrian was an excellent mimic and sounded more like Bruno than Bruno. ‘I’ll follow you in ten minutes,’ Adrian boomed in Bruno’s voice before reverting to his own. ‘That’s what Bruno said when I left the apartment. Ten minutes! That was three hours ago. Bruno was lying in bed then and I bet that’s where Bruno is now. Leaving me to do all the work.’
‘You have a problem, Adrian?’ Jack asked.
‘I have a big problem, Mr Barnes. His name is Bruno. He wouldn’t get out of bed this morning.’
Jack looked at the junior chefs and waitresses. ‘All of you, back to work,’ he ordered. They walked away, but Jack knew from the silence that they were still listening.
‘Is Bruno ill?’ Jack asked.
‘He complained he had a headache. I gave him two aspirin and he said he’d follow me. But …’ Adrian flung his arms wide. ‘Where is he?’
‘Bruno doesn’t often have headaches,’ Jack commented. ‘I’ll phone the apartment and check he’s all right.’
‘There’s no point,’ Adrian argued. ‘He’s not answering the telephone and he’s switched off his mobile. He never gets up when he has a brandy headache.’
‘A brandy headache?’ Jack repeated. ‘Bruno was drunk last night?’
‘He was.’
‘Bruno doesn’t drink on work nights.’
‘Not usually,’ Adrian confirmed. ‘But someone sent him a bottle yesterday.’
‘Who?’
‘The note was signed, “Grateful customer”. It was sent to the kitchen before we closed. I knew there’d be trouble when Bruno took it home. I supervised the cleaning here. When I got back to Barnes Building, Bruno was watching TV and the bottle was half empty. I went to bed. When I got up this morning, I looked for the bottle and there was only this much –’ Adrian put his finger and thumb close together ‘left in the bottom. After what Bruno drank, he won’t want to get up this afternoon, this evening, or tomorrow morning either.’
‘I’ll leave a message on his voicemail and send a messenger to make sure it’s only a hangover,’ Jack said. ‘Can you cope? Or should I send for agency staff?’
Adrian tossed his head in the air. ‘Agency staff can’t tell a carrot from an onion, and I’ve yet to work with one who can boil an egg. I’ll just have to cope.’
Jack knew better than to contradict a chef. ‘If you need help, see me. I’ll be in the office all morning.’
‘You won’t forget to send a messenger to Bruno, Mr Barnes?’
‘I won’t.’ Jack pressed the lift button.
Jack’s main office was on the top floor of the block and as expensively furnished as his penthouse.
‘Happy Valentine’s Day,’ Jack’s secretary, Alice, greeted him when he walked into reception. ‘Your messages are on your desk with the letters you need to sign. I’ve called up your e-mails. They’re on screen. Would you like coffee?’
‘Please, Alice. Then get me the chauffeur-driven limousine firm we use and the hotel in Helford Creek I’ve booked.’
‘If you want to arrange champagne