Bloody Valentine - James Patterson [9]
No time to think. The killer pulled one of the knives from the bag and stabbed him.
Chapter Eight
‘Urgent delivery for Mr Barnes.’ The messenger, with his motorbike helmet under his arm, dropped a cardboard box on to Alice’s desk. He handed her an electronic pad.
Alice scribbled her signature. ‘I never get this right. It looks as though a spider has crawled across the glass.’
‘Beats me how they read them,’ the courier agreed. ‘See you.’
Alice picked up the box and glanced at the clock. The meat suppliers had been in with Jack for an hour, which was the time limit he set on business meetings. She knocked on his door.
‘Come in.’ Jack was standing shaking hands with his visitors.
‘You won’t regret increasing your order, Mr Barnes.’
‘I hope I won’t. Alice, would you see my visitors out please?’
‘This way,’ Alice smiled at them before ushering them out of Jack’s office.
Jack saw the parcel Alice had left on his desk. He’d seen a small box in a Harrod’s bag in Zee’s handbag when she’d left it open, but he’d thought she’d give him her Valentine gift at lunch.
He took a pair of scissors from his desk drawer and cut through the strip that fastened the box. Inside was a beautifully wrapped package.
‘It’s a shame to untie that bow.’ Alice was in the open doorway.
‘Zee’s good at presentation,’ Jack commented.
‘It’s wonderful to see two people so in love.’
‘Enough of your teasing, Alice.’
‘I wasn’t teasing. Just jealous.’ She waited while Jack cut through the ribbon.
‘This is like the children’s game, pass the parcel.’ Jack removed the heart-strewn wrapping paper to reveal a plastic box.
‘Zee’s making sure you receive whatever it is in one piece.’
Jack prised the lid from the box. His eyes widened. He stepped back and crashed into the wall.
Alice moved closer, turned pale and retched.
Chapter Nine
Jack read the label on the bloody lump of flesh in the box.
ZEE BROKE MY HEART SO I TOOK HERS. BUT YOUR NAME WAS ON IT. YOU CAN KEEP IT.
The initials JB were scratched into the muscle below the flag.
‘I’ll phone the police.’ Alice picked up the receiver.
‘No,’ Jack whispered hoarsely. ‘Not until after you’ve phoned Zee.’
Sergeant Ben Miller tossed the Valentine card that Inspector Amy Stuart had given him aside. ‘Valentines are supposed to be secret, not handed over in person.’
‘Given the way you avoid people, especially women people, were you expecting a card from a secret admirer?’ Amy demanded.
‘I lead a full private life.’
Amy looked Ben in the eye. ‘You do?’
‘I do,’ he repeated. ‘And, what’s this?’ He held up a voucher folded into the card. ‘What’s a one-legged man supposed to do with six free sessions in the gym?’
‘Get fit,’ Amy suggested through a mouthful of hot dog.
‘Like you?’ Ben mocked. ‘I’ve never known a woman eat so much junk food.’
‘That’s why I go to the gym every morning. To work off the calories. Dare you to meet me there at six o’clock tomorrow morning?’ she asked.
‘The way you two argue, anyone would think you’ve been married for years.’ Superintendent Davies joined them at their desks.
‘Try uncle and niece,’ Ben corrected.
Amy’s father had worked with Ben Miller for fifteen years. The car crash that had cost Ben Miller his leg had killed Amy’s father. Ben had taken a year to recover. When he’d returned to the force, he’d had to fight to remain on active service. Amy had fought alongside him, arguing that Ben’s brains weren’t affected by his missing limb.
‘More like annoying interfering uncle and despairing niece, ma’am. You have a case for us?’ Amy pushed the last of her hot dog into her mouth.
‘A case, or a sick practical joke,’ Barbara Davies answered. ‘Someone sent Jack Barnes a heart.’
Amy wiped her hands on a tissue. ‘Jack Barnes. The restaurant owner Jack Barnes?’ Jack Barnes wasn’t only an entrepreneur and owner of a chain of restaurants. He was a popular celebrity who ‘guested’ on TV shows. Amy had seen him several times. He was always witty, amusing and well informed about whatever topic was being discussed.
‘That Jack Barnes,’ Barbara confirmed.
‘It’s