Bloody Valentine Part 5

'No, but I wasn't here all morning. I had to fix a leak under the sink in the studio.'

'What time was that?' Ben reached for his notebook and pen.

'After Mrs Barnes left, because I was at my desk when she walked out.'

'Time?' Amy prompted.

'I went up after the post had been delivered at half past eleven and came down about quarter past twelve.'

'That's when you found the box on the desk?'

'Yes.'

'You didn't see who left it there?'

'I knew it had to be someone in the building. I locked the doors when I went up to the artists' studio, as I always do whenever I leave the desk.'

'What if anyone wants to come in?' Amy looked up from her notebook.

'The residents have their own key codes. Visitors can press the intercom.'

'You would have answered them?'

Ted produced a small box from under the desk. 'This is a receiver for the transmitter in the intercom. I always take it with me whenever I leave the foyer.

'If an officer comes looking for us, Mr Levett, we'll be interviewing Michael Barnes and Anni Jones,' Amy informed him.

'The sergeant wouldn't allow them into their studio or apartment. They're in the conference suite.'

'Are Michael Barnes and Anni Jones the only two residents in there?' Amy checked.

Before Ted could answer, a piercing scream came from the conference centre.

The door crashed back on its hinges.

'You'll have to kill me first.' A young woman rushed out, pursued by a young man and a constable.

Chapter Thirteen.

The constable and young man managed to subdue the woman. They escorted her back into the conference suite. Amy and Ben followed.

'Please, Miss Jones, calm yourself.' The constable blocked the doorway.

'You're threatening to destroy five years of my work and you're asking me to keep calm ...'

'Are you senior officers?' The man demanded.

'Inspector Amy Stuart and Sergeant Ben Miller,' Amy introduced herself and Ben.

'Your constables are threatening to smash my girlfriend's sculptures. They're preventing us from entering our studio. We have to deliver artwork to an exhibition. If we don't, it could cost us our reputations, as well as a great deal of money,' he raged.

'You are Mr Michael Barnes and Miss Anni Jones?'

'We are,' Michael retorted. 'Just what the h.e.l.l is going on?' Michael was a younger version of his brother slimmer, with sharper features. There was a suspicious expression in his eyes. Annoyance at being kept from his apartment and studio? Or something more sinister? Amy wondered.

'Please don't damage my sculptures,' Anni begged. 'I promised to deliver them to a Knightsbridge gallery today. If I don't, they could cancel my exhibition.'

'Have you any idea how compet.i.tive the art world is? Or how much work Anni has put in-'

Amy interrupted Michael. 'Have you seen your sister-in-law, or Mr Bruno Gambrini, or Mr Adrian Wills today?'

'No,' Michael snarled.

'You're sure?' Amy pressed.

'Of course I'm sure.' Michael raised his voice. 'We've only seen Jack today ...'

'When?'

'He gave us a hand to move one of our sculptures into the lift first thing ...'

'What time was "first thing"?'

Michael looked to Anni. 'Eight, eight thirty?'

'About then,' she agreed.

'Then what did you do?' Amy asked.

'We loaded our van ...'

'Is it kept in the garage here?' Ben looked up from his notebook.

'Yes.'

'Registration number?'

Michael rattled it off.

'Big van?'

'A transit. We need it to transport Anni's sculptures. They're life size.'

'How long did it take you to load up?' Amy continued the interview.

'An hour. We took four sculptures from the studio. That's as many as the van can take.'

'You drove away from the building, when?' Ben poised his pen over his notepad.

'Nine thirty,' Anni answered.

'You're very sure,' Amy commented.

'I checked my watch as we left. I remember telling Michael it was a good time to set off because we were missing the rush hour.'

'You drove straight to the gallery?' Amy checked.

'Straight there,' Michael echoed. 'Then we unloaded Anni's sculptures. She stayed to arrange them.'

'You didn't stay?' Ben looked up.

'The exhibition is Anni's, not mine. I drove to Hyde Park and walked our dog.' He pointed to a Pekinese lying under a chair.

'Where exactly did you go in the park?'

Michael lost his temper. 'What's this? You're not allowed to walk a dog in the park without telling the police ... ?'

In contrast to Michael, Amy kept cool. 'What time did you arrive at the gallery?'

'Ten o'clock.' It was Anni, not Michael, who spoke.

'Did you see anyone there?'

'Julie Harris, the owner, and her employees, George and Yolanda.' Again it was Anni who answered.

'What time did you leave?'

'Michael left about half past ten ...'

'I've had enough.' Michael declared. 'I'll not say another word until you tell me what this is about.'

'If you can't produce any witnesses as to your whereabouts this morning, would you like to continue this discussion at the police station?' Ben enquired.

'We arrived at the gallery at ten o'clock,' Anni answered for Michael. 'We had to wait ten minutes for a spot in the loading bay. Julie and her staff helped us unload. It took about half an hour. Afterwards, Michael left for the park. He returned at half past twelve. We drove back via Kensington Gardens. We found a parking s.p.a.ce, bought sandwiches and orange juice, had a picnic lunch, stayed about half an hour, then returned here.'

'Kensington Gardens is out of your way, isn't it?' Ben asked.

'Anni was envious of my walk in the park. She wanted to see something green. Is that a crime?' Michael was still fuming.

'Did you meet anyone you knew in the park or the gardens?' Amy checked.

'No.'

'Were there many people about?'

'Hyde Park on a dry Valentine's Day morning. Hundreds,' Michael glared at Ben. 'And the same goes for the gardens.'

Amy's mobile rang. She left the room, closed the door behind her and walked to the corner of the foyer furthest from the porter's desk. 'Amy Stuart.'

Patrick answered in his Irish lilt. 'We've had the DNA results on the heart.'

Chapter Fourteen.

'And ...?' It irritated Amy, having to ask.

'It's Zee Barnes.'

'Does Jack Barnes know?'

'Barbara Davies is on her way to him with Irene Conway, the family liaison officer.' Patrick ended the call. Amy switched off her mobile and looked through the gla.s.s panel. Michael was still shouting at Ben.

Ted's voice was low, apologetic. 'I'm sorry, Miss Leila. The police are searching the building. No one's allowed into their apartments.'

Amy turned to see the porter talking to a well-groomed woman in her forties. She could have posed for a fashion magazine aimed at the middle-aged.

'The police?' Leila repeated. 'What on earth are the police doing in the building?'

Amy went to the desk. 'I'll speak to Miss Barnes, Ted.'

Leila glared at Amy. 'And you are?'

'Inspector Amy Stuart. If you'll join me in the conference suite, I'll explain what's happening.'

'Join you?' Leila repeated in disgust. 'This is not your building, Inspector Stuart. You've no authority to issue invitations. I wish to go to my apartment. Now.'

'I need to speak to you first, Miss Barnes.' Amy opened the door of the conference suite. Ben was still trying to calm Michael. 'Miss Barnes, if you'd sit down please.'

'I don't want to sit-'

'For pity's sake, Leila, don't be your usual difficult self. Not with these people, or they'll keep us here for ever.' Michael snapped at his sister.

'No one's told me what's going on ...'

'Please sit down, Miss Barnes.' Amy glanced at Ben.

Leila sat three chairs away from her brother and his girlfriend.