Part 7 (2/2)

'No, you can't break open that sculpture. You'll kill it. I'll not allow it. It took me months ...'

'Don't you dare touch it.' Michael Barnes grabbed a constable, who was moving towards one of the sculptures that lined the studio walls.

'Everyone stop!' Amy shouted at the constables who were searching the room.

'We're being careful, ma'am,' Sergeant Reece rea.s.sured Amy.

'Those sculptures are a nightmare.' Ben stared at the life-sized pieces.

Amy gazed at the bronze and marble sculptures. 'The bronzes have been cast for some time.' She wrapped her fingers in a tissue and tapped the marble sculptures that depicted the same man and woman in a series of cla.s.sical poses. 'And these are solid. They're also excellent.'

'Now you're an art critic?' Michael mocked.

'No, but I studied fine art at college. You want to move these?'

'Some of them,' Anni confirmed.

'The bronze and marble sculptures can be moved, Sergeant Reece,' Amy said.

'And these? Your savages want to cut them open.' Michael indicated a row of colourful papier-mache fairytale figures. They ranged from witches, goblins and princesses to dwarves and giants. Like the bronzes and marble, all were life size.

'My children's range,' Anni explained.

'You sell them?' Ben was amazed.

'To toy shops, children's theatres, and to people who buy them for their children's rooms.'

Ben tapped a witch. It echoed hollowly.

'You damage it, you pay. They fetch over four thousand pounds each,' Michael warned.

'Want to cut them open?' Ben asked Amy.

'What on earth for?' Michael questioned angrily.

'We haven't found Zee's body.' Amy watched Michael and Anni as she spoke.

'If you haven't found her body, how do you know she's dead?' Michael demanded.

'I'm not at-'

'Liberty to divulge,' Michael finished for her.

Amy turned to Anni. 'There are joins down the side.'

'They're made in pieces and welded together with resin. Please don't damage them. As Michael said, I've put two years' work into this exhibition. The gallery owner picked out the pieces she wanted. I can't let her down by delivering an incomplete list.'

Amy thought for a moment. 'Can you see if we can get the dogs at short notice?'

'Cadaver or blood?' Ben asked.

'Both. Meanwhile, you can take out the marble and bronze sculptures,' she advised Michael and Anni, 'but none of these papier mache figures.'

'I can't wait for dogs. They have to be at the gallery tonight. I promised,' Anni pleaded.

'Then we cut them,' Amy declared. 'Your choice? What's it to be?'

'Will just one suit you?' Michael picked up a Stanley knife and inserted a blade.

'Michael ...' Anni began.

'If you want to get these to the exhibition, Anni, you're going to have to sacrifice one. Once these idiots see the weights inside them, they'll let the rest through.' He looked at Amy. 'Pick one, but only one.'

Chapter Eighteen.

Amy looked along the row. She chose a witch, simply because there were two similar sculptures.

Anni turned her face to the wall. 'I can't look.'

Michael sliced down the sides of the figure. He finished by lying it flat on its back and cutting round its head and feet before pulling the two halves apart. 'Satisfied?' he demanded of Amy.

Amy turned to the sergeant. 'Compare the weight of every papier-mache sculpture removed from this studio with that one. If any appear unusually heavy, leave it here.'

'Yes, ma'am.'

Amy and Ben returned to the incident room. Ben pulled up a couple of chairs and set them in front of Liam's desk. Exhausted, Amy sat between the men.

'This is the first sighting of Zee Barnes, ma'am.' Liam slowed the tape.

Amy watched the door of the penthouse open. Zee emerged. A shadowy figure was in the doorway behind her. 'Her cleaner?'

'Sara Hilger,' Ben noted the time in the corner of the screen. 'Eleven oh-one a.m.'

The door closed. Zee walked to the lift and pressed the b.u.t.ton. As Amy had feared, she found the images disturbing. She wanted to wind the clock back. To stand in front of Zee and demand that she return to her apartment and safety.

'Zee entering the lift, riding down one floor,' Liam commented.

The image of Zee in the lift wasn't as clear as the one in the hall. The film was grainy. Zee was wearing a light-coloured suit. Her blonde hair appeared paler than her clothes, her handbag and shoes darker.

'Leaving the lift on the floor below her apartment,' Liam continued.

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