Chapter 12
Zak drove up in the DCI limo exactly on time. Simon Urquet gave Matt and Zoé a final briefing on the way to the precinct, after checking that Matt was certain he didn't feel confused following his injury in Central Park.
The interview was loud and unpleasant, and Matt felt relieved that Simon Urquet was there to give them support. The interview included signing statements, fingerprinting, and giving blood samples and a DNA swab.
"Mr. Rider," said the lieutenant who was interviewing them, "we've now made enquiries, and have no reason to believe that your baby was snatched in Central Park."
"But," Matt protested, "there are witnesses."
"Witnesses? There are no witnesses. We think you and your wife could be in this together, and you've been extremely devious in faking a kidnap. I suggest that you dropped your baby off some time after you left the clinic yesterday evening. Maybe dropped him in a dumpster. We're searching every garbage bin and dumpster between the clinic and your hotel. We see no point in searching Central Park any further. Besides, we're short of manpower at the moment. All of Manhattan is under the tightest security."
"That is ridiculous," Zoé shouted. "We took a cab from the clinic straight to the hotel. How else could we have got back to the hotel so quickly if we walked? It is several blocks."
"Calm down, Mrs. Rider. You could have taken two cabs. Got the first one to drop you in an area with a lot of restaurants, killed the kid and dumped him, then caught another cab back to the hotel. We're still trying to track down the buggy driver Mr. Rider says he spoke to in Central Park. If he really exists."
Zoé reacted angrily to the accusations. "The hotel, they saw us with baby Jack when we got back from the clinic. And he cried in the night. He could not have done that if he was not there."
"And what do reception say about this morning?" Matt demanded. "They saw me take our baby out for a walk. The receptionist even wished me good morning. And the buggy driver in Central Park noticed Jack."
The lieutenant shook his head. "We've had statements from the evening receptionist and the morning staff. All they saw was a bundle the size of a baby in the sling on your wife's front in the evening, and the same with you in the morning, Mr. Rider. No one reported hearing a baby crying in the night. As I said, a devious trick."
"Let me ask you a simple question, lieutenant." Matt turned to Simon Urquet who nodded to him to continue. "Who mugged me in Central Park?"
The lieutenant held up his hands. "You could have pretended to be hurt and dazed."
"Someone hit me. There's a lump on the back of my head to prove it."
"You could have lain down and deliberately knocked your head on the ground."
Simon Urquet intervened and asked the lieutenant if he had any proof that this had happened. Had anyone seen Matt injuring himself? Was there someone more senior available to continue the interview? The lieutenant shook his head. No, the hostage situation was deemed more important.
Two hours later they emerged feeling mentally battered, unsure if the police believed their story or not.
"What do you think?" Matt asked Simon Urquet as they got into the limo.
The DCI lawyer took a deep breath. "I spoke to the lieutenant as we were leaving, and he gave nothing away. I think the police will be keeping a close eye on you, to see what you do next. Or maybe not, if the hostage situation in Wall Street isn't resolved quickly. Extra patrols covering the whole of Manhattan has diverted a considerable number of police resources. It looks like the terrorists will be dug in for a few days while they negotiate."
Simon Urquet came in with them when they reached Valdieri's church. Matt and Zoé shared the news of the grueling interview with the ex-archbishop.
"Has anyone told the clinic that Jack isn't coming for treatment today?" Matt asked.
"I phoned them this morning when you were resting," Zoé said. "I should have told you. But why are we here? We should be out looking for Jack."
Matt jumped to his feet so quickly that his head began to throb. He wasn't over his concussion as quickly as he'd imagined. "You're right. Where exactly was I mugged?"
"By the Pond in Central Park," Zoé said, sounding almost enthusiastic. "Very close to the road. That is why the police and the ambulance and everyone else were able to get to you so quickly when Vicky phoned for help. I think we ought to go there and look for clues."
Matt unfolded his map. "Can Zak drop us off there now?"
Urquet nodded. "Actually, that sounds like a good idea. If the police are watching, they'll be less suspicious than if you stay here doing nothing for the rest of the day."
"If I may, I'd like to come with you," Valdieri said, with what looked like a gleam in his eye.
"Thanks," Matt said. "That's a really good idea, if you can spare the time. It might save me from another mugging. You look much more like a New Yorker than we do."
Valdieri smiled. "That, of course, is the idea."
Zak and Urquet dropped them close to the rocks where Matt had been mugged. A couple of police officers were some distance away, poking around with sticks in the undergrowth, but there was no sign of a full search being underway. Perhaps it had already happened.
Matt knew it was no use looking for crime scene tape. Zoé suggested they make their way right round the Pond and keep their eyes open.
Reaching the other side, Matt stood looking at his surroundings. "I came straight to the Pond from the hotel over there, and... Ducks, of course. I was standing by those rocks and... Oh no!"
Zoé tried to hold onto him as he ran forward and flung himself into the water. A few quick strokes and he was by the bed of reeds, clutching a white bundle
"Hey, you in the water." A large black man wearing a navy track suit appeared from nowhere. "You're not allowed to swim here."
Matt waded to the bank with a filthy white bundle in his arms. He could easily have walked there to recover ... what? An old blanket?"
"I thought it was Jack," he said, spitting several times to clear the water from his mouth. It tasted sour. "It was completely under the water, but I could see something that didn't look like it belonged. It proves the police aren't doing much of a search for Jack."
Zoé took the blanket and threw it back where it landed in the reeds again. The ducks had long gone, scared by the massive splash made by Matt.
"You can't do that," the large man said. "It's not my business, but there are laws in this park about litter. There are cops up there. Don't let them catch you doing that."
Valdieri came forward. "She was only putting it back where it came from."
"Hey," said the man pointing at Zoé, "aren't you the mom with the baby with the bad eyes? I saw you on the box last night."
Valdieri now came between the man and Zoé, while Matt stood dripping wet on the bank. "You must leave us," Valdieri said. "These people have had a shock."
"Hey, have they had a problem with a baby? Only I've heard the buggy drivers talking about a man who got mugged and a baby got taken." He pointed first at Zoé and then Matt. He sounded almost excited. "Hey, was that you guys?"
"Just move on," Valdieri said firmly.
Matt thought that if Valdieri had spoken this firmly while in the Vatican, it was no wonder he'd managed to get the Pope to Tourvillon for treatment in the spite of much internal opposition.
"Look, guys," the man said, "I was a cop once. Maybe I could help. I'm a security guard now, but I know a thing or two about tracing missing people."
A crackpot, Matt thought, but he didn't say it. He just wanted the man to go away so that he could return to Valdieri's church and change his clothes. Not that he had any with him. They were all in their room at the hotel. Maybe Valdieri could help with clothing, but hopefully not with cast-offs from a flea-ridden homeless man.
Eyes of the Innocent Page 14
