Eyes of the Innocent

by Christopher Wright

  ***

  Matt found a budget hotel in Alexandria, but not the one where Zoé had been eyed so enthusiastically by the young men. It had a private parking lot round the back, away from police eyes. The rooms were good enough for him and Zoé, and would probably do for Stephen Valdieri and Lauren. It came as no surprise that Valdieri had asked for separate rooms. He wouldn't have expected anything else.

  For much of the afternoon he lay side by side with Zoé on the extremely large and comfortable bed, his arm around Zoé protectively. Zoé slept fitfully, occasionally waking with a little shudder. Each time she woke up, he made soothing noises that soon got her back to sleep.

  Just before four o'clock Matt woke Zoé, and to his surprise she spent some time in front of the mirror brushing her hair and applying make-up.

  Valdieri was already waiting with Lauren outside the station when they arrived. Valdieri was wearing a black suit with a clerical collar on a purple silk shirt. Matt did a double take. Perhaps once an archbishop it was a case of always an archbishop. Valdieri didn't seem to have handed in his kit when he left the Vatican. This was good. There was nothing like power-dressing to impress people. Lauren wore a plain blue dress and heels.

  Back at the hotel, as soon as Valdieri and Lauren had dropped the things off in their rooms, they met in Matt and Zoé's room where Matt showed them the photographs.

  "You realize don't you, Matt," Valdieri said, "that you are about to make a very serious accusation. I've spoken with your friend Simon Urquet, and he advises that your accusations are tenuous in the extreme. All you have is Zoé's belief that she recognized your baby's cry."

  "You're right," Matt agreed, "but I'm a private eye. I'm trained to be suspicious. I was with the police once. I went along with Zoé's maternal intuition."

  "But Zoé saw the baby at the Senator Harding's house," Lauren said gently. "Zoé, my heart goes out to you."

  "Don't forget the baby's casket," Matt said.

  "For a dog," Valdieri said.

  Matt produced the magnifying glass he'd bought in the mall. He handed it to Valdieri. "What do you see on the grave?"

  Valdieri looked closely and drew in a sharp breath. He handed the photograph and magnifying glass to Lauren.

  She studied the photograph to a few seconds and looked at Valdieri. "Yes, I think it's definitely a grave, which means there's a human body buried there. Probably a baby or a small child, judging by its size compared to the cabin. Oops, sorry, Zoé. Trust me to open my big mouth."

  Valdieri took out his phone. "I'm convinced. We need to see the police. I made provisional arrangements to see the Assistant Chief before leaving New York. He's not here but he's given me the number of the Deputy who will assess your evidence before making any decision. This is a job for the boys in blue, as the English say. We don't all need to go. Zoé, if you like you can stay here with Lauren. We'll let you know what the police say as soon as we've seen them."

  "Yes, I will stay here with Lauren," Zoé said quietly, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

  Valdieri nodded. "I'm going to phone."

  Inspector Flanagan, who was not as senior as Matt had hoped, told them to come straight round with the photographs. He was the most senior person available and would see them as soon as they arrived.

  Matt considered taking a taxi in case his car was spotted by a police patrol, but Valdieri said that they had an appointment which made their stay in Alexandria legitimate.

  Matt drove, and they parked in the street by the barriers of the Police Department where a guard met them and showed them through the main entrance. After signing them in, the guard led them to the large office of Inspector Flanagan on the second floor.

  Inspector Flanagan stood up as they entered. With a name like Flanagan, Matt thought that perhaps a Catholic archbishop would be treated with great respect. Unfortunately he was wrong.

  Inspector Flanagan looked at the photographs and shrugged. "I've had reports of Mr. and Mrs. Rider wasting police time. They seem fixated on Senator Harding's yard. The Senator has assured my officers there is nothing more than a dog buried there. They even showed the body of the dog to Mrs. Rider when Mrs. Harding graciously allowed her into the house to look around."

  Matt shook his head. "My wife was told the dog was wrapped in a sheet. She wasn't allowed to see it."

  The Inspector obviously didn't feel antagonistic to the Senator. It was a pity that his Chief, who seemed to have it in the Senator Harding, wasn't available. Maybe the Chief had chickened out of a further confrontation with the Hardings, wisely preferring to leave with the maximum pension.

  "Then she should have insisted when she had the chance. Now, pass me the photographs and show me this amazing evidence."

  Matt passed the photographs and Flanagan flicked through them. "How did you get these?" he demanded.

  "It doesn't matter how we got them," Matt said, "but they were taken this afternoon. Just look in the clearing in the woods there." He handed Flanagan the magnifying glass.

  The Inspector pushed it to one side. "I have perfectly good eyesight, thank you."

  "I think it might be helpful to use it," Valdieri said softly, presumably trying to pour oil on troubled waters, or whatever the ecclesiastical expression was for doing this.

  Flanagan glanced at the photographs again and turned to Matt. "It's a dog's grave. People bury dogs when they die. They like to have them in the yard where the dog ran around."

  Valdieri managed to pass the magnifying glass to Flanagan. "If you would be so good as to use this," he said tactfully, "you will see a cross has been laid on the grave."

  Flanagan looked annoyed. "Perhaps they loved their dog."

  Valdieri shook his head. "As I'm sure you are aware, Inspector, a cross is a Christian symbol. It tells us that Jesus Christ died to take away our sins, to present us spotless before God. A dog doesn't need Jesus. We do."

  Flanagan gave a grunt and handed the photograph back to Matt.

  "Listen to me carefully, Inspector," Valdieri said firmly. "I am convinced a human body is buried in that grave. You can clearly see that the earth is freshly dug. So what are you intending to do with this evidence?"

  Matt listened while several minutes of fiery words were exchanged, and Simon Urquet's name was mentioned a couple of times, but Inspector Flanagan seemed more than a match for Stephen Valdieri. He kept warning Matt he faced prosecution for invasion of privacy by taking aerial photographs of the Senator's house, and he had to desist from harassing the Senator immediately.

  At last Flanagan stood up to indicate the meeting was over. "You may be interested to know that Senator and Mrs. Harding and their baby are leaving early tomorrow for Israel where Senator Harding has business interests. The family needs a break. Especially from the sort of trouble you've been causing them."

  Matt turned to Valdieri. "We can follow them to the airport and watch them check in. Zoé and I would know baby Jack anywhere."

  "I thought the baby was buried in the ground," Flanagan said dryly, "and suddenly he's on his way to Israel. It's no good waiting by check-in at the airport, because they go by private jet. Just forget it. Go back to New York where my officers told you to go and wait for the police to find your baby there."

  "I think you're right," Matt agreed. "Whoever has got him won't have taken him far. He needs urgent treatment, assuming he's still alive. I guess we've been wasting your time."

  Valdieri looked a bit surprised. "If you say so, Matt. It's your decision. We'll pick up Lauren and Zoé and return to New York in the morning. I thank you for your time, Inspector Flanagan. I'm sorry we've tried your patience so much."