Chapter 21
Matt woke early. Not surprising really, in view of the noise of traffic coming through the badly fitting windows of the budget hotel. He checked his phone in case a text had come through in the night during the one minute he'd managed to get some sleep.
Nothing.
Last night Valdieri had said he was working on a plan that would help, but that was as much as he prepared to say. He was meeting someone important, and would give an update early in the morning. Matt looked at the time on his phone. Six thirty-seven. He wondered what time an ex-archbishop called early.
He took the phone to the bathroom, which was just as well, because Valdieri phoned while he sitting on the john.
"Matt, I hope I haven't interfered too much, but I felt led to talk to the Supervising Chief of Police here in New York about your case."
Matt groaned inwardly. He was suspicious of people who felt led to do things. "Go on."
"His name is Greg Vernon. I told him you're in Washington. And why."
"No, you mustn't do that!"
"Hear me out, Matt. Zoé's suspicions might be a bit tenuous, but he contacted his equivalent in Washington, and he's prepared to help."
Matt felt trapped on the john, so he stayed put. "Stephen, we have it all in hand."
Valdieri laughed. "I'm sure you do. However, it's important that we do this one by the book. You must not go blundering into the grounds of the Senator Harding's house. If you get arrested, then my judgment is that you can say goodbye to getting any further help with your search."
"I'm not convinced," Matt said. "Have you heard from Wendell Harris?"
"That's one of the reasons I'm phoning you," Valdieri said. "I've just got an update on Boston. Wendell phoned a few minutes ago. He's made some enquiries himself rather than leaving it to his nosey girlfriend. He's discovered that the Boston baby was born in the local hospital. So that's a no-go."
"Did he say anything about the girl having an older baby?"
"He's still checking that one."
A sudden thought occurred, apart from realizing how uncomfortable the seat was. "We think Wendell is really an undercover cop, put in place to shadow us. He claims he's a security guard, but he told us he'd been with the police. Zoé thought she saw him here yesterday. Was he phoning from Boston or Washington?"
"I imagine it was Boston, although you did mention Senator Harding to him on the phone. But I can't see why he'd be interested in Washington."
"Okay, I forgot he knew about that."
"It's pointless me saying this, Matt, because I can tell the sort of person you are. Just be careful. If the Senator really has got baby Jack in the house, and he discovers you're onto him, you could both end up in jail and never get your baby back. Stay in the range of your cell phone signal. I think something positive might be coming from my phone calls yesterday evening. I'll be in touch soon."
"We're staying put this morning. We can't do anything until two o'clock. I'm not telling Zoé this, but I think Jack's dead. I think they're planning to bury him in the garden this afternoon."