***
It took only a few minutes for Zoé to persuade Florian to return alone to France, but it took fourteen days to get all the paperwork sorted for their visit to the States, including an emergency passport for Jack. Zoé, now on increased medication for her postnatal depression, proved to be a great help in sorting things out.
She said she was glad to be on maternity leave. The local hospital where she was a nurse hadn't taken kindly to the thought of Jack being taken to America. They even tried to persuade a judge to prevent them from leaving the country, but Urquet's team quickly kicked that one into touch.
During the flight to JFK, Matt became increasingly aware that Zoé's depression was returning, most likely due to Jack not being a brilliant traveler. Conscious of the other business class passengers around them, both he and Zoé had done their best to keep Jack quiet, although at times they had lost the battle. The other passengers would hopefully understand that a baby nearly six weeks old wasn't going to be the quietest person on board.
Thankfully, the airline had gone out of their way to make sure they didn't have to wait at the back of the line for immigration. Even so, it was a lengthy process, but one they passed successfully.
"Look at the press," Matt said pointing to a group of TV cameras and photographers lined up in the arrivals terminal once they had successfully cleared immigration. "I wonder if there was anyone important on our plane."
"No one is more important than baby Jack," Zoé said proudly.
"Mr. Rider. Mrs. Rider. This way please." A reporter pushed a microphone into Matt's face. "Tell us what you think of American health care."
Matt put an arm protectively around Zoé who was carrying Jack in a sling on her front. "I think you've confused us with someone else," he said, forcing a smile in case he was on TV.
Cameras and reporters pushed closer. "Can we see the baby's eyes, please?"
One young reporter with more makeup on than could be good for her skin managed to get to the front. She signaled urgently for her assistant with the television camera to join her.
"Can you push the baby's hair back so we see his eyes?"
The camera came in close before Zoé could do anything. Flash guns fired everywhere. This had to be Urquet's doing. Zoé stood her ground, but quickly turned Jack's face away to shield him with her arm. Matt could see there was no way Zoé was going to let their baby be part of the freak show.
"I don't know why you're here," he said. "We've just had a long flight from England and we're very tired."
"Just a quick statement."
"Do you think the doctors are better here than in England?"
"Do you think your baby looks cute with two different color eyes?"
"Is his hair natural, or is it a wig ? "
"When is the operation?"
"We hear your baby is terminally ill, and will die without treatment in New York. Any comment?"
"Is it right that Domestic Chemicals International are paying for everything, because you have no money?"
"Is your baby going to die anyway?"
Matt had enough of all these questions. He was about to lose his temper and say something he'd regret, when he heard a man calling his name. Pushing his way through the crowd of reporters was Simon Urquet.
"Did you arrange this reception?" Matt demanded.
"We can talk about it in the car," Urquet said. He pushed his way back through the crowd, with Matt pushing the luggage cart, and Zoé with the baby keeping close to him, deliberately avoiding answering the barrage of questions from reporters. Flashes of light marked their path.
A Bentley limousine with a uniformed chauffeur waited in a reserved bay. Matt turned quickly to see if anyone was behind them, wondering for a crazy moment if Florian was here to keep an eye on Zoé. Ridiculous. It must be jetlag.
"Come on, Matt, keep up," Zoé snapped. "I wish we had never come. My mother was right. There are clinics in Europe that could have helped us, and we would not have been the center of attraction."
Zoé seemed to be suffering from jetlag too. Either that, or the medication needed topping up.
"Zoé, we both know that the clinic here in New York is our only hope. They've agreed to do it, and DCI are paying, thanks to Simon. They've had a hand in developing the equipment."
The chauffeur held the rear door wide and Zoé ducked quickly inside with Jack in the baby sling. "There is a seat for the baby?" she asked.
The driver looked puzzled. "Aren't you coming as well, ma'am?"
That seemed to annoy Zoé even more. "Of course I am coming. Do you expect me to hold the baby in my arms while you drive?"
"Ma'am, you're safe with me, and so is the child."
Urquet joined them in the back. "Sorry about that," he said. "I never thought. Anyway, I'm sure we'll all be safe. There's no driver in New York I'd trust more than Zak. That's why he's the DCI chauffeur."
Zoé looked distraught. Matt tried to take Jack from her so she could put on her seat belt, but she was having none of it. "Stop it. No one is going to take my baby away from me."
Matt helped her snap the belt into place and did the same to his own.
As they drove away, Simon Urquet looked embarrassed. "I have to apologize," he said. "I admit to tipping off a couple of TV stations. DCI are paying for this, and we want to get some publicity and public sympathy for the company while we recover from the Heinman dynasty. But this has gone way beyond anything I anticipated or even wanted."
Matt said nothing.
After an awkward silence, Simon Urquet spoke again. "I thought we'd take you to your hotel first. It's just to the west of Central Park."
"No," Zoé said firmly. "All the reporters know we have arrived, and they will be waiting for us at the hotel. I do not want to see anyone with a camera ever again. I hope all those bright lights and flash guns have not hurt Jack's eyes. Zak, turn the car around and take us back to the airport."
Zak half turned his head. "What do I do, Mr. Urquet? Do I do as the lady says?"
Matt took over. "Do the press know where we're staying, Simon?"
Simon Urquet stayed silent.
"Then take us to another hotel," Matt said firmly.
Simon Urquet turned to look out of the rear window. "Are we being followed, Zak?"
Zak shook his head. "I've been watching, Mr. Urquet. Not seen anyone."
"Zoé's probably right," Matt said. "They're already waiting at the hotel."
"Zak, pull over," Urquet said. "Go a little way down that street and park up. I'm going to phone the office and get them to make a new booking. And I'll make sure no one knows where it is. I'm so sorry about this. I should have guessed that an English couple coming to America with their baby for special treatment would have been of more than local interest."
Matt felt angry. Local interest? There was no point in funding this visit if DCI didn't want worldwide publicity. But he kept that to himself.
Eyes of the Innocent Page 9