Chapter 32
The cruiser disappeared when they reached Alexandria. They made their way past the Pentagon and through Rosslyn, crossing the Potomac to park the car in Georgetown. They found a mall with a choice of two photo processing labs, both of which offered a one-hour service, even for large prints. Neither had a waiting area, but one had a coffee bar right outside.
"We need to make sure no one tries to collect our prints," Matt said. "I don't think anyone's followed us, but let's not take chances."
Zoé yawned and laid her head on the table. "There has been too much excitement," she said. "I do not feel good. And yes, I have been taking my tablets today, Matt. My head and my insides they are in a state most terrible."
Matt leaned over and put his hands each side of her head. "Who or whatever is buried in the casket, it won't be Jack. We have to keep thinking that he's not dead." Well, he might be. "Remember the Empire State Building. Soon we'll be up there with Jack, showing him all over Manhattan, and both his eyes will be perfect."
He fetched two juices and a couple of sandwiches and put them on the table, all the time keeping an eye on the photo lab and on the clock. He wanted to pick up the prints just as soon as they were ready.
"Drink the juice, Zoé, and eat the sarnies. If it's any consolation, I feel whacked too. I think I'm too old for this sort of excitement. It's not like doing a job for Ken. We're looking for Jack. Our baby." He checked his phone again just in case there was a missed call. There was a strong signal but no call.
A small leather couch came free, and they moved to that. He'd let Zoé sleep, but he'd definitely not drop off to sleep himself.
He woke with a start. The prints would be ready in a couple of minutes, assuming the advertised service was what it claimed to be, and assuming someone like Wendell hadn't sneaked in and collected them first. He left Zoé asleep and went to the lab. The assistant got a large envelope from the back. So at least there was something to print on the film.
He paid with cash for ten prints and returned to the couch where Zoé was still sleeping. He decided to open the package without disturbing her.
The first two prints were obviously test pictures taken by Pete, for they showed the ground and a pair of dirty sneakers. Trainers, he thought they really should be called.
He flicked through the pictures taken from the air and saw that they were all perfectly sharp, which was surely a miracle. He looked at the last five taken directly over the large lawn. The first one was taken too early, but there were three that covered the house, the front drive, the yard, and a fifth that showed the flower borders and end boundary.
Zoé was now awake.
"Well, Zoé, they came out but I can't see anything suspicious on these, either on the flowerbeds or in the grass. No freshly dug soil. Here have a look."
Zoé rubbed her eyes and put on her reading glasses. "Well, now we know. We need not bother Senator Harding and his yard any more."
Matt checked the first three pictures he had taken when the plane had passed over the Senator's woodland on the wrong line. He stared closely. The middle print not only showed the trees, but in a clearing in the middle there was the small cabin they had seen on Google Earth. And by the cabin was ----
"Zoé," he said quickly, "look at this." He pointed to the clearing. "See that rectangle? It's the shape and size of a small grave. It's new. It wasn't on Google Earth. And those aren't flowers growing on it. There's a wreath and flowers like lilies laid across fresh soil. I'm going to buy a magnifying glass at the photo shop."
When he returned with it, Zoé peered closely at the print. "You are right, Matt, that is exactly what it looks like. A grave. And I can see a cross lying there. It is a grave!" She sounded wide awake now. "So we can show these pictures to the police, and they will dig up the grave, and we will find..." She started to cry. "I am scared, Matt."
"Let's be careful," Matt said. "I don't think we should go and find Bill and Ben in their cruiser. We take these photos straight to police headquarters. Wherever that is."
"I am not sure they will listen to us, Matt. But they might listen to an ex-archbishop."
"That's a really brilliant idea. Let's see if we can persuade him to come down and go to the police with us."
"But," Zoé said thoughtfully, "he does not know we are here. He thinks we have stayed in Manhattan where we are supposed to be."
Matt found Valdieri's cell number and pressed the green button. "Well, he's going to find out now."
Valdieri was home. A slightly animated discussion developed, and Matt had some sympathy for Valdieri. After all, Valdieri hadn't seen what looked like a small grave on the aerial photograph.
Eventually Valdieri agreed to come down with Lauren. "We can be at Washington Central late afternoon. Please meet us, and book us some overnight accommodation wherever you're planning to stay. Separate rooms for me and Lauren. I'll phone you the exact time once we're on the train. And, Matt, leave it to me to contact someone senior at police headquarters in Alexandria or maybe in Washington. I need hardly tell you not to go anywhere near the Senator's house again."
Eyes of the Innocent Page 38