And he meant it.
* * *
The journey down into the city was short. He took one of the cars from the palace gardens and waved away their chauffeur and security staff.
He could have gone to one of the many exclusive restaurants, but instead he took her to a well-established commercial coffee shop with chains around the world. Arissa clearly felt at home there as she could rhyme off her order by heart. It seemed that the menu didn’t change the world over. The barista only raised one eyebrow when she clearly recognised Philippe, but the merest shake of his head was enough for her to realise not to say anything.
They settled at a table in the corner with their coffee and croissants as Philippe explained some of their surroundings. ‘We’re in the east side of the city. This has always been the poorer side of the city, but in the last few years things have taken a downward turn. Unemployment has risen and because Corinez doesn’t have an adequate social security system in place, or free healthcare, the few cases of abandoned babies has increased in the last year.’
She met his gaze thoughtfully. ‘You could have your work cut out for you.’
‘That’s why you’re here.’
‘Have you considered someplace that would be central enough for a safe haven cot?’
He nodded. ‘I think we’re going to go along the same route as yourself and use the fire stations. Our hospital would have been our first option, but, like your clinic, the road to the hospital is too well used, too open. I’m not sure that someone would feel confident to leave their baby at the hospital without fear of being discovered. The whole ethos behind the safe haven is that a woman can leave her child safely and without exposure to herself—no matter how much we’d really like to know who she is, and if she’s safe too. Our fire station is in a central area, but not quite as busy—not quite as exposed—and there are always staff based in the station, so the baby wouldn’t be left for any long period of time. It makes more sense to arrange for the safe haven to be placed there.’
She nodded. ‘Do you have notes about where any of the other abandoned babies have been left in Corinez?’
He nodded. ‘I’ve spoken to my police colleagues. There have been four in the last year. One left near the hospital, but not quite at the main entrance. Another left in a shop doorway in the east end of the city. A third near the fire station, and a fourth in the car park at the back of a local supermarket in the dead of night.’
His heart squeezed; he was worried she might ask the next question he just didn’t want to answer. But her brain headed in another direction.
Arissa gulped. ‘Have you ever managed to find any of the mothers?’
‘Only one. She was admitted to hospital after collapsing in the street. She had a severe infection caused by the birth.’
He could see the next question in her eyes. ‘She didn’t want to be reunited with her baby. She had some other serious health conditions. The pregnancy had caused enormous strain on her body, and because she had no healthcare...’
He held up his hands and she finished the sentence for him. ‘She just couldn’t manage.’
He nodded. It was almost as if she could see the pressure he felt hanging above him.
Her fingers brushed against his and he couldn’t help it, his fingers twitched and started to intertwine with hers. It seemed natural. It seemed honest. ‘What are you going to do about the healthcare system in Corinez?’ she asked.
The million-dollar question—or the more than million-euro question as it would turn out to be. He sighed deeply and gave a slow shake of his head. ‘It needs to be overhauled. It doesn’t meet the needs of our people.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘Unless, of course, you’re a billionaire. We have dozens of private clinics and hospitals. Corinez is like a plastic surgeon’s dream—because we have the climate and the geography, lots of people come here to have surgery and recuperate. But because so many investors like to make money from the private hospitals and clinics, it means our national hospital and community clinics are short-changed, in staffing levels and finance.’
‘You can’t staff your hospitals?’