Chp 7
The following morning Juliet was determined to prove her suspicions about Jack's mother to him. She tore through the pack of things she had brought back with her from the island. Looking once over her shoulder, and satisfied Jack was still asleep, she pulled out his file. It was thick, Ben had been thorough, and for once she was glad of it. Juliet knew there had to be something in there that could help her.
She scanned through Jack's childhood and his early medical career when she saw it. Her eyes lit up. The chapter of Jack's life when he testified against his father. The patient whose husband threatened to sue when Christian Sheppard cut her artery after drinking and operating had been pregnant at the time of admittance. The pregnancy report came from the Infinity clinic of Los Angeles. Juliet's eyes widened.
"Oh my god," she whispered and began flipping through the pages like mad. Her memory was flooding back to her.
"It's in here somewhere," she said to herself cursing under her breath for not paying attention to it back on the island. At the time she was confused by it, wondering what it had to do with Jack. She assumed it had been placed in the wrong file but now wasn't so sure. She stopped now at the part labeled Ana Lucia Cortez. In it was a simple paragraph. Ana Lucia Cortez, shot repeatedly in the stomach, miscarried as a result. The pregnancy test attached a positive from the Infinity clinic.
….
"You're insane," Jack said trying to shake the sleep from his eyes and take all of what Juliet was saying in.
"Don't insult me Jack, I'm showing you the proof, its right here," Juliet said pushing the papers in his face.
He took them grudgingly and read them. His face darkened at the thought his mother may have been somehow involved.
"It still doesn't mean anything. It could all be a coincidence. I mean what does Ana Lucia have to do with me?"
"I'm not sure," Juliet admitted, "But Ben said to keep it in your file so it's no mistake."
"Why?" he asked.
Juliet shrugged, "I don't know. Who knows Jack, it isn't the point anyway. Haven't you learned that when it comes to the island there are no coincidences?"
"Well I'm not sure what you expect me to do. Do you want me to confront my mother?"
"God no, if it is true, then she's even more dangerous than Ben," Juliet shuddered at the thought.
"Juliet what are you insinuating?" Jack shook his head, "For god's sake, I'm her son."
At that moment Juliet felt incredibly sad for Jack. She pulled him to her and kissed his face, peppering him with tiny, wet kisses.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Jack asked.
"For now," she smiled at him, "Until we can investigate this some more."
"I'm not going to like this am I?" Jack said.
"Where is Infinity's headquarters? Is it here in L.A.?" Juliet asked.
"No," Jack said, "It's in Switzerland."
Juliet's eyebrow shot up, "Switzerland, really?" she asked a smile forming across her lips.
Jack eyes her oddly, "Yes, why?"
"No reason really," she said, "But I guess Switzerland is where we'll go next."
….
"Are you sure Margo bought the story of you checking out a position in a hospital here?" Juliet asked as they stepped into their Swiss hotel.
"I think so. I can't really think she's suspect her own son would go across the Atlantic just to spy on her."
"Jack."
"Well it's what I'm doing," he said, "Anyway I'm due in about an hour for an interview just in case she does check up on us."
"I married a very smart man," she said and kissed him on the cheek.
Jack took her face in his hands and looked into her eyes, "I love you Juliet," he said and kissed her mouth, "Now stay put in this room until I get back."
Juliet nodded.
….
Thirty minutes later Juliet was stepping out of a cab and walking into Infinity's headquarters. A marble front entrance greeted her and she marveled at the very slick, clean lines of the place. She certainly never worked on such a rich looking place before.
Juliet's eyes scanned the entrance and settled on the security guard sitting at the check in centre. She frowned not knowing how she would get past him. She was wondering why after three years on the island she wasn't more devious when a beautiful girl came up and began flirting with the guard. Juliet took the opportunity and snuck past him through the hospital doors at the end of the hallway.
There were men and women in lab coats walking around, some with files in their hands, others simply chatting. Juliet tried to be as inconspicuous as possible when she smiled at her luck. A door marked records greeted her and taking a look around her, Juliet slipped inside. Juliet began flipping through files when one caught her attention. The familiar name if Claire Middleton stamped in bold across the tab of the file beckoned to Juliet. She opened it and saw pictures of Aaron clipped to the inside. Before Juliet could read any of the numerous medical reports she felt someone grab her from behind and place a dark bag over her head.
….
Juliet awoke to find herself strapped to a hospital bed. She was in a medical gown, and a band aid was placed over the vein on the inside of her elbow. Juliet began to panic, wondering if they had injected her with anything. She tried to move but her legs ached and her arm throbbed where the band aid lay.
Juliet screamed and a nurse came in and calmly injected her with something, making her woozy and she fell in and out of consciousness. She was vaguely aware of someone in the room with her, looking down at her. She tried to focus when the door opened and someone in a lab coat came in.
"Well? Do you have the results?" a deep voice asked.
Juliet struggled to open her eyes but couldn't focus, the faces of the two men a more blur of shapes and colours.
"Here you are Doctor," the other voice said as he handed him a sheet of paper.
"Oh god," the doctor's voice said looking at the report then back at Juliet, "Very well, you may go now."
"Yes, Sir."
Rushing to her bedside, the doctor undid the straps around Juliet's wrists and ankles. He pulled her up and handed her clothes to her.
"Get dressed, quickly," he told her.
Juliet struggled to wake up and put her clothes on. She was finally getting her bearings when the man threw a bag over her head.
"Please," Juliet begged.
"I am trying to help you, now be quiet," he whispered and pulled her close to him.
They walked out of the room and down a lone hallway. Suddenly she felt herself being taken down a set of stairs and into another room.
"Listen to me very carefully," came the man's voice next to her ear.
"I know you are pregnant."
"What?" Juliet said as she breathed hard through the material of the bag, "What did you do to me?"
"Nothing. I'm guessing you're about two months along. She won't like this, you're not her choice," he told her.
"Whose choice? For what?" Juliet asked.
"Take this, it will give you everything you need to know," he said and Juliet felt him press something cold and metallic in her hand.
"Go to Rue St. Jean, number 15, Box 108."
"What?" Juliet asked but he pushed her forward.
"Go through the door at the end of this hall. You'll be outside and able to get away. But she'll want to come after you so be careful," he said, "And tell Jack I'm sorry, I'm so sorry about everything. Tell him I never meant to hurt him.
"Who are you?" Juliet asked but he ran back out the way the came, leaving Juliet alone.
Juliet took the bag off her head and opened her palm up. The object the man gave her was a square, computerized key. It had an Infinity symbol engraved on the top in gold. Juliet grasped it tightly and ran out the building.