Page 11 of Grave Danger
“No one will ever be able to prove it.”
Jack flipped the page again in his notepad. “Let’s circle back to where this conversation started: Why were you living under your sister’s name?”
“Why don’t you ask the US State Department that question?”
“I’m asking you.”
“It was the best way to protect myself.”
“From what?”
“When I took Yasmin and brought her to Miami, I knew that someone might find me and try to take her back.”
“By ‘someone,’ you mean Farid.”
“Yes. The only way to protect myself was to use Ava’s passport and assume her identity.”
“How did that protect you from Farid?”
“It made the Iranian government my ally.”
“Your ally?”
“Not a formal alliance. But they would have no choice but to protect me.”
“I don’t follow your logic,” said Jack.
“From the very beginning, the Iranian government has denied that the morality police murdered Ava while she was in custody. It’s their position that she fled to the West and is still alive. When Zahra Bazzi became Ava Bazzi, I sent them a very clear message.”
“What message?” asked Jack.
Her expression turned very serious. “If the Iranian government or anyone else tries to take Yasmin away from me, it will be war. I will throw an international spotlight on Ava’s disappearance. I will make it my mission, to my last dying breath, to let the whole world know that the morality policedidmurder the real Ava Bazzi—a woman who did absolutely nothingwrong, and who lost her life only because she passed too close to a hijab protest while walking her daughter home from school.”
Jack understood the full implication of her words. “Setting off a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Iran was not exactly the legal strategy I had in mind.”
“The legal strategy is your department,” said Zahra. “But now you knowmystrategy. And it’s a good one.”
“If you decide you want me to be your lawyer, we can talk more about whether it’s a good one.”
“It’s already working, Mr. Swyteck. Why do you think Farid filed this case asJohn Doe vs. Jane Doe? Either the Iranian government forced him to keep the Bazzi name out of this, or he’s trying to fly under the radar.”
The use of pseudonyms was unusual in legal filings, which lent some credence to her explanation.
Zahra’s cell rang, and she checked the incoming number. “It’s Yasmin’s babysitter,” she told Jack. “I have to take this.”
“Go right ahead.” Jack rose to give her privacy and started toward the door, but the call was over before Jack was out of the room.
“I’m sorry,” she said, tucking her phone into her purse. “I have to leave.”
Jack stopped at the door. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Yasmin just needs her mommy.”
For a split second, Jack thought she meant Ava, but “mommy” meant Zahra.
“If you’re ready to retain me as your attorney, I can read the sealed court filings tonight, and we can have a more in-depth talk in the morning. It’s your decision.”
“Of course I want you,” she said.