Page 126 of Grave Danger

The question answered itself. “You’re right,” said Andie.

“You want me to call it in?” asked Grace.

Another plume of ocean spray shot into the air and washed the limestone at their feet.

“No. I’ll do it,” said Andie.

Jack took Zahra outside to speak privately on the patio. It was a crisp night, and Zahra lit the gas firepit. The outdoor furniture was in storage for the off-season, so the only place to sit was a curved, built-in bench that faced the circular pit. They spoke in the warm glow of the flickering flames.

“I want you to send Nouri away,” said Jack.

“Why?”

“I came here because you agreed to surrender. Nouri came here to talk you out of it, didn’t he?”

“He came because I asked him to come.”

“Why would you do that?”

“He’s my friend. I trust him.”

“I don’t,” said Jack.

“You should,” said Zahra. “Nouri makes good sense. You want me to surrender unconditionally. Nouri says I shouldn’t surrender without some guarantees.”

“Trying to negotiate concessions from law enforcement while you’re on the run with Yasmin in violation of a court order is a terrible mistake. It turns you into a hostage taker.”

“She’s not a hostage. I’m hermother.”

“If you have any sympathies left as a mother, you’d be throwing them away by using Yasmin as leverage to get your way.”

Flames flickered in Zahra’s eyes, a fitting reflection from the firepit.

“Getmyway? Really, Jack? The only ones getting their way are the Iranian government and the US State Department.”

The patio door slid open, and Nouri stepped out from the kitchen. He joined them near the firepit but didn’t take a seat.

“We’re losing valuable time,” he said.

“Jack won’t negotiate,” said Zahra. “He still says I should just give up and put myself at the mercy of the FBI.”

“Lawyers are such terrible negotiators,” Nouri said with disapproval. “But that’s fine. We don’t need Jack to negotiate for us.”

“Yes, we do! I can’t do this by myself, Nouri. And if you do it, they’ll know you’re here with me.”

“Trust me, they already know Nouri is here,” said Jack, bluffing.

“No, they don’t,” said Nouri. “If they thought Yasmin was with anyone other than her mother and her highly respected lawyer preparing to surrender, they would have sent in SWAT already. Actually, let me put a finer point on it: if the FBI knew Zahra and Yasmin were here with aMuslim man, they would have sent in SWAT already.”

Whether Nouri was right or wrong, Jack knew he had no chance of changing his view.

“You know I’m right,” said Nouri. “We’re talking about a mother who violated a family court order to transfer custody of her daughter. This happens twice a minute in this country. But somehow this one is a federal case, and the FBI is all over it.”

Jack saw no advantage in explaining the US government’s negotiations with Iran. “This case is different because of Ava Bazzi, not because you’re Muslim.”

“Two things can be true at once,” said Nouri.

Jack didn’t debate it. “I’m not your negotiator,” he said.