Page 14 of Grave Danger
“Trust me,” said Theo, chiming in, “Jack doesn’t wave white flags.”
“Neither does Farid’s new lawyer,” said Jack. “Farid definitely traded up. He’s found someone who can go blow for blow, the full fifteen rounds, Farid versus Zahra.”
“And now the case is all about me, not Ava.”
“Just like my attacker said it would be,” said Jack.
“Which is another reason I think your attacker was Farid,” said Zahra.
“That’s possible,” said Jack.
“Who else could it be?”
“It depends on what the guy meant by his threat, ‘If you make this case about what happened to Ava, someone is going to get hurt.’ If ‘what happened to Ava’ means what happened after she was arrested, then he could be some operative hired by the Iranian government to make sure no questions about Ava’s disappearance are reopened.”
“Maybe it was the Iranians who hired his new lawyer, too,” said Theo.
“But if ‘what happened to Ava’ means what happened while she was married to Farid, then they are dealing with something very different. It might be Farid, and he doesn’t want this case to be about the abuse he inflicted on your sister.”
Zahra drank her coffee, but she was unconvinced. “Farid is a bully and an abuser. It was him.”
“And yet you told me not to call the police.”
“As I also told you, I know how Farid operates. If you hit him once, he hits you three times. If we call the police, there’s no telling what he might do.”
“I understand. But my issue with what you’re telling me now is that you weren’t honest with me in my office.”
“I told you the truth.”
“Not the whole truth. You led me to believe Farid’s abuse was purely verbal. Nothing physical.”
Zahra placed her cup in the saucer, and Jack noticed that it rattled a bit.
“I... I was afraid,” she said softly. “I’ve always been afraid.”
“I get that,” said Jack. “I really do. But I have to ask the questions that Farid’s lawyer might ask you in court: Why would an intelligent, beautiful, clear-thinking woman like you marry Farid if you knew he physically abused his first wife—your own sister?”
The sound of little footsteps emerged from the stairwell, and Yasmin entered the room. She hurried to Zahra and whispered, “Can I have a juice box, Mommy?”
Zahra hugged her, then looked across the table. “Does this answer your question, Jack?”
Jack replied with a sad, thin smile. Then he caught Yasmin’s eye. “How old are you, Yasmin?”
“This many,” she said, holding up six fingers.
“I have a daughter. Her name is Righley. She’s this many,” he said, holding up eight.
Yasmin smiled, then was suddenly bashful. She buried her face in Zahra’s lap.
“No juice,” said Zahra. “It’s bedtime. I’ll bring you water in a minute, Zahra. Now, say good night and go back to bed.”
“Good night,” Yasmin said softly, and scurried back up the stairs.
Jack’s question had been answered, but Zahra laid it out even more plainly.
“I married Farid because I knew Ava was never coming back. She’s dead. How could I leave that precious child alone with him?”
“That makes sense,” said Jack. “I get why you married him. But why did Farid marry you? What did you say—‘Hey, Farid, let’s pick up where we left off when we were dating?’”