Page 20 of Grave Danger
“We will prove that Ms. Bazzi planned this abduction from the very beginning. She married Mr. Bazzi as part of a premeditated plan to become his wife, to become Yasmin’s adoptive mother with rights of custody, and then to flee the country with Mr. Bazzi’s daughter. This was all a fraud.”
“How do you intend to prove it?” the judge asked.
“That’s the beauty of my proposal, Judge. If the court proceeds in the usual fashion, we will surely hear days and days of testimony about Ms. Bazzi’s supposed defenses under the Hague Convention. It will be a tsunami of baseless accusations of physical and psychological abuse. Or, the court can accept my proposal and wrap this up in one day with one witness who has agreed to appear by videoconference from Iran.”
“Who is your one witness?”
She glanced at Jack smugly, then back at the judge. “The imam who performed the wedding ceremony.”
“Judge, we object,” said Jack.
“On what ground?”
“For one, any communications Ms. Bazzi may have had with her imam are protected by the ecclesiastical privilege. That privilege is well established in the Judeo-Christian tradition, but it is no less applicable to communications between Muslims and their imams.”
“Judge, the imam’s testimony will not be based on confidential communications. It will be based on indisputable facts.”
“We still object,” said Jack. “My client has the right to put up evidence in support of her defense and create a record.”
“I’m aware of everyone’s rights,” the judge said. “But I remind you that this court has great flexibility in deciding how to conduct proceedingsunder the Hague Convention. This is not a traditional trial governed by rules of evidence and procedure.”
“These are ambush tactics,” said Jack. “Even if the ecclesiastical privilege does not apply, my objection is grounded in simple fairness.”
“There’s nothing inherently unfair about streamlining this proceeding so that each side can address a single issue that is dispositive of the case,” the judge said.
Jack did not back down. “Ms. Beech has raised a new issue that was not included in Mr. Bazzi’s petition, and it involves a new witness. I need adequate time to prepare.”
“I’ll allow everyone adequate time,” said the judge. “Ms. Beech, how soon can you be ready to proceed?”
“We’re ready to start today, Judge.”
“Judge—”
“Don’t get excited, Mr. Swyteck. We’re not starting today.”
“Thank you,” said Jack.
“My ruling is as follows,” the judge said, as if speaking from the bench. “Day one of testimony and evidence will be limited to a single issue: whether Zahra Bazzi induced Farid Bazzi to marry under false pretenses and solely for the purpose of establishing custody rights as Yasmin’s adoptive parent. Mr. Swyteck, how much time do you need to prepare?”
“I’d like a week, Your Honor.”
“You can have a day. I will see you all in my courtroom tomorrow morning at nine a.m.”
“Tomorrow?” said Jack.
“Better than today, Mr. Swyteck.”
There was no bang of the gavel, but it was clear enough that the session had ended.
“Thank you, Your Honor,” said Beech.
Jack said nothing. The judicial assistant opened the door, and Jack was the first to leave the room. He wasn’t angry. He was simply in a rush to speak with his client.
And then with Theo.
Chapter 7
Jack went straight from the courthouse to Theo’s club in the heart of Coconut Grove. Cy’s Place didn’t open until noon, but Theo was already at work behind the bar, preparing for the lunch hour. Jack took a seat on a cushioned barstool.