Page 33 of Grave Danger
Farid’s lawyer thanked the judge and addressed the witness. “Mr. Asmoun, when did your affair with Ava Bazzi end?”
“When she was arrested.”
“How long did it last?”
“Six months.”
“Did you see each other regularly during that six-month period?”
“At least once a week.”
The judge interjected. “Wrap it up, Ms. Beech.”
Beech was a smart enough lawyer to take her win without angering the judge. “No further questions,” she said, and she returned to her seat at the table beside her client.
The judge invited cross-examination, and Jack rose. Since it was a videoconference, he could have asked his questions from a seated position at the table beside his client. But he wanted a better view of Farid—the alleged “victim.”
“I have a brief cross-examination,” said Jack. He turned to face the witness on the LCD screen, but his gaze landed on Farid. The “victim” of the Bazzi sisters was staring at the man who claimed to have had sex with his wife Ava every week for six months. Yet Jack saw no sign that Farid was angry with Asmoun. Maybe Farid didn’t care. Or maybe he didn’t believe it.
“Good morning, Mr. Asmoun,” said Jack as he buttoned his suit jacket.
“Good afternoon,” said the witness, referencing the time difference.
Jack had one hand tied behind his back, knowing virtually nothing about this witness. For Andie’s sake, and the sake of his marriage, he would have preferred not to inject the Iranian government directly into the hearing. But seeing the witness on the screen triggered the research Jackhad done in his office the night before—in particular, the video of Nika Shakarami’s uncle on state television to condemn the hijab protests after his sixteen-year-old niece was murdered by the morality police. The very idea of someone off camera, threatening Nika’s uncle, informed Jack’s first line of cross-examination.
“Mr. Asmoun, where are you right now?”
“I’m in a conference room. At my work.”
“Are you alone?”
“No.”
“Who is in the room with you?”
“The videographer.”
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
It wasn’t the answer Jack had wanted, but he forged ahead. “Have you had any conversations with anyone from the Iranian government about your testimony today?”
“No.”
“Did anyone—including Farid Bazzi and his lawyer—tell you that your testimony here today would be looked on favorably by the Iranian government?”
“No.”
Farid’s lawyer rose. “Your Honor, for the record, neither I nor my client haseverspoken to Mr. Asmoun outside of today’s testimony.”
Jack didn’t think Beech would lie in open court to a federal judge, which could only mean one thing. Someone had told her to call Asmoun as witness with the promise that his testimony would be helpful to Farid’s case. It was no coincidence that it was also helpful to the Iranian government’s position on Ava Bazzi. But he wouldn’t score points by arguing with the witness. He moved on.
“Mr. Asmoun, you heard Ms. Beech tell the judge that adultery is a crime in Iran. Were you aware of that?”
“Yes.”
“So you are here, under oath, admitting that you committed the crime of adultery. Do I have that right?”