Page 56 of Grave Danger
“You sure?”
“Yes,” she said, hoping. “I’m sure.”
Jack left his office just before nine o’clock. Righley was already asleep, and the babysitter was booked until ten, so he stopped at Cy’s Place to see Theo. He found an open stool at the bend in the long U-shaped bar.
Theo sniffed the air like a bloodhound. “What the hell, dude? You spill applesauce on yourself while reaching for your bottle of Ensure?”
Jack took a whiff of his shirt sleeve. “That’s apple-flavored tobacco you’re smelling. Zahra took me to a hookah lounge.”
Jack and Zahra had gone back to his office for the download on Farid. Two hours and two boxes of tissues later, Jack had what he needed.
“What’re you drinking?” asked Theo.
“Club soda. Big day in court tomorrow.”
“Who’s on the menu?”
“Farid.”
Theo filled Jack’s glass from the fountain. “You got the goods to prove he’s an abuser?”
“I have only what Zahra has told me.”
“You believe her?”
Jack shrugged. “Is there some reason I shouldn’t?”
“I suppose not.”
Jack sensed his friend was holding back. “If you have something to say, spit it out.”
Theo wiped down the bar top and placed Jack’s glass on a napkin. “You ever see that old movie where Jimmy Stewart plays the criminal defense lawyer?”
“Anatomy of a Murder?Every trial lawyer has seen it. When did you watch it?”
“We had about five DVDs to watch when I was on death row. This was one of them. You know the story. Jimmy Stewart defends a man accusedof murdering the guy who raped his wife. His client admits he killed him. Stewart tells him there’s only one defense. It’s the famous scene where he lays out the legal elements of a temporary insanity defense.”
Jack knew the plot. “And then the client suddenly starts saying all the things he needs to say for his lawyer to build a temporary insanity defense. But what’s your point here?”
“Dude, your client admits she abducted Farid’s daughter. You laid out a road map with only one path that leads to keeping her daughter. Zahra has to prove that Farid is an abuser.”
“Are you saying I put ideas in my client’s head? I’m Jimmy Stewart?”
Theo answered in his Jimmy Stewart voice. “Well, uh. You know, Jack. There’s, uh, worse people that you can be, uh... than Jimmy Stewart.”
“Don’t gloss this over with a joke.”
“Don’t get all defensive on me. I’m not saying for sure that Zahra is lying. There’s just a few things that make me wonder.”
“Afewthings? What else you got?”
“Well, since you asked. You offered my services as her bodyguard. She’s never taken me up on it. Seems like she would have jumped on your offer if she was afraid of Farid. I’ve stopped checking in on her.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want to impose on you,” said Jack.
“I would definitely say you’re right... if I hadn’t talked to Farid myself. The guy was shittin’ his pants when I cornered him in the men’s room and called him a fucking coward for beating his wives and then threatening you outside your office. He still denied everything. I told you what I thought.”
Jack remembered:I’m not sure he’s lying.