Page 58 of Grave Danger

“Overruled. Ms. Beech, knock off the speaking objections, please.”

Jack continued. “Let me follow up on your lawyer’s point, Mr. Bazzi. Your position is that Ava Bazzi’s consent was required because she is still alive, correct?”

“Well, she couldn’t very well give consent if she was dead, could she, Mr. Swyteck?”

A few snickers from the audience only added to Farid’s smugness.

“More to the point,” said Jack, “the adoption is valid if Ava is dead, correct?”

“Objection.”

The judge groaned. “Ms. Beech, I’m fairly certain you’ve conceded that point. The respondent has parental rights and her abduction of the child is defensible under the Hague Convention if the biological mother was deceased at the time of the adoption.”

“Yes, Judge,” she said, settling back into her seat.

Jack continued. “Sir, you haven’t seen Ava Bazzi since she was arrested by Tehran’s morality police, am I right?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“You’ve had no communication with her since her arrest. Right?”

“That’s right.”

“The only basis for your belief that Ava Bazzi is still alive is that the Iranian government told you so. Isn’t that right, sir?”

“Objection. Judge, the medical examiner testified that Ava Bazzi’s body was never shipped to the morgue, and there is no death certificate.”

“The witness can answer,” the judge said.

Farid looked at Jack. “That’s what the Iranian officials told me, yes—that Ava is alive.”

“Now, here’s where I get confused,” said Jack. “In response to Ms. Beech’s questions yesterday, you said you would describe your marriage to Ava as a happy one. Especially when you lived in London.”

“That’s right.”

“And when Ms. Beech asked if you loved Ava, you said...” Jack checked his notes, then read aloud. “‘With all my heart.’”

“Yes.”

“Sadly, the woman you loved with all your heart was arrested and taken to jail.”

“Yes.”

“And the Iranian government told you she was still alive.”

“Yes.”

“I listened very carefully yesterday.” Jack took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. “I didn’t hear you say a single thing you did to try and find her—this woman you loved with all your heart and who is still alive.”

Farid was silent.

“You didn’t look for your wife, did you, Mr. Bazzi?”

The question clearly made him uncomfortable. “Well—she was unfaithful.”

“No, hold on right there,” said Jack. “You made it very clear yesterday that the first time you heard about the alleged affair was when you found out Mr. Asmoun was going to testify in this proceeding. Isn’t that right, sir?”

He swallowed the lump in his throat. “That’s right.”