Page 60 of Grave Danger

Zahra didn’t seem persuaded, but she didn’t push back. “Fine.”

Jack rose and rebuttoned his suit coat. “No further questions, Your Honor.”

“Very well,” the judge said. “Ms. Beech, do you have any additional witnesses?”

“No, Your Honor. The petitioner rests his case. At this time, I would ask the court to enter judgment in favor of Mr. Bazzi as a matter of law. We have proven that Zahra Bazzi’s marriage to Mr. Bazzi was a fraud, and that the alleged adoption of his daughter Yasmin was without Ava Bazzi’s consent. As such, the respondent has no rights under the Hague Convention, and any defense she may have to the abduction of Mr. Bazzi’s daughter is irrelevant.”

“Judge, if I may respond,” said Jack.

“No need, Mr. Swyteck. The petitioner’s motion is denied.”

The ruling wasn’t totally unexpected, but it still came as a relief to Jack.

The judge continued. “I have an emergency hearing in a criminal matter that I must deal with today. This proceeding will therefore adjourn early today and resume Monday at nine a.m. Mr. Swyteck, as I understand it, your client is asserting a defense to the abduction under Article Thirteen of the Hague Convention.”

“Yes, Your Honor. We intend to prove that the court’s return of Yasmin to Farid Bazzi would put her in grave danger of physical and psychological harm.”

“I’ll set aside three days for your presentation. Be prepared to call your first witness on Monday morning. We are adjourned,” the judge said, ending it with the bang of his gavel.

Chapter 21

Jack left the courthouse but didn’t go back to the office. With the afternoon off, he drove to Miami International Airport to pick up Andie. She was standing on the sidewalk outside arrivals. Jack knifed his way through the traffic jam and pulled up to the curb.

“Move along,” a traffic cop said as he approached Jack’s vehicle.

Jack rolled down his window. “I’ve been here ten seconds.”

“You want a ticket, bud?”

Jack had almost forgotten how much fun it was doing pickup at MIA.

Andie quickly threw her carry-on in the back seat and climbed into the passenger seat. Jack pulled away from the curb and merged into the far-left lane, the so-called fast lane, which was slower than walking.

“It was a pinkie swear,” said Andie.

Jack had no idea what she was talking about. “What?”

“I was not holding hands with Isaac. Your friend Dennis saw us doing a pinkie swear.”

She was starting to make sense, but it still didn’t quite compute for Jack. “How did you even know I talked to Dennis?”

“Because Dennis’s wife cheated on him, and misery loves company.”

Jack stopped for the line of suitcase-toting pedestrians on the zebra crossing.

“I’m still confused.”

“Jack, the last time you picked me up at the airport was before we were married. I knew you wanted to talk, I knew Dennis would call you, and I knew what he was going to say.”

“But how? It’s like you have ESP or something.”

“It’s not ESP. Dennis pulled Isaac aside on our way out of the bar. He said he saw us holding hands, and that Isaac was lucky he’s FBI or he’d punch him in the mouth.”

Jack knew she wasn’t lying, since he could easily verify it with Dennis. The traffic started to move, and their car crept forward.

“Did you think it was even possible I would cheat on you?” Andie asked.

“Not really.”