Page 67 of Grave Danger

“What else did he say?”

Zahra took a deep breath, paused, and let it out. They had only just begun to touch on matters important to the case, and her nervousness was creeping back with a vengeance.

“I—I don’t remember everything he said.”

“Tell me what you can remember about the conversation,” said Jack.

There was another long pause. She glanced quickly in Farid’s direction and then looked away. It was Jack’s impression that she was reluctant to put words in Farid’s mouth, even if Jack’s question was framed as benignly as her recollection of a phone conversation.

“I can’t really remember what else Farid said. But I offered to come by and help with Yasmin.”

“Did he accept your offer?”

“Yes.”

“Did you stay overnight in the apartment with Yasmin and Farid?”

“Not at first. I would go over for a few hours, and then go back to my apartment. But then we lost contact with Ava. That’s when I essentially moved in and started spending all my time with Yasmin.”

“And Farid?”

“Farid was there, of course. But I was there for Yasmin, as her aunt, and I slept in Yasmin’s room.”

“What did you mean when you said you ‘lost contact’ with Ava?”

“The authorities would no longer deliver our letters to her in prison. They told us nothing about her. Even our lawyer had no information.”

“At some point, did you get any information about Ava?”

“Yes. From the mullah.”

“Imam Reza, who testified earlier in this proceeding?”

“Yes.”

“What did the imam tell you?”

“He gave us the story that the whole world has now heard—that Ava escaped, fled the country to pursue her wanton ways, and was never coming back to her country or her family.”

“How did you react to that news?”

“I didn’t believe it.”

“How did Farid react?”

“He—he did not react well.”

“Was he angry?”

She didn’t answer. Jack pressed, but gently. “Zahra. Was Farid angry when he heard the news from Imam Reza?”

There was no verbal response, just an almost imperceptible nod of her head.

The judge spoke up. “Ms. Bazzi, you must answer in a voice that can be heard.”

She leaned closer to the microphone, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes.”

“What, specifically, did Farid do that makes you say the news made him ‘angry’?”