Page 73 of Grave Danger
Jack smelled a rat. “Judge, if the plan is to question the witness about this document, I object. I’ve never seen it.”
“The timing of the State Department’s response to my request is beyond my control,” said Beech.
Jack held his tongue. The State Department had not been his ally in this proceeding, but accusing the department of dirty tricks wasn’t going to advance his position in the courtroom or at home.
“Let me see the document,” the judge said.
Beech handed it up. Judge Carlton read it, then laid it aside.
“The certification of authenticity from the State Department seems to be in order,” said the judge. “I won’t prohibit counsel from using thedocument. Mr. Swyteck, I will consider your objections on a question-by-question basis.”
Beech thanked the judge, handed the witness a copy, and then returned to her place before the witness. “Ms. Bazzi, I direct your attention to page one of the translated report, paragraph three. Could you please read it aloud for us?”
The report shook in Zahra’s hand as she read. “‘At the time of her arrest, the subject denied that she cut her hair in protest of the hijab laws. Subject stated that her hair was short because she wore it that way in London with her husband’s permission.’”
“Thank you,” said Beech. “Until just now, when you read it in the police report, you didn’t know that Ava had lied to the morality police, did you?”
“Objection,” said Jack. “Just because it’s in the report doesn’t mean Ava actually said it.”
“Overruled.”
“I had no idea what Ava told the police.”
“Precisely,” said Beech. “Neither did Farid, did he?”
Jack objected, but the judge directed Zahra to answer “if she knows.”
“I don’t see how Farid would have known about any statement to the police,” said Zahra. “The police gave us no information.”
Farid’s lawyer went for the jugular, her cadence quickening. “When Farid told you that ‘he was responsible’ for the way the police were treating Ava, he didn’t say that he reported her to the morality police for violation of the hijab laws, did he, Ms. Bazzi?”
“No, of course not.”
“He didn’t say that hetoldthe police to keep his wife in jail, did he?”
“No.”
“All he did was tell the truth in response to the imam’s questions, correct?”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Farid regretted telling the imam the truth because it was the exact opposite of what Ava had told the morality police, which made things even worse for Ava.”
“I—I don’t know.”
“Your sister Ava was kept in prison after other protesters were released because she lied to the morality police about cutting her hair. Isn’t that right, Ms. Bazzi?”
“Objection.”
“Overruled.”
Zahra was in obvious distress. “Possibly. Maybe. I don’t know.”
Counsel’s voice grew louder. “Farid’sonly‘responsibility’ for what happened to Ava is that he told the truth to Imam Reza. Isn’t that correct, Ms. Bazzi?”
“Objection!”
“Overruled.”