Page 76 of Grave Danger

“You came,” she said, a little surprised.

“All you ever had to do was ask.”

Zahra took his remark as a reference to the fact that she’d never taken up Theo’s offer to be a bodyguard. She took a seat across from him at the picnic table. It was a warm afternoon for late October. Zahra removed her head covering, which she was still wearing from Jumu’ah.

“I just came from the mosque,” she said. “It’s not mandatory for women to attend Friday-afternoon prayer, especially mothers whose lives are filled with family responsibilities. But I like to go.”

“That’s cool,” said Theo.

“Muslims believe there are extra-special times when ourduas have a very high chance of being accepted. At the Friday service there is a special time set aside fordua.”

“What is ‘dua’?”

“It’s very different from the five daily prayers.Duais a chance to worship Allah and call upon him for whatever it is we need. It could be anything. Salt for your food. Wisdom to raise your adopted daughter. Strength to handle the death of a younger sister.”

“Is that yourdua?”

“I go light on the salt.”

Theo smiled a little, and Zahra continued.

“I’m afraid your friend Jack no longer believes me.”

“About what, specifically?”

“Ava, for one. He went so far as to ask me if I was playing him—if Ava is still alive.”

“The important thing is whether the judge believes you.”

“True. But it is becoming a bad pattern with Jack. His... skepticism. I’m not sure he even believes me when I say Farid is an abuser.”

“That’s between you and Jack.”

“No, not entirely. I think he is hearing it from you.”

“Hearing what from me?”

“I know you confronted Farid when he visited your club. You must have given Jack your take on whether Farid is a good man or the awful person I’ve described to Jack.”

“What I said to Jack was, like, ‘Take it for what it’s worth.’”

Zahra glanced at the school building across the street. Dismissal was underway at the circular drive at the main entrance. Teachers were organizing students into somewhat straight lines for pickup.

“My daughter is six years old,” said Zahra. “I don’t want to put her on the witness stand.”

“I understand.”

“You’re forcing me to do it.”

“Me? How?”

“I might not be able to win this case without her testimony.”

“How is that my fault?”

“Something has changed about Jack. I know he and his wife are having some kind of difficulties. Maybe he is worried about losing his own daughter and is sympathizing with Farid.”

“That’s not Jack,” said Theo.