Page 81 of Grave Danger

“Which means that—”

“Which means that if there’s any fallout from this, it’s on me, not you.”

“Shit, Andie. Makes me feel pretty small to hear a friend say it out loud, but I’m afraid that’s the way it is.”

“I understand. You’re doing the best you can.”

“Thank you.”

“But I’ll give you another chance to do better.”

It was a light ending, but she hoped he knew she was serious.

“I know you will,” said Isaac, and the call ended without another word.

Chapter 28

“I’m a terrible mother.”

Jack and Zahra were alone in the conference room. It was the third time Zahra had proclaimed herself the world’s worst mother since the court-appointed psychiatrist had come for Yasmin and taken her down the hallway to see Judge Carlton.

“It’s the right decision,” said Jack.

“Yasmin turns seven today. We’re doing this on her birthday.”

“I wish you had told me that,” said Jack.

“Oh, I’m sure that would have made a huge difference,” she said with heavy sarcasm. “As if the judge has been showing every willingness to accommodate our personal lives.”

There was a quick knock on the door, and the judge’s assistant entered.

“It’s time,” she said.

Under Judge Carlton’s instruction, the lawyers were to wait with their clients while the judge and Yasmin got acquainted. He’d borrowed his granddaughter’s dolls, Lego kit, and other age-appropriate toys to put her at ease. When the psychiatrist decided that Yasmin was ready to talk about matters pertinent to the case, the lawyers alone—allegations of abuse made it unwise to put ex-spouses in the same room—could move to the security center to listen and observe by surveillance camera.

A US Marshal met Jack and Farid’s counsel outside the judge’s chambers and led them down one flight of stairs to the courthouse’s security control center. It was a rectangular room with no windows. Long tables lined three of the four walls in a U shape. A row of flat-panel monitors rested on the tabletops. Another row of smaller monitors was suspended from the ceiling. Each monitor displayed a different view of the inside and outsideof the courthouse. The marshal directed the lawyers’ attention to the view of Judge Carlton’s chambers on one of the larger monitors.

“There’s no mic in here,” said the marshal. “You can hear, but the judge won’t hear you.”

Jack turned his full attention to the monitor.

The judge, as promised, was not wearing his robe. He’d even removed his necktie, opting for a casual open collar. They were away from his desk in the sitting area of his private chambers. An assortment of toys covered the coffee table. Yasmin was on her knees, paying full attention to what Jack recognized, thanks to Righley, as an American Girl doll. Samantha, if he was not mistaken. Yasmin seemed quite comfortable and content, as far as Jack could tell. The judge was nearby, seated in the armchair. It was Jack’s understanding that the court-appointed psychiatrist was in the room to observe, but she was off camera,

“When my daughter comes to visit, she likes to draw pictures,” the judge said.

Yasmin’s focus remained on the doll.

“Do you like to draw pictures, Yasmin?”

She didn’t look at him, but she nodded shyly.

The judge rose and stepped off camera for a moment. He returned with several sheets of blank paper and a box of crayons, which he placed on the coffee table. They immediately caught Yasmin’s attention.

“Go right ahead,” said the judge. “Draw anything you like.”

Yasmin laid the doll aside. She opened the box of crayons, selected a handful of colors, and started drawing.

Jack leaned a little closer to the monitor for a better look, and so did his opposing counsel. But he couldn’t tell what Yasmin was drawing.