Page 82 of Grave Danger

Yasmin drew in silence for several minutes, choosing more colors as the work progressed. The judge didn’t interrupt, speaking only when it was clear that she was finished.

“Can I see it?” the judge asked.

She nodded and handed it up to him.

The judge examined it and smiled. “This isreallygood, Yasmin.”

“Thank you,” she said, though her voice was barely audible over the speaker.

“Is this your school?” the judge asked.

“Yes.”

“And that’s the American flag, right?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Who are these people by the flagpole?”

“My friends.”

“Do you like school, Yasmin?”

“Yes.”

“Do you feel safe at your school?”

She nodded.

The judge laid the drawing aside, then sat forward on his chair, getting a little closer. “Could you do me a favor, Yasmin?”

“Okay.”

“Can you draw me a picture of your family?”

Jack presumed that the psychiatrist had scripted that question.

Yasmin nodded. She took another piece of paper and chose another set of crayons. The judge waited patiently as she drew, again saying nothing to steer or influence her art. Jack watched the monitor, still unable to see what she was drawing. Several minutes passed. When finished, she handed her drawing to the judge. Judge Carlton examined it. Jack tried to read his expression, but it revealed nothing.

“Another splendid drawing,” the judge said.

“Thank you.”

“I’m going to step away for just a minute,” the judge said. “You can stay right here and keep drawing.”

“What should I draw?”

“Draw whatever you like,” he said, rising. “I’ll be right back.”

Yasmin helped herself to a blank sheet of paper. The judge stepped away, but the camera did not follow him. The image on the monitor was Yasmin alone at the coffee table, drawing. A moment later, the marshal directed the lawyers’ attention to another screen. Judge Carlton was in adifferent room with the forensic psychiatrist. The judge faced the camera and spoke to the lawyers.

“Counsel, I am going to share Yasmin’s drawing with the forensic psychiatrist. You may observe, but please do not comment or interrupt.”

Jack understood the rules. He watched as the psychiatrist examined the drawing of Yasmin’s “family.” Finally, the psychiatrist shared her thoughts.

“For the benefit of counsel, I note that Yasmin’s drawing of her family contains only two people. A girl, whom she labeled ‘me,’ and a woman, who is labeled ‘Mommy.’”

Jack took that as a positive development. A drawing of a “family” without Mommy would have been devastating to Zahra’s case.