Page 83 of Grave Danger
The psychiatrist continued. “I find it noteworthy that the mommy in this drawing has short hair. Zahra Bazzi has long hair, so I must assume that the mommy with short hair is Ava Bazzi.”
“What do you make of that, Doctor?” the judge asked.
“Even if we assume that Ava had short hair for only a few days after she cut it in protest of the hijab laws, that was obviously a traumatic episode for her daughter. The image of Ava with short hair is burned into Yasmin’s memory of her mother, even though she is very young. The upshot is that Yasmin still thinks of Ava as ‘mommy,’ even though she has been with Zahra for nearly a year.”
Jack would have preferred a drawing with Zahra as “Mommy,” but it certainly wasn’t helpful to Farid’s case that there was no father in the family—which was precisely the judge’s next question.
“Is it significant that Farid Bazzi is not in the picture?”
The psychiatrist paused, then responded. “It is understandable that a girl of Yasmin’s age would not include her father in the drawing of her family. Farid has been out of her life completely since she was five years old. While Zahra may have shared photographs or other items to remind Yasmin that Ava was her ‘mommy,’ it seems doubtful under the circumstances that Zahra would have shared anything with Yasmin to remind her that Farid is her father.”
It seemed to Jack that the psychiatrist went further than necessary to explain Farid’s absence from the drawing, but there was nothing he could do to challenge her opinion under the judge’s rules in this informal setting.
“All right,” said the judge. “I don’t want to leave Yasmin alone too long. I’m returning to my chambers now.”
Jack and his opposing counsel turned their attention back to the other monitor. Yasmin was busy drawing. Just as the judge reappeared on camera, she pulled the drawing from the table and tried to hide it in her lap. The judge noticed.
“What you got there, Yasmin?” the judge asked.
“Nothing.”
“Come on,” he said, smiling. “You can show me.”
“No.”
Jack’s interest was piqued, and he was not alone.
“Yasmin, it’s okay,” the judge said. “You can show me anything. No one ever gets in trouble here.”
Jack knew that was a lie, but it did the trick. Slowly, and with obvious reluctance, Yasmin handed the judge her drawing.
Jack couldn’t see the drawing. But he could read the expression on Judge Carlton’s face. It conveyed nothing short of alarm.
“Yasmin, I’ll be right back,” the judge said, and he stepped out of view, taking Yasmin’s drawing with him.
Yasmin was alone on the monitor for less than a minute, until the judge returned with the psychiatrist. The audio didn’t pick up the conversation for Jack to hear, but Yasmin left the room with the psychiatrist. The judge then turned to the camera and spoke to the lawyers, presumably out of earshot from Yasmin.
“Counsel, I have shared Yasmin’s third drawing with the forensic psychiatrist. It is my view that this informal, off-the-record conversation with Yasmin is not the appropriate way in which to explore the meaning and possible trauma behind this drawing.”
The judge paused, and Jack, too, felt the need to catch his breath. The judge continued.
“I therefore ask that the lawyers and their clients gather in my courtroom. I will then show you the drawing and make a formal determination of how to proceed. That is all for now.”
The marshal switched off the monitor, and the screen went black. Jack and his opposing counsel exchanged a quick glance.
“Interesting,” said Beech. “Hard to tell if this is going to be bad for your client or mine.”
Jack didn’t answer. His thoughts were with Yasmin, and what terrible image had come from her innocent mind.
Chapter 29
The lawyers and their clients returned to the main courtroom and seated themselves at their respective tables. A spontaneous hearing allowed for no advance public notice, so the entire gallery, even the media section, was empty. The only other people in the courtroom were the bailiff, the stenographer, and the clerk.
“Where is Yasmin?” Zahra whispered.
“Let’s see what the judge has to tell us,” said Jack.
Jack had told his client exactly what Judge Carlton had said about Yasmin’s third drawing. Beyond that, the only clue as to the judge’s plan was the flat manila envelope on the mahogany tabletop before them. It was markedsealed—do not open. Farid and his lawyer had an identical envelope.