Page 104 of Grave Danger

He turned, walked back to Righley’s room, and went inside. The lamp was off, but the Barbie nightlight was glowing. Righley was under the covers. Jack walked toward the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. Righley stirred a bit, not quite asleep, but drifting off. Jack lay beside her. She scooted over a few inches, and Jack rolled onto his side, slipping one arm beneath her and the other over her shoulder.

“Too tight,” Righley groaned. “You’re smooshing me.”

Her little voice touched his heart like never before.

He went right on smooshing her.

Chapter 36

Jack woke early Saturday morning and took Max for a walk.

His beloved golden retriever was getting on in years, his gentle face a shade of white gold. Their long runs through Crandon Park were a thing of the past, but the air felt different that morning. Even Max seemed invigorated. Halloween had been the usual sweat festival, with dinosaurs and superheroes melting faster than their chocolate kisses and peanut butter cups. But every year, come November, the summerlike heat and humidity vanished like the flip of a light switch. Jack picked up their pace from geriatric waddle to senior stroll.

“Come on, boy. Like old times.”

It was certain to be the high point of a day Jack was dreading.

The transfer of custody to Farid was scheduled for two p.m., and Zahra’s meeting with the child psychiatrist was at noon. Jack and Dr. Vestry arrived at his office on time. Zahra did not. Jack and the doctor waited at the kitchen table over coffee. He told her about the voicemail message.

“Have you spoken to Zahra today?” Dr. Vestry asked.

“I sent a text asking her to call me, but I haven’t heard back.”

“I’m not surprised she lashed out. Anger provides an outlet for the powerlessness a mother feels after losing custody. Even though you’re her lawyer, she may see you as part of the system that stole her child away from her.”

“Maybe I am part of that system.”

“That kind of self-flagellation will land you on my couch.”

Jack wasn’t entirely sure she was joking, but he smiled anyway, and their wait continued. Dr. Vestry further explained the feelings Zahra was likely to experience. Anger. Despair. Grief. Dissociation. Self-blame. More anger. When their coffee cups were empty, Jack checked the time. Zahra wasseriously late. He dialed her number, but it went straight to voicemail. Jack left a message.

“Zahra, I’m in my office with Dr. Vestry. Hope you’re on the way. If you’re not, please call me.” He put his phone aside. “It’s not like Zahra to be late.”

“Not like Zahra to leave you angry voicemail messages either, I presume.”

“Are you saying I should or shouldn’t be worried?”

“Areyou worried?” she asked.

Psychiatrists weren’t mind readers, but Jack wasn’t trying to hide his concern. “I’ve had clients leave me at the altar before. No-shows for arraignment or sentencing. Zahra is giving me that same vibe.”

“The system failed her. It wouldn’t shock me if she went to see Farid and made one last effort to reason with him, negotiate with him, or...”

She’d left it unsaid, but Jack filled in the blank. “Threaten him?”

“Confront him. Give him a piece of her mind. Whatever she might be up to, those ‘final’ interactions never end well.”

Jack felt the need to take action. “Would you mind waiting here in case she shows up? I’m going to drive over and check on her.”

“That’s a good idea,” she said.

Jack grabbed his car keys and hurried out the door. The drive to Zahra’s town house was less than twenty minutes in traffic, even quicker on the weekend, and quicker still when ignoring the speed limit. Jack’s cell phone was connected to his Bluetooth, and he kept hoping for a call from Zahra—On my way, see you soon—but it didn’t come.

Jack rounded the corner on Zahra’s street, and the scene outside her town house made his heart sink. A Miami-Dade squad car was in the driveway. A pair of uniformed officers was at the front door, which was closed. A handful of curious neighbors had gathered near the mailbox. Jack parked across the street and jumped out of the car. He went straight to the officers on the front step and told them who he was.

“We need to speak to your client,” the officer said. “Is she home?”

“I don’t know where she is,” said Jack.

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