The most senior religious officials of Israel, Ellie Landau tells Manning, are the Ashkenazi chief rabbi and the Sephardic chief rabbi. Acting in concert, these elders, with their council of scholars and advisors, constitute the supreme authority of the Jewish faith.

Charges were brought against Rachel twenty-seven months ago, Ellie Landau says. Rachel was compelled to appear in Jerusalem before this synod.

MANNING

For what crime?

ELLIE LANDAU

Publishing her dissertation. For printing this document that you’re so certain is a hit list.

MANNING

I don’t get it.

ELLIE LANDAU

Among the Orthodox, for anyone but the most venerated scholars to dig into the hidden lore is considered an outrage. For a woman, such an act is unthinkable. What Rachel did, in the world of the devout, was sacrilege of the highest order.

MANNING

(to Rachel)

They excommunicated you?

Rachel acknowledges. This makes an impression on Manning.

BEN-DAVID

Rachel lost everything—her livelihood, her standing in the community, her family, her future. Our own father disowned her. She was dishonorably discharged from the army. Death threats were made against her.

Rachel’s hands tremble. Her eyes plead with her brother to stop.

BEN-DAVID

My sister cracked up, Manning. She tried to kill herself—twice. She spent six weeks in a locked ward at Tel HaShomer Hospital in Israel. Is that enough for you? That’s why she’s “under the steel” now. That’s why even I don’t know how to help her.

My fingers are hammering the keys for:

ASHKENAZI CHIEF RABBI AND SEPHARDIC CHIEF RABBI

appending Rachel’s name and every other search parameter I can think of. To my non-surprise, no official record comes up. But I’m getting article after article in Maariv, Haaretz, and the Jerusalem Post.

The proceedings of the hearing are secret, of course, including the identity of the accused.

But not that of her counsel.

As I’m running this search, I’m speaking into Manning’s earbud and watching him in the interrogation room via the overhead camera. With the most imperceptible of nods he waves me off.

MANNING

When you went before the elders in Jerusalem, Ms. Davidson, were you represented by counsel?

Rachel makes no answer. But she glances, despite herself, toward Ellie Landau.

MANNING

Two women against the patriarchy. I’d have bought tickets to that.

Manning’s expression reveals a new respect.

BEN-DAVID

Rachel went through hell. Can you understand that, Manning? Can you see that she’s hanging on by a thread?

MANNING

And the submachine gun? The Obsession Board?

ELLIE LANDAU

Does someone put together an Obsession Board because they’re in cahoots with its subject? Rachel isn’t working with Instancer. She’s hunting him. She’s trying to stop him. The gun isn’t to help him, He never uses a weapon anyway. It’s to protect herself, as much as anything can protect against him!