Through the series of meetings they let her sit in on, Dominique was brought up to speed with their plan for prosecuting Hashim in D.C. It needed to happen fast, because the longer they waited the more time the insurgents had to plan freeing or killing him.

Dominique had gathered background information on all the principle lawyers. She was drawn to one in particular—the lone female lawyer on the case who’d come from very interesting circumstances. She asked if she might have time to discuss what she’d been working on with that lawyer. Dominique knew that lawyer’s perspective would be unique among the others the Department of Justice had gathered.

52

52

Despite the demands of the case and the terrifying reality that had intruded into her life, Isabel Chavez was flattered by Dominique’s interest in her part of the prosecution.

Isabel welcomed Dominique into her office in the criminal division of the Department of Justice. There were no windows, just a metal desk, two folding chairs and a massive set of filing cabinets that lined the prison-gray walls.

“It’s a storage room, but we need all the space we can create,” Isabel said, and motioned for Dominique to sit opposite her.

“Must be exciting, being part of the prosecution.”

“It is.”

“So, how’s it going?”

It was a simple question and Dominique’s smile was disarming.

“There’s a lot to do.”

“Have you been to see Hashim, yet?” Dominique asked.

“No. Few have that permission right now. Why do you think he surrendered?”

“The drone wasn’t meant for the warehouse. Did you know that?” Dominique asked. She could see the piece of information shocked Isabel. “They didn’t tell you.”

“We were told there were extraordinary circumstances, but not what they were.”

“Business as usual for the FBI.”

“How might those circumstances affect our case against him?”

Dominique hesitated. There was method in her every word and every silence.

“I understand if you’d rather not answer that, Miss Valen.”

“No. It’s all right.”

“Do you think those circumstances are responsible for his surrender?”

“You’re the first person who’s asked me that. Why do you think he surrendered?”

“We’re not sure. There’s been no activity from the cells since he walked into the FBI. We’re not clear how to read that.”

“What do you think?”

Isabel stared into the air. Dominique respected her hesitation. She knew there were too many unanswered questions for Isabel to make a conjecture that wasn’t grounded in reality.

“I think there are two possibilities,” Isabel said. “Either he’s here to take down something huge…”

“You mean the White House.”

“That’s an educated guess. And maybe the cells are quiet for that reason. Or, he’s here for something we don’t yet understand.”

“A lawyer who admits there’s something they don’t understand. I’m impressed.”