Well. Hello again. I apologize for the month-long wait for this chapter, but I did end up making it over 11,000 words, so hopefully you all forgive me. This story likely has one or two chapters left. I appreciate everyone that has stuck with this story from the beginning. It's been a fun ride! Reviews/comments are welcome as always. Enjoy!
"I can hear your thoughts over here, Babe," Henry whispered, reaching for Elizabeth's hand. She absentmindedly ran her index finger back and forth across his, drawing comfort from the repetitive motions. Elizabeth stared at the ceiling of their dark bedroom, mind racing. She could just make out the faint shape of the fan above their heads, the blades frozen and unmoving. Her thoughts kept circling back to Geneva.
Henry rolled over to face her, slamming his fist into his pillow, trying to smash it down to make it more comfortable. She flinched at the sound of his punches, and he reached out with his other hand to rub her shoulder. "Didn't mean to startle you, but Babe, you have to be exhausted."
She squeezed her eyes shut, twisting his wedding ring around with her fingers. Around and around and around.
Henry smirked. And she says I'm tactile.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
She shot him a look. He could only see the whites of her eyes in the moonlight, but it was enough to let him know she was not in the mood for sharing.
"Dollar?"
"Henry…"
He gently tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek. "Okay, sorry. You don't have to share. But I know you're worried about the trial and it might help if you talk about it."
She let out a frustrated sigh. "I can't even put into words everything that's running through my mind right now."
"That's okay, you don't have to." He reached out to pull her toward him and she slid easily into his side, head tucked against his chest.
Her loud exhale into his shirt told him that she was spiraling and needed a distraction. He cleared his throat, rubbed his hand against her upper arm, and started talking. "Remember when we first got married and we used to go on walks?"
"Mhmm."
"And remember that one time we found an injured raccoon and you tried to pick it up so you could nurture it back to health?"
She lightly smacked his chest. "Ronald. That poor raccoon."
"You named the dead raccoon?" Henry asked, chuckling.
"He wasn't dead when we found him."
"Right, how could I forget? Anyway, I remember thinking how sweet it was that you were willing to care for that dead—sorry, dying—raccoon. Also thought you were a little crazy because they can totally carry rabies and you had zero regard for that fact."
"He made it to the vet's office," Elizabeth whispered, stifling her laughter. "Just not out of the vet's office."
Mission accomplished. I got her to laugh.
Elizabeth released a breath, sounding more relaxed than she had all day. She pressed closer into Henry's side as he brushed his lips across her temple.
"Those walks were my favorite part of the day," he said, closing his eyes, and letting his nose be filled with the scent that was uniquely Elizabeth.
If she's here with me, nothing else matters.
"Mine too."
I wish I could protect you from all of this. You deserve quiet walks in the evening again.
Elizabeth shifted against him. "Henry, what if I freeze when I see Farhad?"
He swallowed. Oh, Babe.
"You mean like a panic attack?"
She brought her hands up to her forehead, overwhelmed. "Maybe? I don't know. I just keep running through every possible reaction I might have and it ranges from yelling at him in the middle of the courtroom to completely being unable to speak. What if I can't do this?"
"You can."
She shook her head against his shoulder. "You don't know that, Henry. I could completely have a meltdown in front of everyone and then what good will that do?"
He exhaled slowly. "Babe, you're not going to have a meltdown. You're stronger than you think."
"I'm not," she said, voice cracking. "I could barely handle the questions from Mike."
Henry pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. "Well he's an ass sometimes."
"But he's usually—"
"No, Babe. It was uncalled for. I would assume any good judge will stop those kinds of questions from Farhad's lawyer."
"And that's another thing," she said, turning on her side to face Henry. "I don't even know how we can trust this new judge since the last one proved to be corrupt before the trial even started."
He reached out to rub her shoulder through her shirt. "The odds of that happening twice are pretty slim."
"Everything that's happened in the last few days had a pretty slim chance of happening, yet here we are."
Henry's brow furrowed. She's not usually this cynical.
He reached for her hand again, hoping to let his touch ground her. Her fingers brushed across his over and over as she worked through the possible scenarios in her head like a puzzle she was piecing together.
Maybe I can get her to try something to alleviate her fear.
"Close your eyes, Babe."
"I already told you, I can't sleep. My thoughts won't be quiet."
"Just humor me."
She sighed and then dramatically flopped her head back onto his chest. "Fine. They're closed."
Henry chuckled. "Good. Now picture this. It's ten o'clock tomorrow morning and you're walking into the courtroom."
Elizabeth groaned. "Ugh. I feel like I'm going to throw up."
He massaged her head, running his fingers through her hair. "Hang on. You're walking into the courtroom and I'm standing next to you."
She shifted closer to him and wrapped her arms around his side. "I'm slightly less nauseous."
"Good. Now, I want you to imagine sitting on the witness stand, looking out. Tell me what you see."
Elizabeth grabbed a fistful of Henry's shirt, squeezing, releasing, squeezing, releasing. "I see Mike, looking disappointed about something. The judge to my right. People without faces in the audience." She inhaled sharply, freezing against Henry. "I see Farhad."
He continued to massage her head, his fingertips exerting the lightest pressure against her scalp.
"Okay, and what is Farhad doing?"
"Staring directly at me. Smiling," she said softly.
"And where am I?" he asked.
"What?" Elizabeth opened her eyes and lifted her head from his chest to look up at him.
Henry stroked her cheek lightly with his thumb. "Where do you see me in the courtroom when Farhad is staring at you and taunting you with his smile?"
She closed her eyes again, the courtroom slowly reappearing in her mind. "You're sitting in the front row behind Mike."
He kissed her forehead. "If I could sit next to you on the stand, Babe, I would. But I will absolutely make sure I am in your line of sight when you give your testimony. You just focus on me the whole time."
It's not like I'm going to take my eyes off of you anyway.
She opened her mouth to speak several times, but couldn't get any words out.
"What is it, Babe?"
"Will things ever feel normal again?" she asked, suddenly extremely interested in the collar of his shirt.
He rubbed her back in slow circles. "Normal is relative. But I think eventually, yeah."
She let out a breathy sigh, and snuggled into Henry's side, resting her head over his heart. "Tell me a story."
He furrowed his brow. "A story?"
"Anything. Just Talk."
She just wants to hear my voice. I'll talk all night if it helps her relax and go to sleep…
"Did I ever tell you about the time Shane, Erin, and I were chased by a clown at the park?"
Elizabeth laughed. "A clown? No way that's true."
"Hand to God, it happened. We were just minding our business, swinging at the park and some kid shows up with a whole slew of presents for a birthday party. Next thing we know, there's a clown performing under the gazebo."
"Mhmm," Elizabeth hummed.
"Anyway, Shane decided that he wanted some of the cake and went to go grab a piece. The birthday girl noticed and the parents got mad and yelled at him to leave the gazebo. I walked over to diffuse the situation, but Shane, being Shane, refused to leave without knocking over the cake table out of retaliation."
"He did not!"
"He did. I was so embarrassed. I apologized, but it turns out the uncle of the birthday girl was dressed as a clown and he chased us around the park until we left."
"That's so wild. Did you tell your parents?" Elizabeth asked, yawning into Henry's shirt.
Henry shook his head. "Nope. The three of us made a pact to never say anything about it. Although, Shane is still scared of clowns to this day."
Elizabeth shifted against him, sighing contentedly. "Tell me another story."
"So demanding," he teased.
Henry talked. About getting in fights with Maureen and his dad. About his first job. About the first time he saw Elizabeth and knew he was going to marry her one day. He talked about his favorite books. He talked about his aunts and uncles growing up and how he wished they were still around because they always gave good advice.
"…I just couldn't believe it, you know?" he asked.
Slow, even breaths filled the bedroom.
"Babe?"
Henry glanced at the clock.
4:00 am. Finally. I'm hoping she stays asleep the rest of the night.
He kissed the crown of her head and wrapped his arms more fully around her.
"Goodnight, Babe. Love you," he whispered, before following her into sleep.
Elizabeth sat next to Henry in the back of the SUV, leg bouncing up and down. He reached out and put his hand on her knee, squeezing it lightly.
She gave him a nervous smile.
"I'm right here," he said.
He had tried to get her to eat a muffin or even a piece of toast this morning, but she said she was too nauseous. While he understood the reason, part of him was worried about her passing out on the stand.
I'll have to get some food in her soon.
"Madam Secretary, we'll be there in about six minutes," the Secret Service agent in the front passenger seat said, turning around to face her.
"Thank you," she replied.
"You sure you don't want a pastry or a muffin? We have time to stop," Henry said.
She shook her head and reached for his hand. "I'm okay."
You are most assuredly not okay, but I won't push.
Elizabeth fidgeted with his wedding ring, spinning it around and around while his hand was clasped in hers. He squeezed her hand back. "You know the Egyptians used to exchange rings even 3000 years ago. Back then they were made of papyrus or something similar."
Elizabeth blinked hard, staring at Henry. "Are you talking about mummies?"
He let out a breath, smiling. "I was talking about the earliest wedding rings."
She stared at him, brows knitted together in confusion.
He shrugged. "Because you were toying with mine…it made more sense in my head."
Elizabeth leaned her head on his shoulder, seeking his comfort and reassurance. "I don't think I can do this."
He moved his arm to wrap it around her. "Yes you can, Babe. Remember, eyes on me the whole time you're on the stand."
She pressed her face into his shoulder, shutting the world out. "The press is going to be outside when we get there," she said, groaning.
"You don't have to talk to them. I can keep us moving."
"Sorry you have to play body guard. None of the candidates sent to me for Diplomatic Security have seemed promising."
He kissed her cheek. "I really don't mind."
Of course the Secret Service agents would be with us, but I'm still slightly unsure about anyone protecting her other than me at the moment. I would give anything to protect her from this trial and facing Farhad. Not to mention talking about the Vice President of the United States and the plot to kill her and remove Conrad from office. I can only hope that this judge is fair and considers all the evidence we have against Teresa Hurst and Farhad Azimi. Blake is dead. Matt was severely injured. Elizabeth was shot and assaulted.
"Madam Secretary, we're here," the agent in the passenger seat said, breaking Henry out of his thoughts. The car stopped and pulled over next to the curb. The faint noise of shouting from the crowd of people could be heard, causing Elizabeth to inhale sharply, wishing this day was already over. Henry rubbed her shoulder and tightened his grip on her hand, while reaching for the door handle with the other. "Come on, let's get inside."
She remained frozen in her spot, staring out the window.
"Babe?"
Henry ducked into her field of view and waved his hand in front of her face to gauge her reaction. She continued to stare at the same spot, unblinking.
Is she having a panic attack?
"Elizabeth, are you alright?" he tried again.
He studied her face, trying to see what was going on and help anyway he could. Her dilated pupils were laser-focused on something, but there was no recognition in her eyes.
Her mind is somewhere else right now.
Her lips were muttering something and he leaned in closer so he could decipher it.
"No...please…no…"
One of the Secret Service agents knocked on the window before pulling the door open and a cacophony of noise flooded the backseat. Henry stuck his head outside and said, "Give us a minute."
Alone once again, Henry turned toward Elizabeth, lightly stroking her arm. "Babe, I'm right here. Whatever you're seeing, it's not real. You're safe."
"Henry…please…" she muttered again. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she remained frozen and unmoving.
Physically unable to watch her in distress, Henry reached out to cup her cheeks and wipe away her tears.
The second he touched her face she flinched and cried out, "Get away from me!"
Henry raised his hands, not wanting to upset her anymore. "Okay. You're okay."
This is like Iran all over again.
She blinked fast several times and frantically looked around the car, trying to reorient herself. "Henry?" she whispered.
"I'm right here," he replied, keeping his hands to himself until she felt comfortable with his touch again.
She lunged forward and collided with his chest, sobbing into his dress shirt.
He instinctively wrapped his arms around her back. "It's okay. You're safe."
"I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I said I wouldn't do this today."
He kissed the top of her head. "Don't apologize, Babe."
I just want you to be okay. Take all the time you need.
"Do you want to talk about what happened?" he asked, stroking her hair gently.
She buried her face in the crook of his neck. "I was back there, with Farhad. After my phone call to you." She paused, squeezing her eyes shut. "He kept telling me I was going to die…"
"Oh, Babe. I'm sorry."
That's why she was calling out to me. I hate this.
"I can't do this, Henry."
A knock on the window made Elizabeth tense in Henry's arms and he let her cling to him as the door was opened. Mike B poked his head in. "We need to go. Chop, chop."
Henry rolled his eyes, glanced at his watch, and kept his arms wrapped around his wife. "We still have twenty minutes."
"Well, unless you want to send her straight in with zero prep, we need to go now."
Elizabeth groaned against Henry's neck. He ran his fingers through her hair, rubbing slow circles onto her scalp.
He locked eyes with Mike. "Give us five minutes, okay?"
Mike clenched his jaw. "Five minutes or else I'm dragging her out of the car. That won't look good for the press."
She whimpered and clutched Henry tighter.
"You even think about touching her, and it'll be the last thing you ever do."
Mike backed his face up a few inches. "Touchy, I see. Just hurry up, okay? We need to go over a few strategic items."
Henry nodded begrudgingly and waited for the door to slam close.
"Told you Mike was an ass," Henry said, resting his chin atop Elizabeth's head.
Elizabeth readjusted so that she was sitting mostly in Henry's lap.
I know this is what she needs to feel safe right now. In a few short minutes, she'll have to be strong, Secretary McCord, and not Elizabeth who is scared of looking like a fool in front of the press, judge, Mike, and her attacker. No one else gets to see this side of her. I would gladly hold her in my lap if it was appropriate for a courtroom.
"Mike's right though. I have to keep it together for the press."
"You don't have to do anything. You're allowed to have feelings, Babe."
"Not as the Secretary of State."
I hate that she's right. The demands of this job are not worth it. Maybe we need to revisit the conversation about her quitting when things are calmer…
She shifted against him and he pressed his lips to her temple. "You're not alone. Just remember that."
"Thank you. I love you."
"I love you too. And I'm so incredibly proud of you." She snuggled deeper into him and he closed his eyes for a minute, relishing the feel of her body pressed into his.
There is nowhere else I'd rather be.
Henry glanced at his watch as discreetly as he could with Elizabeth in his lap. He frowned, noting that their time together was drawing to a close. She sensed the tension in his body and pushed away just enough so that she could look him in the eye. "I want a huge tub of ice cream when this day is over."
He smiled and leaned forward, lightly brushing his lips against hers. "Done. Any other requests?"
"You and me. Scrabble until we fall asleep. Or until I win. Whichever is first."
Henry laughed, capturing her lips once again. "We both know you're going to win."
She smiled while he kissed her. "You might get lucky. You never know."
Man, I love this woman.
Henry took a deep breath in. "You ready?" he asked.
She nodded and gripped his hand so tight it reminded him of all three times she was in labor with the kids.
She can break my hand while holding it if it helps her feel more secure.
Henry reached for the door handle and opened the door. The Secret Service agents stood directly outside of the car and they moved aside so that Henry could step out, Elizabeth in tow. Dozens of camera flashes blinded them as he attempted to shield Elizabeth from the nosey press. "Madam Secretary!" someone shouted to their left.
Mike crowded their space and Henry felt Elizabeth tighten her hold on his hand and move closer into his side. "Let's go," Mike shouted over the noise of the crowd.
"Coming through," Secret Service yelled, while clearing a path for them into the building. Several people stuck microphones in their faces, but Henry waved them off.
"What about the affair with Farhad Azimi, Secretary McCord?" a reporter shouted.
Elizabeth turned her face into Henry's shoulder and kept walking behind him.
"Almost there, Babe. Just a few more steps," Henry said, in low tones that only she could hear.
Once inside the doors, Elizabeth released a breath. "All those people…"
Henry hugged her from the side. "You did great, Babe."
She scoffed. "That was just the press."
He kissed the crown of her head. "One step at a time. You've got this."
She turned, stepping into his hug. Her body relaxed slightly and she let the noise of the atrium fall away—focused solely on the feel of Henry's arms around her. Her racing thoughts slowed to a crawl as the smell of Henry's aftershave enveloped her.
I'm right here, Babe.
Mike B cleared his throat. "Sorry to cut this short, but we have to prepare a few things."
Elizabeth groaned against Henry, not wanting to leave his embrace. He spoke directly into her ear. "I'll see you in the courtroom. Eyes on me, Babe. The whole time. Remember, you're amazing."
She nodded and then reluctantly took a step away, fingers still linked with Henry's.
"You two are embarrassing. Can we go?" Mike asked, rolling his eyes.
Henry locked eyes with Mike. "If you upset her—"
Mike held his hands up defensively. "It's a trial, she's going to be upset."
"I'll be okay, Henry," Elizabeth said softly.
He stroked the back of her hand, meeting her eyes and trying to convey as much love, pride, and adoration as he could. "I'll see you later."
I love you. I'm proud of you. You're a survivor. I am in awe of your strength. I'll be right there with you in the courtroom. I'm not leaving you alone.
The recognition in her eyes told him that she knew exactly what he was trying to say.
She gave him the tiniest smile and then squeezed his hand once before letting go. Elizabeth followed Mike down a hallway and Henry watched as she limped slightly, a few steps behind.
Her leg. Did she take any medicine this morning? I should have made sure.
She continued to walk slowly down the hallway trailing Mike until she disappeared into a room.
God, please let this trial go our way. She cannot handle another setback and I can't watch her be disappointed again. She deserves peace.
Henry stood in the atrium, willing this day to be over. He walked over to a bench and sat down to people watch. Several men dressed in suits carrying brief cases walked with purpose down another hallway.
How cliché.
A security guard stood in front of the courtroom doors, arms crossed. He held some kind of tablet in his left hand.
I am so glad this trial is closed to the press. That is the last thing she needs to worry about.
"Dr. McCord!" a voice called, breaking him out of his thoughts.
Henry's head shot up. He frowned in confusion at who was headed toward him.
"Matt? What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised to see Elizabeth's Diplomatic Security agent.
Matt hobbled over to the bench that Henry sat on, and carefully maneuvered to sit next to him, releasing a breath. "I'm here to testify for the trial," he said, wincing.
Oh, right. He was there too.
"How are you healing?"
"I'm okay. Today's the first day I'm not on pain medicine, so ask me again in a few hours," Matt replied, smirking.
Henry nodded. "Oh, I get that."
"How's Secretary McCord?" he asked, concern written all over his face.
"She's doing alright. It's kind of been an interesting few days. One thing after another, you know?"
"Yeah, I heard some crazy stuff in the news about an affair between her and that monster. Dr. McCord, never in a million years would—"
Henry held up his hand to stop Matt. "I know. Thank you for knowing her heart though. I certainly appreciate the protection and security you always provided."
Especially getting shot while trying to protect her.
"If anyone spent five minutes with Secretary McCord they would see that her loyalty to you is unmatched."
It was Henry's turn to smile. "Thanks, Matt. Truly."
"Just doing my job, sir. Where is she anyway?" he asked, craning his neck around several people to see farther down the hall. "I figured she would be with you."
You and me both.
"She's going over stuff with Mike B." He glanced at his watch. "They should be out any minute now."
And it's taking forever. I hope she's okay.
Matt squirmed in his seat, trying to get comfortable, and then locked eyes with Henry. "Dr. McCord, I wanted you to know that my doctor hasn't released me to return to work yet, but I do plan to work for Diplomatic Security again with Secretary McCord. That is, if she wants me back."
"Are you kidding?" Henry asked. "We've been trying to find a replacement and it's been…difficult. There's no other agent she trusts more."
"Thanks," Matt said, looking down at his feet. "I do want to apologize for allowing her to be shot and taken in the first place. I tried to block Farhad with my body, but—"
"She doesn't blame you and neither do I."
You saved her. She could have been shot in the head.
Silence hung heavy between them as they sat on the bench watching people walk by. A woman Henry didn't know passed by, a disgusted look on her face.
Is this her spot or something? What's her deal?
"Do you know that woman?" Matt asked.
Henry shook his head. "No, but she sure seemed upset that we're sitting here."
Matt glanced at his watch. "You ready to head inside?"
As ready as I can be when I know my wife is being asked to face her attacker so soon after coming back to me.
"Yeah," Henry replied.
They both stood from the bench and slowly made their way to the courtroom doors. The security guard stood directly in front of the door, blocking it. "IDs? This is a closed trial. Only those testifying and cleared people are allowed in."
There's going to be a problem if I'm not on that list. I refuse to leave Elizabeth alone.
Matt winced, and then reached for his wallet. He flashed his ID while the guard checked it against whatever list was on his tablet. "You're clear," the guard said, nodding to Matt.
Henry pulled out his ID and showed it to the guard, holding his breath and hoping that whoever put that list together thought to include him for Elizabeth's sake. After what felt like an hour, the guard nodded at Henry. "You're clear too."
Thank God.
The guard stepped aside, opened the door, and let them pass.
The beautiful crown molding near the ceiling made the room look bigger and more elegant. It reminded Henry of some of the old churches in Europe he always tried to get Elizabeth to tour with him when she went overseas. The harsh fluorescent lighting contrasted the regal theme they created within the courtroom, changing the atmosphere entirely.
"Where is everyone?" Matt asked, looking around.
Henry shrugged. "Beats me." He walked over to a row of chairs just behind the barrier to the tables and took a seat on the left side, making sure that he had a direct line of sight to the witness stand.
She should be able to see me from here.
Matt eased himself down in the chair next to Henry. "Kind of surreal isn't it?" he asked.
"You have no idea."
Everything about the last week has been insane. Since that first phone call from Elizabeth, my heart has been pounding in my chest, and I can't catch my breath. I'm constantly on alert and worried about the next thing coming down the pipeline that might harm her or the kids. She doesn't deserve all of this pain and sorrow. I'm ready for this trial to be over so we can move on from this nightmare and our lives can go back to something resembling normal-as normal as they can be with Elizabeth in such a high-profile job.
The doors behind them opened and Henry turned around to see who was coming in.
Every nerve in Henry's body lit up with rage when he saw Farhad walk into the courtroom, his lawyer in tow. He wore an expensive suit, shiny shoes, and a smug smile that said 'I know I'm getting away with this.'
Farhad stopped in front of where Henry and Matt sat. "How's your wife?" he asked, smirking.
Henry balled his fists, and went to stand up out of his chair to wipe that smile off his face. Matt put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
"You can't hit him, Dr. McCord. The Secretary needs you in here."
Farhad raised one eyebrow, daring Henry to try something.
He stared back, seething.
How dare you come in here and bring up Elizabeth to me.
His lawyer cleared his throat, and put his hand on Farhad's shoulder. "Mr. Azimi, we need to go."
Farhad shrugged his hand off and straightened his suit jacket. "We're just having a discussion. Right Dr. McCord?"
Henry clenched his jaw.
Nothing you say right now will help Elizabeth win her case. Just let him walk away.
Henry turned his head away from Farhad and disengaged from him completely.
Farhad and his lawyer walked past the barrier and took a seat at the table in front of Henry and Matt. The courtroom doors opened again and a few people Henry didn't know filed in and took seats in the section to his right.
Honestly, the less people here in the audience, the better.
The doors opened again and he sensed that it was Elizabeth and Mike before he even turned around. Her heels echoed throughout the courtroom as she slowly made her way to the table on the right with Mike. When she reached Henry, he locked eyes with her and smiled. Her shoulders relaxed at the sight of him, and she stopped walking to reach for his hand. He kissed her knuckles briefly, overcome with the need to make it better for her in any way that he could.
She glanced over at Matt, and quickly released her hand from Henry's, realizing that she had been ignoring him.
"Mike said you were going to try to make it out to testify. How are you feeling?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Madam Secretary. Good to see you up and around."
"I'm glad you're here, Matt," she replied, relieved that he was alright after being shot in the stomach.
I can tell she still feels guilty for him being hurt on her behalf.
Mike put his hand on her shoulder, nudging her toward the table. "Come on. The judge will be here any minute."
Henry smiled at her again. "You've got this, Babe. Remember, I'm right here."
Elizabeth nodded and took several steps forward to follow Mike, freezing when she saw the side of Farhad's head, bent low, talking with his lawyer.
Just keep walking, Babe.
Mike turned back around when he saw that she wasn't directly behind him. "Elizabeth?" he asked, confused as to why she stood in the middle of the walkway, frozen.
At the sound of her name, Farhad looked in her direction. A sinister smile spread across his face. "You just couldn't stay away, I see."
Henry stood up, unable to watch this awful monster taunt his wife. He walked toward her and immediately wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She released a breath and sank into his half-embrace.
If there weren't lawyers present, I would punch him right now.
"Leave her alone," Henry said.
Elizabeth tensed against him, worried that he would leave her to deal with Farhad. He rubbed her shoulder, letting her know that he wasn't going anywhere.
"We are NOT doing this right now," Mike said sternly. "Control your client. The judge will be here any second. Do you want him to declare a mistrial because of the way Mr. Azimi is acting?"
His lawyer glared at Mike.
"And do I need to remind you, David, that there are several witnesses? This is completely unacceptable behavior."
This doesn't bode well…
Farhad's lawyer—apparently named David—grabbed his shoulder and forced him to face away from everyone else.
Mike turned back to face Elizabeth. "Come on. You need to be over here when the judge comes in."
Henry gave her a quick peck on the cheek and then squeezed her shoulder before walking back over to sit down next to Matt.
Elizabeth and Mike sat at their table with a laptop out. As far as Henry could tell, they seemed to be strategizing or going over last minute things.
I just hope the judge and jury see Farhad for who he really is. Someone who hurts people.
A door to the left of the judge's bench opened and a bailiff entered the room followed by what Henry could only assume were the members of the jury. The twelve of them moved in silence, filing into their specific places, avoiding eye contact completely. He counted six women and six men, all of various ages. One of the women was the one who gave him the dirty look outside the courtroom earlier while he sat on the bench.
Did she know who I was? It better not affect whether or not she thinks Farhad is guilty.
Once the jury members were all seated, Henry turned his attention back to Elizabeth. She was pointing to something on Mike's computer, completely engrossed in the screen. Her shoulders looked tense, but otherwise, she seemed okay.
The door directly behind the judge's bench opened and the bailiff said, "All rise for the Honorable Judge Wilkins."
Everyone stood at once. Henry's eyes were trained on Elizabeth and he noticed her gripping the table for support.
Her leg must be bothering her. The stress of this trial is not helping.
"Thank you," Judge Wilkins said. "You may be seated."
Matt winced beside Henry right before he sat down.
"You good?" Henry whispered.
He nodded, readjusting himself in the chair.
Judge Wilkins banged the gavel. "Welcome attorneys Michael Barnow, David Smith, members of the jury, Farhad Azimi, Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord, and audience members. We ask that everyone remain respectful during the proceedings today. Mr. Barnow, you may begin with your opening statement when you're ready."
Mike walked over to address the jury. "Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my name is Michael Barnow, and I am the prosecutor in this case. We are here today because Farhad Azimi is charged with the kidnapping, torture, and sexual assault of the Secretary of State, Elizabeth McCord. He is also being charged with the first degree murder of Blake Moran, and Diplomatic Security agents, Harold Frost and Amanda Johnson. We will present evidence, including witness testimony from Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord and her Diplomatic Security agent, Matthew Jones, which will demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that Farhad Azimi committed this crime. We ask you to find him guilty."
Henry saw Elizabeth flinch at the mention of the sexual assault. She stared straight ahead, her hands resting in her lap.
I would bet money that she was twirling her wedding ring right now.
"Thank you, Mr. Barnow," Judge Wilkins said, as Mike returned to his seat next to Elizabeth. "Mr. Smith, you may give your opening statement now."
Farhad's lawyer walked toward the jury to give his statement. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. My name is David Smith, and I represent Farhad Azimi in this case. My client is accused of murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault, but I am here to tell you that he is innocent. In this trial, we will present evidence that clearly shows that Farhad Azimi did not commit this prosecution will try to tell you a story about my client being guilty, but we will present evidence that challenges that will show you that Farhad Azimi was only in Geneva to meet Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord to continue their planned romantic tryst. My client is only guilty of falling in love. We ask that you find him innocent of the crimes the prosecution claims he committed. Thank you."
Henry felt the blood rush to his face at the mention of the affair. He heard it numerous times on the news, but hearing Farhad's defense lawyer say it live and in the flesh, was harder somehow.
It's ridiculous that Farhad is going try and literally get away with murder. Even if he did meet Elizabeth in Geneva for romantic reasons—don't think about that, it's not true—how does that explain Blake dying? Did the gun go off accidentally?
David sat down next to Farhad and rifled through some papers.
What evidence do they even have? None of what he said was true.
"Mr. Barnow, you may call your first witness," Judge Wilkins said.
Henry took a deep breath in, knowing that Elizabeth was going to be up first.
Mike addressed the judge. "Your Honor, I call Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord to the stand."
Elizabeth stood slowly, walking around the table and toward the stand next to the judge. Outside the witness box, the bailiff held out a Bible and instructed her to place her left on top of it. "Please raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
"I do."
The bailiff took the Bible back, and Elizabeth entered the witness box. Anyone else might think she looked calm and collected, but Henry could tell she was nervous. Her stiff movements told him that she was trying to keep up appearances. If he was standing next to her, he would likely be able to hear her irregular breathing.
She sat down, hands clasped tightly in her lap, eyes searching for Henry's in the audience. Her entire demeanor changed the second she saw him, the courtroom slipping into the background. Henry smiled at her and mouthed "I'm right here. I love you."
Her shoulders relaxed and she released a breath.
I hope she looks right at me the whole time. There is no need to look in Farhad's direction at all.
"Secretary McCord, can you tell us where you were on November 14?" Mike asked.
She leaned forward and spoke into the mic. "I was in Geneva."
"Can you explain why you were in Geneva on November 14?" he continued.
"I was scheduled to be there from November 14 and 15 for work. I was supposed to return the morning of the 16. I had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Lebanon."
"Can you tell the court what that meeting was about?" Mike asked.
Elizabeth shook her head. "No. It's classified."
"Objection, your honor," Farhad's lawyer yelled out. "Nonresponsive witness."
"Overruled," Judge Wilkins said.
Well that's a good sign.
Mike began questioning Elizabeth again. "Walk us through what happened after your work meeting with the Foreign Minister."
Elizabeth looked down at her lap, breaking eye contact with Henry momentarily. "I finished up the meeting and then walked outside to go to my motorcade. My Diplomatic Security agents and my assistant, Blake Moran, were with me."
Her voice cracked slightly when she said Blake's name, but she recovered nicely.
"What happened when the five of you stepped outside?" Mike asked.
"I saw movement to my right and then heard a gunshot."
Farhad's lawyer interrupted again. "Objection, that's conjecture. Witness doesn't know it was a gunshot."
Henry rolled his eyes. Like Elizabeth doesn't know what a gunshot is. We were shot in our home earlier this week!
"Sustained," Judge Wilkins said. "Please stick to the facts, Secretary McCord."
Elizabeth paused, mulling over her next words carefully. "I heard a very loud sound and then saw my assistant Blake, fall to the ground. He had a hole in his head that was bleeding a lot. This was followed by two loud sounds again, and I watched two of my Diplomatic Security agents drop to the ground, heads covered in blood."
Henry shot her a look of approval. Nice word choice, Babe. Don't let Farhad's lawyer get to you.
Mike stood near the witness box. "Once you saw Blake and your agents drop to the ground, what happened next?"
"My DS agent, Matt, blocked me with his body and then—"
She swallowed, dropping her eyes back down into her lap.
Come on, Babe. You can do this.
She glanced up, locking eyes with Henry again. He gave her an encouraging smile.
Keep going. You're doing great.
"Farhad Azimi" -she said, pointing to him in the courtroom— "got closer and shot Matt in the stomach."
"Did you see the defendant with the gun in his hand?" Mike asked.
"Yes," Elizabeth replied. "He was about three feet in front of me at that point."
Mike addressed the jury. "Let the record show that Secretary McCord pointed to the defendant, Farhad Azimi." Several members of the jury nodded.
"Secretary McCord, can you explain to the best of your knowledge what transpired after members of your detail and your assistant were wounded?" Mike asked.
Elizabeth swallowed. "Farhad shot me in the leg and dragged me by force to the SUV. I tried to resist him and check to see how Matt was doing, but I couldn't." Her voice broke on the last word. She glanced over at Matt next to Henry and gave him an apologetic look. "After we were in the SUV, Farhad choked me until I passed out. I don't remember much of the drive after that."
Henry gave Elizabeth a reassuring look.
I'm so proud of you.
"I would like to show this photograph as exhibit A," Mike said, walking over to turn on a big screen that looked like a cross between a whiteboard and a TV.
It must be hooked up to his computer.
A photo appeared on screen. It showed the handprint bruise from Farhad around Elizabeth's neck.
"This is a picture of Secretary McCord's neck. You can see"—Mike pointed to the screen—"that the bruise is in the shape of fingers."
"Objection! Speculation," David called out to the judge.
"Overruled," Judge Wilkins replied. "I'll allow the photograph as evidence."
"Thank you, Your Honor." Mike walked back over to the witness stand where Elizabeth sat. "What's the next thing you remember when you regained consciousness?"
"I woke up in a warehouse with my hands tied behind my back. My leg was in tremendous pain and bleeding. It hurt to swallow." Elizabeth let out a shaky breath. "I remember Farhad telling me that I had to do as he said or he would shoot me in the head like the others."
Elizabeth looked back at Henry, refocusing on telling her story. "I begged him not to hurt me, but he punched and slapped me a few times. He burned me with cigarettes along my collarbone. I remember asking for my husband at one point, and then I passed out again."
Oh, Babe. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you.
"I would like to show these photographs as exhibits B, C, and D." Mike clicked a button and the screen showed three photos: various bruises across Elizabeth's face, the red marks on her wrists from the ropes, and the cigarette burns.
Henry closed his eyes, disgusted at the abuse done to his wife. She didn't deserve any of that.
"Can you tell the court what happened next?" Mike asked.
"Farhad took my phone and told me to unlock it. He said we needed to call someone, and if I didn't cooperate he would kill me. He begged me to give him the passcode, but I refused. He punched me for that. Eventually he threatened my family, and I unlocked the phone. He told me to choose who I wanted to call. I chose my husband, Henry McCord."
"And do you remember what was said on the phone call to your husband?"
Elizabeth swallowed, staring right at Henry. "I told my husband that I loved him and our kids more than anything. Farhad took the phone from me at that point and walked away. I couldn't really hear what he told Henry."
You're doing great.
"Farhad slapped me so hard I passed out again. I'm not sure how much time elapsed, but when I woke up again, he"—she paused, clearly in distress at telling this section of what happened—"had his hands down my shirt and was touching my breasts," she muttered, avoiding eye contact with everyone in the courtroom.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear that last bit," Judge Wilkins said. "Can you speak up?"
Elizabeth locked eyes with Henry, holding back tears. Fear and shame stared back at him.
It's not your fault.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she repeated herself into the mic. "Farhad had his hand down my shirt, touching my breasts."
I can't stand by and watch her cry. It physically pains me.
Farhad stood abruptly, lunging forward over his table. "You know you liked it!"
Elizabeth shrank back away from the microphone.
Henry stood, unable to restrain himself. His heart pounded in his chest, pumping his body full of adrenaline.
David reached out to put his hand on Farhad's shoulder, holding him in place. He whispered angrily in Farhad's ear.
"Order!" Judge Wilkins shouted, while banging his gavel. "I will have order in my court!"
Several seconds of tense silence passed. Henry kept his eyes trained on Elizabeth, trying to read her emotional state. Her breaths were short, meaning she was bordering on a panic attack if they didn't take a break soon. She was doing so well, and then Farhad had to open his big mouth and say that. He remained standing, hands itching to reach out and hug his wife.
"Your Honor, the defendant is taunting my witness," Mike said.
"I agree," Judge Wilkins said. "We're going to take a fifteen minute recess. Mr. Smith, control your client before I hold him in contempt."
"Yes, Your Honor," David replied.
"We'll all meet back here in fifteen minutes," Judge Wilkins said, banging his gavel.
The members of the jury filed out of the courtroom, followed by the people in the audience to Henry's right.
Am I allowed to see Elizabeth?
Farhad and his lawyer left the table and walked past the barrier separating them from the audience. Henry glared at Farhad, clenching his fists, resisting the urge to punch him in the throat for what he said.
Elizabeth stepped out of the witness box and walked over to join Mike. As the two of them passed Henry, he reached out to grip Elizabeth's hand briefly, squeezing it. She smiled at him, eyes shining with tears.
I'm right here. I'll see you in a minute.
The judge left the courtroom, his black robes fluttering behind him. The bailiff was the last to leave, giving Henry and Matt a slight nod before he disappeared.
"Shall we?" Henry asked Matt, gesturing to the door.
Back in the atrium, Henry looked for Elizabeth. His body hummed with the need to find her and make sure she was alright.
"Dr. McCord," Matt said, pointing to get his attention.
Henry's eyes followed the direction that Matt pointed and landed on Elizabeth. Her head was bent low, fingers massaging her temples. Mike was talking to her, but Henry could tell that she wasn't hearing a word he said.
"Babe?" he called out, walking to the corner where they stood.
She looked up at sound of his voice and her face dissolved into tears when she saw him. He opened his arms and she walked right into him, burying her face in his chest.
He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. "It's okay. You did amazing, Babe. I'm so proud of you."
"How could he say that?" she murmured into his chest.
"He's disgusting." Henry wrapped his arms around her.
"Honestly, Bess, it's a good thing he did. It helps us show his character," Mike said.
Henry glared at Mike. "Can you not do this right now?"
Mike held his hands up. "I'm just saying."
Elizabeth's panic was rising and Henry could feel her erratic breaths against his chest.
This is going to get worse the longer we stand in this atrium.
"Is there somewhere I can take her for a few minutes?" Henry asked, pulling her closer.
Mike pointed down the hallway. "You can go to the room we used earlier. No one's in there right now, I bet."
Henry nodded. "Come on, Babe. Let's go."
Mike glanced at his watch. "You have exactly nine minutes, Henry."
Once they were in the room alone, a sob escaped Elizabeth and she settled her head against his chest, clutching at Henry's back, fingers digging into his suit jacket.
"Let it out, Baby. It's just us."
Her tears soaked his shirt and she pulled him closer.
"You are so strong, Elizabeth." He kissed the crown of her head through her hair. "You held it together the whole time beautifully."
"I don't want to go back," she choked out.
His heart sank. "I wish you didn't have to."
"Henry?" she asked against him in a small voice.
He rested his chin on top of her head. "Hmm?"
"Do you think anyone believed what Farhad said…about me liking it…when he…?"
"No," Henry said, without hesitation. "No way. It's very clear that he's deranged."
Elizabeth hummed against him, her posture finally relaxing.
He took some time to just breathe her in and thank his lucky stars that she made it back to him in one piece. There is no way I would be standing here today if she didn't make it out of Geneva. He pressed his body into hers, needing to feel that she was still here with him.
"Tell me what's going through your head."
She sighed. "I'm worried about the cross examination from his lawyer. I'm worried that the jury thinks I'm making everything up. I'm worried that he's going to try and attack me or touch me again and I can't explain how much that thought makes me want to run away."
"I'm not going to lie," Henry said. "The cross examination will be rough."
Elizabeth whimpered and clutched his shirt in her fist.
"But you didn't see the jury nodding along with what you were saying. They were horrified by the photographic evidence. I think we have a strong case here."
"You think?" she asked, hopeful.
"Yes. Remember we still have all the files on Teresa Hurst's computer as evidence too. It proves that she hired Farhad."
Elizabeth nuzzled her cheek against the crook of his neck, and he couldn't help but smile.
I'm so glad I'm her safe space.
"And as far as Farhad touching you goes, you think I'm going to let that happen while I'm in the room? Not a chance, Babe." He kissed her forehead. "Besides, Matt isn't one-hundred percent healed yet, but I would bet a lot of money he wouldn't let that happen either."
"My hero," she said, beaming at him.
"Always."
A knock on the door made Elizabeth freeze. "Two minutes, McCords," Mike said through the door.
Henry cupped her cheek gently and leaned in to kiss her. She moaned into his mouth, pulling him closer. He deepened the kiss, feeling her reciprocate.
Glad I could help calm her panic.
Mike knocked again and then opened the door, forcing them to break apart. "Alright lovebirds. It's time to go."
Henry rested his arm on Elizabeth's shoulder. "Lead the way," he said to Mike.
They walked back out into the atrium, Elizabeth plastered against Henry's side. Farhad and his lawyer stood near the entrance to the courtroom and Henry felt Elizabeth tense against him. He instinctively blocked Farhad's view of Elizabeth with his body.
"You got this, Babe," he whispered in her ear. "Just answer truthfully and everything will be fine."
Matt walked over to Henry, Elizabeth, and Mike. "Everything okay?" he asked.
Henry nodded. "Yeah, we're fine."
Mike leaned his head in toward Elizabeth. "You'll need to finish your testimony and then the cross-examination by Farhad's lawyer is next. You ready?"
Elizabeth sighed and gave Mike a slight nod. Henry rubbed her shoulder, trying to comfort her.
"It's time," Mike said.
Henry kissed Elizabeth's forehead one more time before releasing her. She took a few steps away from him, waiting to enter.
The courtroom doors opened and the security guard from earlier checked IDs again. Farhad looked over his shoulder directly at Elizabeth and smirked.
Henry took a step forward, ready to step in if he needed to.
David pushed Farhad forward and into the courtroom.
Good. Control him. This is ridiculous.
Mike and Elizabeth's IDs were checked next and they were allowed in, followed by Henry and Matt.
The jury filed in just as Henry sat down in the same seat as before. Elizabeth sat at the table with Mike, her hands in her lap. He could see slight movement in her shoulders, meaning that she was fidgeting with something.
"All rise for the Honorable Judge Wilkins," the bailiff said.
Standing, Henry squinted against the harsh light of the courtroom.
I'm ready to take her home already.
"We will continue with the testimony of Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord," Judge Wilkins said.
Elizabeth made her way over to the witness box again and sat down, eyes searching for Henry's.
"Can you tell the court what happened after Farhad Azimi touched you inappropriately?" Mike asked, walking over to stand near the witness box.
She leaned forward to speak into the mic. "I struggled against him, but my hands were still tied behind my back, so the only thing I could do was tell him to stop."
"Did he?"
She looked down. Henry could see that she was beating herself up for not stopping it sooner. "Eventually yes. He slapped me a few times. Called me names."
"What kind of names?" Mike asked.
Elizabeth swallowed, staring off to the side. "Whore. Tease."
My God, Babe. I had no idea. I want him to suffer.
"What happened next?"
"He continued using me as a punching bag and then he told me that the plan was to get President Dalton and Vice President Hurst to resign. If they didn't resign, he would kill me. It was hard to focus and one of my eyes was swollen shut. By this point, I was pretty sure I had a concussion from all the blows to the head—"
"Objection. Witness is not a medical doctor," David called out.
"Sustained. Did you know at this point you had a concussion, Madam Secretary?" Judge Wilkins asked.
"No, but—"
"Then, stick to the facts, please."
"Yes, Your Honor," Elizabeth replied.
"My head hurt a lot. It felt like really bad headache and my leg was throbbing. Some time passed, and the next time I woke up, someone was untying my ropes and telling me they were there to rescue me. I didn't know who it was, so I asked for my husband again." Elizabeth paused, collecting herself.
I'm sorry I wasn't there.
"The soldier reassured me that he was there on behalf of President Dalton, and that I could talk to Henry if I wanted. He put an earpiece in my ear and I was able to talk to my husband for the first time since being taken and held hostage." She smiled, remembering how soothing it was to hear his voice. "I remember finally relaxing and telling him I was tired. I must have passed out again, because I woke up in a moving car."
"Who was with you?" Mike asked.
"It was hard to see out of my swollen eye, but I believe it was the soldier who got me out of the warehouse. He let me talk to Henry again through his earpiece to keep me from panicking anymore. Once we got to the hospital, I had to give him the earpiece back and I was taken to get a CT for my head and an MRI to see if I had any internal injuries. I woke up hours later in a hospital bed, surrounded by doctors I didn't know or trust. I screamed for Henry." Her voice hitched on his name, and she reached up to quickly dab at a tear in the corner of her eye.
This is so vulnerable for her, but it needs to be told. The jury and the judge need to see how Farhad affected her mental state.
"The doctors must have sedated me, because the next thing I knew, Henry was next to my hospital bed when I woke up. I told my story to the police sometime after that and they took pictures of my injuries. I had trouble walking for a while because of the bullet in my leg, but eventually I was released from the hospital in France."
"Thank you Secretary McCord for your testimony," Mike said. "I turn the witness over to David Smith for cross-examination." He took a seat back at the table.
"Thank you, Mr. Barnow," David replied, standing up and walking over to the witness box. "Secretary McCord, how long did you work for the Central Intelligence Agency?"
"Objection. Relevance?" Mike asked.
Judge Wilkins eyed David and Mike, clearly debating his decision. "Overruled. Answer the question, Secretary McCord."
She leaned into the mic, hands poised in her lap. "Right around twenty years."
"What was your job title when you worked for the CIA?"
"I was an analyst."
"Did you receive basic combat training as an analyst?" David asked.
"Yes."
"Did this combat training include escaping chokeholds and ropes?"
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, unhappy with this line of questioning. "Yes, but—"
David raised his voice a little to make his point. "So then is it feasible that you could have escaped the ropes tied to your hands while in the warehouse?"
"Objection! Speculation," Mike said.
"Sustained," Judge Wilkins replied.
"Were you trained in how to escape ropes with your hands tied behind your back while working for the Central Intelligence Agency?"
Elizabeth sighed. "Yes. But I wasn't shot in the leg during any of those training sessions."
You tell him, Babe!
David smiled. "Very true. But would you agree that you could have escaped if you wanted to?"
"Objection. Speculation," Mike called out again.
Judge Wilkins spoke directly to Farhad's lawyer. "Sustained. Mr. Smith, I would advise you to keep your questions to facts only."
"Yes, Your Honor." David turned back to face Elizabeth. "Secretary McCord, is your work schedule published daily?"
Confusion flooded Elizabeth's face at the complete change in topic. "Yes. It is public record."
"So my client, Farhad Azimi, would have been able to see online that you were scheduled to meet with the Foreign Minister of Lebanon on November 14, correct?"
"Assuming he looked for it, yes."
Where is he going with this?
"Secretary McCord, is it true that you and Farhad Azimi arranged to meet up in Geneva after your meeting with the Foreign Minister of Lebanon?"
"No. I had never met Farhad until he shot members of my security detail outside of the embassy," Elizabeth said confidently.
David passed Elizabeth a piece of paper. "Can you please read what is written on this paper?"
Elizabeth went white as a ghost as she skimmed the paper.
She's clearly horrified by something. What is on that paper?
"No…" she whispered. Henry read her lips more than he heard what she said in the microphone.
"I'm sorry, Madam Secretary, what was that?" David asked.
Elizabeth's eyes were filled with tears. "I can't read this."
David crossed his arms, standing in front of the witness box. "Are you illiterate, Secretary McCord? I find that hard to believe."
"Objection. Badgering the witness," Mike called out.
"Sustained. Mr. Smith, no need to be rude. Secretary McCord, please share with the court what is on that paper," Judge Wilkins said.
Elizabeth's eyes met Henry's and they were filled with unshed tears. She looked embarrassed and disgusted at the same time.
Whatever it is, I trust you, Babe. Until the very end.
"The paper shows text messages," she choked out.
David nodded. "Right. Can you please tell the court who these texts are shown to be between?"
"Objection. This evidence was not shared with me during discovery," Mike argued.
"Attorneys approach the bench," the judge said.
Mike and David walked over to talk with Judge Wilkins. Henry kept his eyes on Elizabeth. Her shoulders were slumped and her entire demeanor told him that she was upset by what was on that paper.
What is on those text messages? I wonder if they are even true.
Mike and David left the judge's bench. "I'll allow it as evidence. It was submitted late this morning by Mr. Smith," Judge Wilkins explained.
Henry rolled his eyes and rubbed his hands down his face. This is not good.
"Give me a break," Mike muttered loud enough for Henry to hear.
David approached the witness box again. "Secretary McCord, can you please tell us the names involved in this exchange of text messages?"
"It shows texts between myself and Farhad Azimi. But—"
What? How did he have her number? These have to be fake. Elizabeth would have mentioned this.
"Can you read the first message for us?" Farhad's lawyer asked.
Elizabeth wiped away a stray tear. "It reads: I got the hotel room. We can finally be alone without that husband of yours."
"Who is that message from, Madam Secretary?"
"Farhad Azimi."
"And who is the message to?"
Elizabeth frowned. "It shows my name, but that's not—"
There were several gasps by people in the jury and the audience. Henry could see the panic rising in his wife; eyes darting and forth between him and the paper.
Having all these people think that she was having an affair and texting with Farhad while in Geneva is horrific. It's okay, Babe. I know it's not true.
"Read the text message response, please," David said.
Elizabeth let out a shaky breath into the mic. "It says: Can't wait. I'll see you in a few hours."
"Thank you. Ladies and Gentleman of the jury, I would like to submit this photo as exhibit E." David clicked a button and the text messages appeared on the screen that Mike used earlier.
The photo was a screenshot of texts between Farhad and Elizabeth. Her supposed response to him showed a kissy face emoji.
No way that's Elizabeth. She doesn't use emojis. Why isn't Mike objecting? Does he believe it to be true?
"You can see that my client, Farhad Azimi, and Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord planned to meet in Geneva. The time stamp shows that these messages were sent on November 14 a little after 1:00 pm local time."
Henry checked on Elizabeth. She looked so defeated, sitting silently on the witness stand.
This is exactly what she was afraid of.
She looked over at Mike, pleading with him to do something.
"Objection, Your Honor. These messages have not been authenticated. We ask that both clients submit phone records," Mike stated.
It's about time.
Farhad stood abruptly. "Phone records?" he shouted at David. "You promised that one fake photo would be enough!"
Henry's eyes flitted over to Elizabeth.
Did he just say fake photo?
Farhad's lawyer looked like a deer caught in headlights at his outburst. "Your Honor, my client didn't mean that, he's confused—"
Judge Wilkins banged his gavel. "Order! I will have order! Mr. Smith, your client clearly cannot remain in control of himself at the moment. This is the second outburst in an hour. I am placing him in contempt for the remainder of this trial."
Whoa. Maybe it's a good thing Farhad has a temper.
The bailiff walked over and grabbed Farhad's wrists to put him in handcuffs. He tried to fight the bailiff a few times, but eventually, he was led out of the courtroom.
Henry couldn't help but feel hopeful that things were looking up. Farhad admitted in front of everyone that the texts were false and now he won't be in the room the rest of the trial. That should help calm Elizabeth's nerves tremendously.
Judge Wilkins sighed and turned to face David. "Mr. Smith, I am disappointed in the chain of events that have transpired in my courtroom. You submitted evidence this morning that appears to be false. I will not stand by and let you waste our time. This is grounds for a mistrial."
Whispers could be heard throughout the courtroom.
"Your Honor, I—" Farhad's lawyer started.
"Enough, Mr. Smith," Judge Wilkins continued. "The new trial date is set for one year from now. Secretary McCord, your presence will not be required at that time. Your testimony can be recorded and entered in as evidence." He banged his gavel three times. "Everyone is dismissed."
That's it? It's over?
The members of the jury stood and began to file out of the courtroom. Elizabeth looked around the room before deciding to leave the witness box and head over to the table with Mike. He talked with her as she nodded along with whatever he said, but she had one eye on Henry.
"I'll see you outside, Dr. McCord," Matt said, squeezing past Henry and exiting the courtroom. Henry lingered by his seat, waiting to talk to Elizabeth.
"Oh for, Pete's sake, Bess. You can go now. You guys disgust me," Mike said, rolling his eyes and gathering his belongings.
Elizabeth smiled and quickly walked over to Henry, stepping into his waiting arms. "You did it, Babe!"
She buried her face in Henry's chest. "I am so glad that's over. I feel like I can breathe again."
"I'm proud of how you handled those fake text messages from Farhad's lawyer," he said, his tone serious.
She worked her hand inside of his suit jacket and splayed her fingers across his back, needing to feel closer to him. "I was so worried that you would believe them and think that I lied. I almost had a panic attack right there on the stand."
"Never in a million years, Babe." He kissed the top of her head, releasing a breath. His heartbeat returned to normal for the first time in a week, and he felt her relax against him. "Why don't we see about getting you that vat of ice cream?"
She chuckled. "I love you."
Henry's heart swelled. "I love you too, Babe."
Several beats of silence passed as they stood there, hugging each other. The rest of the world fell away and Henry said a silent prayer that things did actually turn out the way they wanted them to for now.
She deserves a break. A chance to just be Elizabeth.
"So what did Mike say about Teresa Hurst and her part in all of this?" Henry asked.
"He said that we'll still enter in the files and emails as evidence for the new trial date, but since she killed herself, she can't be charged."
"Good." Henry sighed. "I'm ready to go home and see the kids. How about you?" He beamed at her.
She kissed him softly on the lips. "More ready than I've ever been. Someone promised me ice cream and scrabble…"
Henry walked out of the courtroom, arm wrapped around Elizabeth's shoulder, feeling lighter than he had since before she left for Geneva.
I really am the luckiest guy in the world.