“My God, we could have Ellen home before the verdict. I’d love to have her in court with me tomorrow.”

Diane started to frown, but then changed her mind.

“Me, too,” she said.

Mihajlo Golic never made it to Central Station. As Hans had arranged from the public phone, Golic went to Leiden, where Hans was waiting for him at the snack bar.

“Where’s the girl?” Golic asked.

“At the hotel.”

“I have the money for your services, as agreed,” Golic opened his jacket, showing Hans an envelope in his inside pocket. “One hundred thousand Euros. I will give it to you when you give me the girl.”

Hans said nothing.

“I need a van, and some rope and tape,” Golic continued.

“My partner has probably told the police about me by now. I think it would be better if you got those items yourself. Why don’t you do that in the morning and you can pick up the girl tomorrow afternoon?”

“Very well,” Golic replied.

It was getting late today. He needed time to rent a van and buy his supplies.

Hans gave Golic a business card for the hotel where they were staying. “No more phone calls,” Hans said. “Just be in the lobby at noon. By then, the trial will be over, yes?”

“Perhaps.”

“What are you going to do with the girl?”

Golic looked at Hans with steely eyes. “That’s of no concern to you. You’ll have your money.”

Hans nodded uncomfortably. “Until tomorrow.” He walked off into the crowd.

At six o’clock, Kevin couldn’t stand the waiting. He called Detective Weber.

“Has Golic arrived yet?” he asked.

“Something has gone wrong. We’ve checked every train arriving at Amsterdam Central Station. There’s been no sign of Golic.”

“What about the cell phone?”

“It hasn’t been used since this morning. We found the blue van abandoned in Amsterdam, and we’ve been all over the area, but there’s no sign of Ellen or the kidnappers.”

“What are you doing now?”

“Still looking,” the detective replied. “We’re canvassing all the hotels around Amsterdam. We’ve got surveillance on Vacinovic and the embassy. Pete Barnes has got his people scanning all kinds of communications from Serbia. And we’ve contacted the families and friends of the two suspects who are holding your daughter.”

Kevin related the conversation to Diane, trying to put a more positive spin on it.

“Let’s go home,” he said. “There’s nothing more to do here, and I’m exhausted.”

Diane drove while Kevin sprawled out in the passenger’s seat. He couldn’t sleep, but his body was drained of energy. If the police didn’t find Ellen tonight, then it would come down to the verdict after all.

Kevin and Diane went through the motions of changing clothes and eating at home. They called Detective Weber every two hours. After the ten o’clock call, Kevin fell asleep on the couch in his clothes.

Kevin awoke at the sound of the telephone. He looked at the clock. It was 7:15 a.m. When he picked it up, he heard Diane already answering on the upstairs phone. It was Detective Weber.

“Barnes’ people picked up a call from Golic to his wife in Serbia early this morning. He’s in Amsterdam, said he had some business to take care of today and would be back in Belgrade tomorrow. We’ve got Golic’s cell phone number now, and the CIA is monitoring it.”

“Maybe he’ll release her today,” Kevin said.

“I hope so. What do you think your chances are in court?”

Kevin hesitated. “I think they’re pretty good, but I’m not willing to gamble Ellen’s life on it.”

“Maybe we should try to get the judges to postpone the verdict,” Diane suggested.

“I don’t think they would,” Kevin said, “or even that we should try. I feel okay about it and any delay might make the kidnappers suspicious. Plus, the press has been really bad. The Serbs might expect a guilty verdict and not wait for it. What do you think, Detective?”

“I’ve never heard of anyone being acquitted by the Tribunal,” she admitted. “Do you really think you are going to win?

“I do. Their case was nothing more than smoke and mirrors. It fell apart.”

“I’m thinking we should let things play out then,” she said. “I feel that we’re close to finding Ellen. But as I said before, it would be much safer if they released her voluntarily.”

The detective wished the Andersons luck in court today and hung up.

Diane frowned when Kevin came upstairs. “I hope you’re right, Kevin. Maybe you’re so wrapped up in the trial that you’re reading it wrong.”

Kevin thought about that. He did get to believe his own arguments by the end of a trial – all trial lawyers did. But he usually could tell when he was going to win.

“I don’t think so,” he said thoughtfully. “After twenty years in this business, I think I have a pretty good sense of how a trial will come out.”

“Not in this court,” Diane muttered as she walked away.

Kevin went to his desk and picked up the lucky stone that Ellen had given him years ago. She had insisted he bring it to his verdicts. He clutched the stone, then put it in his pocket.

When Kevin walked into Courtroom 1 with Diane an hour later, he saw that the visitors’ gallery was packed with reporters and various court personnel, including his old friend Mrs. Kelly, who waved unabashedly at him.

“All rise! Veuillez vous lever!”

CHAPTER 32

“Mr. Zaric,” Judge Davidson boomed. “The Trial Chamber finds you guilty as charged. You are hereby sentenced to imprisonment for the rest of your natural life.”

Kevin felt his body sag from shock, then fear. He just managed to steady himself by leaning his hand on the table. Sweat popped out of his pores as he struggled to maintain his composure. He felt sick to his stomach. He had lost. Ellen was in extreme peril. How could this have happened?

Kevin couldn’t bring himself to look at Draga or anyone else. He kept his eyes down on the table in front of him. He had failed. Somewhere far in the distance, Kevin heard Judge Davidson continuing to speak. “Mr. Zaric, you have the right to appeal this judgment. I am notifying you that you must file a notice of appeal within thirty days.”

Kevin concentrated on trying to draw a breath. He was jolted out of his stupor by Draga’s strong voice.

“I will not appeal your verdict,” Draga said firmly. “It comes as no surprise to me. I committed no war crimes and you know it. But this court has nothing to do with the truth and even less to do with justice. I shall proudly serve my sentence as a prisoner of war.”

Draga continued, as Judge Davidson sat uncharacteristically silent. “I want to say a final word to those who have kidnapped my lawyer’s daughter. Release her at once. My lawyer did all he could in this kangaroo court. He is my friend. If you so much as harm a hair on her head, I will see that you are hunted down and shot like animals. That is all I have to say.”

Draga sat down. His mention of Ellen had caused everyone to look at Kevin.

Tears welled in Kevin’s eyes as he struggled to keep the dam of emotions inside him from bursting in the courtroom. He felt weak, on the verge of collapse.

Judge Davidson’s gruff voice filled the courtroom. “Mr. Zaric, I find that you have knowingly and voluntarily waived your right to appeal this verdict. You shall be transported to begin serving your sentence forthwith. I am advised that the Registrar has determined that your country of confinement shall be the United States of America.”

Judge Orozco then addressed Kevin. “Mr. Anderson, I want you to know I dissented from this verdict. I am praying for your daughter. Court is adjourned.”

Kevin slowly rose to his feet as he held Diane’s hand. She showed no outward reaction to the events. When the judges had filed out, the courtroom guards came up to Kevin one by one.