Chapter 17
Jed and his daughters slept little the rest of the night.
The nurse wanted to give him a sleeping pill, but he refused. He couldn't be asleep when Abbey might need him.
By six a.m., three hours after Abbey was brought to CCU, Dr. Harris and Ron paid a visit to the President and his children.
"Mr. President, I've gotten the lab results back on Mrs. Bartlet, and it showed very high levels of cocaine. I know she didn't have access to any after admission so I talked with Agent Butterfield here about another explanation. We talked to the nurse on duty and she told us that the only person who visited her last night, besides you and your family, was another doctor. A Dr. Ben Franks. It appears that Dr. Franks may have deliberately tried to kill Mrs. Bartlet."
Jed knew his heart was beating faster with this news. He quickly looked at his daughters and noticed they were as shocked as he was.
"First, how's my wife?" Abbey was his top priority.
"Well, she's weak and still on the ventilator. She has to remain on it until this dose is processed by her system. That could take another twelve to twenty-four hours, like the last time. But her heart has regained a regular beat and that is good. We'll take good care of her."
Ron spoke. "Mr. President, this Dr. Franks may also be responsible for the first drug injection. We won't know for sure until he is caught, but his name is on the log that has been kept of who enters and leaves both yours and the First Lady's room. And it coincides fairly close to the time of the respiratory arrest she suffered after transfer to the VIP suite."
"How did he get access?"
"That's my fault, sir. Dr. Franks is an old friend of mine in Cardiology and I just asked him to check on the First Lady because of the carbon monoxide poisoning. As what happened with you, it could have affected her as well. It was just a precaution. I can only apologize. I know nothing about him that would have led me to know in advance to know what he was doing. I don't have a clue as to the reason he might have to do what he did."
"Ron, what's the Service doing?"
"We're repeating all background checks and severely restricting the access anyone has with you or the First Lady. We've doubled your guards and have notified all appropriate agencies to look for Dr. Franks."
"Well, for right now, that's all I can ask."
A few minutes later, Dr. Ware came to the President.
"I have some good news. You're stable enough to be moved to a room. What do you think?"
Jed was emotionally split. He wanted to stay with Abbey, but he also knew that sicker people needed his bed.
"Fine, but with one condition."
"What's that?"
"I can visit my wife whenever I want to."
Dr. Ware smiled. "No problem." He had always heard the rumor just how close the First Couple was and he guessed now that it was true. It was so satisfying to see a strong marriage in any couple.