Chapter 15
"Mr. Short, it's late. Please hold your witness until tomorrow."
"Yes, your Honor."
"Court is recessed until nine am tomorrow."
Abbey anxiously turned to Pat. "He's not on the witness list, Pat. Did you know he was going to testify?"
"No, Abbey. I didn't. But I'll object first thing in the morning. We don't need his testimony against you. Wasn't he the head of the New England Board of Medicine when your license was surrendered?"
"Yes. He recused himself from the discussion, but he was the head of the Board. I guess that's why he was subpoenaed."
Pat looked her client in the eyes. "Abbey, you knew that your license surrender would be discussed, didn't you?"
"Yes. But not by the person who is, or at least was, a close family friend. His testimony will devastate the case."
"Abbey, I hate to say this, but he's the least of your worries. Remember, there's still Dr. Griffith and your daughter to testify. Their testimony will be a lot worse that Dr. Nolan's. And it doesn't matter which one testifies first, I have no rebuttal against them. None at all. The facts will speak to the jury loud and clear."
Abbey sat down hard in her chair. "Pat, am I going to prison?"
Pat looked at her for a long time before she answered.
"Well, am I?"
"Abbey, I'm doing everything I can to prevent that. A lot will ride on your testimony and if the jury believes what you did was mercy, not murder."
Abbey stood up. "Let's go. I believe I did the right thing. So let the chips fall."
Abbey turned and walked out of the courtroom, full of confidence that this horrible experience would be ending shortly. Pat gathered her briefcase and followed her.
Very softly, she said, "The chips are falling, Abbey. They're falling."