Chapter 18
"I call Dr. Millicent Griffith to the stand."
Abbey watched her best friend walk in and take the oath. She tried to get Millie's attention but Millie refused to meet her gaze.
"Dr. Griffith, how long have you known the defendant?"
"Forty-five years."
"What is your occupation?"
"I'm a physician."
'At least until the end of this trial' Millie thought as she answered that question.
"Please relay to the court the conversation you had with Mrs. Bartlet the afternoon of June 23rd, 2007. Let the record show this was four days prior to the death of President Bartlet."
"Mrs. Bartlet came to me and was extremely upset that her husband's pain level was not being controlled by the medications being given to him by Hospice. She requested that I give her a vial of Morphine so that she could give him some extra doses as needed to control his pain."
"Did you encourage her to talk with hospice that was in control of his pain regimen at that time?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because Abbey is my friend and I trust both her personal and professional judgment. If Jed needed more pain control, then I had an obligation to help her."
"Dr. Griffith, was it a professional or personal obligation to help Mrs. Bartlet kill her husband?"
"Objection! Counsel is putting inflammatory words in the witness's mouth."
"Sustained. Jury members, please disregard that last statement. Mr. Short, please continue."
"Did you agree to give her the extra pain medicine?"
"I did."
"Did Mrs. Bartlet ever discuss with you her intentions?"
"No, sir."
"Please tell us about the conversation you had with Mrs. Bartlet about two months ago."
"We were talking about her husband's death and she admitted to me that she had given him a large dose shortly before his death. She said she had injected the whole vial."
Quickly, the gallery became very noisy.
"Order! I will have this room cleared if I don't get order right now." The judge gaveled until the noise began to decrease.
Eventually, the DA continued his questioning.
"Dr. Griffith, because of your testimony, what problems are you facing?"
"I will probably lose my license to practice medicine. The New Hampshire Medical Board is currently looking into my case."
"Why did you come forward when you did?"
"I could not lie when the investigator asked the question. Mrs. Bartlet is my friend, but as a physician, I could not stand by and let it pass."
"But you still gave her the means to commit this horrible act, is that correct?"
"Yes."
Thank you. Your questions?"
"None for this witness."
"I call Eleanor Bartlet to the stand."