Chapter 28
"…guilty of second degree murder."
The gallery exploded with noise. The press was jumping over seats trying to get out and report the news.
Abigail Ann Bartlet, former First Lady of the United States had been convicted of second degree murder in the death of her husband, former President Josiah Bartlet. Within minutes, the news had been flashed around the world.
Her daughters began to cry as they sought each other for comfort. Their mother had just been convicted of causing the death of their father.
Abbey sat down, tears running down her cheeks. She knew that what she had done was wrong, but she had done it for the right reasons.
Pat dropped her shoulders, defeated. She had tried her best to defend her client, but her client's own words had convicted her.
The DA sat in his seat. Internally, he was joyous. The Governor's Mansion was that much closer.
"Mr. Short, do you have a recommendation about continuing bail until time of sentencing?"
"I do, your Honor. I feel Mrs. Bartlet is a flight risk. She has funds to go anywhere she desires. I recommend she be confined in jail until time of sentencing."
Pat jumped up. "Your Honor, my client is not a flight risk. She turned in her passport at the time of the indictment and has remained in the community ever since."
Abbey held her breath while the two attorneys argued about her few remaining days of freedom.
"Mr. Short, the bond is one million, correct?"
"Yes, your Honor."
"What is the collateral?"
"The farm outside of Manchester."
Pat replied in anger. "Your Honor, please. That farm has been in the Bartlet family for over two hundreds years. My client won't do anything to jeopardize that real estate."
Silence covered the courtroom while everyone waited for the judge to reach his decision.
"The defendant's bail will continue until time of sentencing. Court will be in recess for one week. Sentence will be passed at that time."
"All rise."
After the judge left the courtroom, Abbey was still shocked. 'Guilty?'
"Abbey, are you okay?"
It finally registered somewhere in her brain that Pat was talking to her.
Her family and friends gathered around her, offering her support.
Zoey and Liz were crying and trying to hold their mother's hand. Abbey looked to see if Ellie was there, but she could see no sign of her. Millie and Robert were more concerned with her physical state. They knew that her blood pressure had to be extremely high.
Pat looked at the group around her client and wished she had better news. But the jury had not been swayed by her emotional closing statement. They had rightly dealt only with the facts of the case. Even she had to admit that when Abbey had admitted on the stand that her intentions were to help the President meet his God pain free, she knew right away that this was the only verdict possible.
The chips had just crashed all around her client.