Chapter 21
"Warden, I want to see Mrs. Bartlet and right now."
"Sir, she's in isolation for attacking a guard. That means she cannot have any visitors."
"I know the damn rules. You will bring Mrs. Bartlet to this office right now."
"Yes, sir." Warden Moore picked up the phone and gave the order.
Millie, Liz, and Bill were impatiently waiting for her to arrive. The biggest question was what condition Abbey would be in. Two weeks in isolation on top of two serious physical attacks would begin to break anybody, even a person as strong as Abigail Bartlet.
Soon, Abbey arrived in leg shackles and handcuffs. She had a blank stare on her face, as if she was willing her mind to think about other things than current reality.
Liz gasped when she saw the blank expression on her mother's face. The image only served to make her angrier at the trauma that her mother was facing in prison. Physical and mental trauma that would have already broken a weaker person.
The warden stood away from the group and smiled. The great Mrs. Bartlet was in no shape to speak to anyone.
He had personally given orders to place the prisoner in isolation. He knew that the action would cause concern, so he expected this little meeting to take place sooner or later. After he had proven to his boss there was no problem, the harassment could start again.
He so despised this woman. This woman who had taken his wife from him so many years ago. The so-called highly-skilled surgeon whose skill had not been enough to save his wife, who had died on the operating table. And all she could say was "I'm sorry."
He hated this woman and was miraculously given a chance to put his hatred into actions that caused her the same grief he had felt so many years ago. He thanked God for putting her here so he could do just that.
"Mom. It's Liz." Liz bent down next to her mother, speaking softly and stroking her arm, trying to make her respond. "Look at me Mom. Please look at me."
But there was still no response.
Abbey continued to have a blank stare until she realized that her friends and family were in the room to help her. Finally, a small smile broke across her face. 'Maybe things are going to get better now.'
"Mrs. Bartlet, I'm Dan Corinthian, the Director of Corrections in New Hampshire." Abbey looked at the big man who sat down in front of her and took her hands gently in his. "I have reports that you have suffered attacks by the guards here at the prison. Is that true?"
Abbey looked around the room at everybody's face, one at a time. Millie nodding. Bill smiling. Liz kneeling by her side, stroking her arm. "Tell them Mom. Tell them the truth."
Maybe this was her chance. A chance she had been praying for.
It was the time to come forward. It was time to draw upon her strength that had seen her through the past eleven months.
It was time she asked for heavenly assistance. 'Jed, help me do the right thing. Help me.'
Abbey opened her mouth to answer the Director. The answer she knew she had to give.
