Nothing Lasts Forever

by Sidney Sheldon

Chapter Thirty-seven

  It was the final day of the trial. Alan Penn, the defense attorney, was making his summation to the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen, you have heard a lot of testimony about Dr. Taylor's competence or incompetence. Well, Judge Young will instruct you that that's not what this trial is about. I'm sure that for every doctor who did not approve of her work, we could produce a dozen doctors who did. But that is not the issue".

  "Paige Taylor is on trial for the death of John Cronin. She has admitted helping him die. She did so because he was in great pain, and he asked her to do so. That is euthanasia, and it's being accepted more and more throughout the world. In the past year, the California Supreme Court has upheld the right of a mentally competent adult to refuse or demand the withdrawal of medical treatment of any form. It is the individual who must live or die with the course of treatment chosen or rejected. "

  He looked into the faces of the jurors. "Euthanasia is a crime of compassion, of mercy, and I daresay it takes place in some form or another in hospitals all over the world. The prosecuting attorney is asking for a death sentence. Don't let him confuse the issue. There has never been a death sentence for euthanasia. Sixty-three percent of Americans believe euthanasia should be legal, and in eighteen states in this country, it is legal. The question is, do we have the right to compel helpless patients to live in pain, to force them to stay alive and suffer? The question has become complicated because of the great strides we've made in medical technology. We've turned the care of patients over to machines. Machines have no mercy. If a horse breaks a leg, we put it out of its misery by shooting it. With a human being, we condemn him or her to a half life that is hell".

  "Dr. Taylor didn't decide when John Cronin would die. John Cronin decided. Make no mistake about it, what Dr. Taylor did was an act of mercy. She has taken full responsibility for that. But you can rest assured that she knew nothing about the money that was left to her. What she did, she did in a spirit of compassion. John Cronin was a man with a failing heart and an untreatable, fatal cancer that had spread through his body, causing him agony. Just ask yourself one question. Under those circumstances, would you like to go on living? Thank you. " He turned, walked back to the table, and sat next to Paige.

  Gus Venable rose and stood before the jury. "Compassion? Mercy?" He looked over at Paige, shook his head, then turned back to the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have been practicing law in courtrooms for more than twenty years, and I must tell you that in all those years, I have never - never - seen a more clear-cut case of coldblooded, deliberate murder for profit. "

  Paige was hanging on every word, tense and pale.

  "The defense talked about euthanasia. Did Dr. Taylor do what she did out of a feeling of compassion? I don't think so. Dr. Taylor and others have testified that Mr. Cronin had only a few more days to live. Why didn't she let him live those few days? Perhaps it was because Dr. Taylor was afraid Mrs. Cronin might learn about her husband changing his will, and put a stop to it".

  "It's a most remarkable coincidence that immediately after Mr. Cronin changed his will and left Dr. Taylor the sum of one million dollars, she gave him an overdose of insulin and murdered him".

  "Again and again, the defendant has convicted herself with her own words. She said that she was on friendly terms with John Cronin, that he liked and respected her. But you have heard witnesses testify that he hated Dr. Paige Taylor, that he called her 'that bitch,' and told her to keep her fucking hands off him. "

  Gus Venable glanced at the defendant again. There was a look of despair on Paige's face. He turned back to the jury. "An attorney has testified that Dr. Taylor said, about the million dollars that was left to her, 'It's unethical. He was my patient. ' But she grabbed the money. She needed it. She had a drawer full of travel brochures at home - Paris, London, the Riviera. And bear in mind that she didn't go to the travel agency after she got the money. Oh, no. She planned those trips earlier. All she needed was the money and the opportunity, and John Cronin supplied both. A helpless, dying man she could control. She had at her mercy a man who she admitted was in enormous pain - agony, in fact, according to her own admission. When you're in that kind of pain, you can imagine how difficult it must be to think clearly. We don't know how Dr. Taylor persuaded John Cronin to change his will, to cut out the family he loved and to make her his main beneficiary. What we do know is that he summoned her to his bedside on that fatal night. What did they talk about? Could he have offered her a million dollars to put him out of his misery? It's a possibility we must face. In either case, it was cold-blooded murder".

  "Ladies and gentlemen, during this trial, do you know who was the most damaging witness of all?" He pointed a dramatic finger at Paige. "The defendant herself! We've heard testimony that she gave an illegal blood transfusion and then falsified the record. She has not denied that fact. She said that she never killed a patient except John Cronin, but we've heard testimony that Dr. Barker, a physician respected by everybody, accused her of killing his patient".

  "Unfortunately, ladies and gentlemen, Lawrence Barker suffered a stroke and can't be here with us today to testify against the defendant. But let me remind you of Dr. Barker's opinion of the defendant. This is Dr. Peterson, testifying about a patient Dr. Taylor was operating on. "

  He read from the transcript.

  "Dr. Barker came into the operating room during the operation?"

  "Yes. "

  "And did Dr. Barker say anything?"

  "Answer: " He turned to Dr. Taylor and said, "You killed him. "

  "This is from Nurse Berry. 'Tell me some specific things you heard Dr. Barker say to Dr. Taylor. '"

  "Answer: 'He said she was incompetent. . . Another time he said he wouldn't let her operate on his dog. '"

  Gus Venable looked up. "Either there is some kind of conspiracy going on, where all these reputable doctors and nurses are lying about the defendant, or Dr. Taylor is a liar. Not just a liar, but a pathological . . . "

  The rear door of the courtroom had opened and an aide hurried in. He paused in the doorway a moment, trying to make a decision. Then he moved down the aisle toward Gus Venable.

  "Sir . . . "

  Gus Venable turned, furious. "Can't you see I'm. . . ?"

  The aide whispered in his ear.

  Gus Venable looked at him, stunned. "What! That's wonderful!"

  Judge Young leaned forward, her voice ominously quiet. "Forgive me for interrupting you two, but what exactly do you think you're doing?"

  Gus Venable turned to the judge excitedly. "Your honor, I've just been informed that Dr. Lawrence Barker is outside this courtroom. He's in a wheelchair, but he's able to testify. I'd like to call him to the stand. "

  There was a loud buzz in the courtroom.

  Alan Penn was on his feet. "Objection!" he yelled. "The prosecuting attorney is in the middle of his summation. There's no precedent for calling a new witness at this late hour. I - "

  Judge Young slammed her gavel down. "Would counsel please approach the bench. "

  Penn and Venable moved up to the bench.

  "This is highly irregular, your honor. I object . . . "

  Judge Young said, "You're right about its being irregular, Mr. Penn, but you're wrong about its being without precedent. I can cite a dozen cases around the country where material witnesses were allowed to testify under special circumstances. In fact, if you're so interested in precedent, you might look up a case that took place in this courtroom five years ago. I happened to be the judge. "

  Alan Penn swallowed. "Does this mean you're going to allow him to testify?"

  Judge Young was thoughtful. "Since Dr. Barker is a material witness to this case, and was physically unable to testify earlier, in the interest of justice, I'm going to rule that he be allowed to take the stand. "

  "Exception! There is no proof that the witness is competent to testify. I demand a battery of psychiatrists - "

  "Mr. Penn, in this c
ourtroom, we don't demand. We request. " She turned to Gus Venable. "You may bring in your witness. "

  Alan Penn stood there, deflated. It's all over, he thought. Our case is down the drain.

  Gus Venable turned to his aide. "Bring Dr. Barker in. "

  The door opened slowly, and Dr. Lawrence Barker entered the courtroom. He was in a wheelchair. His head was tilted, and one side of his face was drawn up in a slight rictus.

  Everyone watched the pale and fragile figure being wheeled to the front of the courtroom. As he moved past Paige, he looked over at her.

  There was no friendliness in his eyes, and Paige remembered his last words: Who the hell do you think you . . . ?

  When Lawrence Barker was in front of the bench, Judge Young leaned forward and said gently, "Dr. Barker, are you able to testify here today?"

  When Barker spoke, his words were slurred. "I am, your honor. "

  "Are you fully aware of what is going on in this courtroom?"

  "Yes, your honor. " He looked over to where Paige was seated. "That woman is being tried for the murder of a patient. "

  Paige winced. That woman

  Judge Young made her decision. She turned to the bailiff. "Would you swear the witness in, please?"

  When Dr. Barker had been sworn in, Judge Young said, "You may stay in the chair, Dr. Barker. The prosecutor will proceed, and I will allow the defense to cross-examine. "

  Gus Venable smiled. "Thank you, your honor. " He strolled over to the wheelchair. "We won't keep you very long, doctor, and the court deeply appreciates your coming in to testify under these trying circumstances. Are you familiar with any of the testimony that has been given here over the past month?"

  Dr. Barker nodded. "I've been following it on television and in the newspapers, and it made me sick to my stomach. "

  Paige buried her head in her hands.

  It was all Gus Venable could do to hide his feeling of triumph. "I'm sure a lot of us feel the same way, doctor," the prosecutor said piously.

  "I came here because I want to see justice done. "

  Venable smiled. "Exactly. So do we. "

  Lawrence Barker took a deep breath, and when he spoke, his voice was filled with outrage. "Then how the hell could you bring Dr. Taylor to trial?"

  Venable thought he had misunderstood him. "I beg your pardon?"

  "This trial is a farce!"

  Paige and Alan Penn exchanged a stunned look.

  Gus Venable turned pale. "Dr. Barker . . . "

  "Don't interrupt me," Barker snapped. "You've used the testimony of a lot of biased, jealous people to attack a brilliant surgeon. She - "

  "Just a minute!" Venable was beginning to panic. "Isn't it true that you criticized Dr. Taylor's ability so severely that she was finally ready to quit Embarcadero Hospital?"

  "Yes. "

  Gus Venable was starting to feel better. "Well, then," he said patronizingly, "How can you say that Paige Taylor is a brilliant doctor?"

  "Because it happens to be the truth. " Barker turned to look at Paige, and when he spoke again, he was talking to her as though they were the only two people in the courtroom: "Some people are born to be doctors. You were one of those rare ones. I knew from the beginning how capable you were. I was hard on you - maybe too hard - because you were good. I was tough on you because I wanted you to be tougher on yourself. I wanted you to be perfect, because in our profession, there's no room for error. None. "

  Paige was staring at him, mesmerized, her mind spinning. It was all happening too fast.

  The courtroom was hushed.

  "I wasn't about to let you quit. "

  Gus Venable could feel his victory slipping away. His prize witness had become his worst nightmare. "Dr. Barker - it has been testified that you accused Dr. Taylor of killing your patient Lance Kelly. How . . . ?"

  "I told her that because she was the surgeon in charge. It was her ultimate responsibility. In fact, the anesthetist caused Mr. Kelly's death. "

  By now the court was in an uproar.

  Paige sat there, stunned.

  Dr. Barker went on speaking slowly, with an effort. "And as for John Cronin leaving her that money, Dr. Taylor knew nothing about it. I talked to Mr. Cronin myself. He told me that he was going to leave Dr. Taylor that money because he hated his family, and he said he was going to ask Dr. Taylor to release him from his misery. I agreed. "

  There was an uproar from the spectators. Gus Venable was standing there, a look of total bewilderment on his face.

  Alan Penn leaped to his feet. "Your honor, I move for a dismissal!"

  Judge Young was slamming her gavel down.

  "Quiet!" she yelled. She looked at the two attorneys. "Into my chambers. "

  Judge Young, Alan Penn, and Gus Venable were seated in Judge Young's chambers.

  Gus Venable was in a state of shock. "I . . . I don't know what to say. He's obviously a sick man, your honor. He's confused. I want a battery of psychiatrists to examine him and - "

  "You can't have it both ways, Gus. It looks like your case just went up in smoke. Let's save you any further embarrassment, shall we? I'm going to grant a dismissal on the murder charge. Any objection?"

  There was a long silence. Finally, Venable nodded. "I guess not. "

  Judge Young said, "Good decision. I'm going to give you some advice. Never, never call a witness unless you know what he's going to say. "

  The court was in session again. Judge Young said, "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, thank you for your time and your patience. The court is going to grant a dismissal on all charges. The defendant is free. "

  Paige turned to blow Jason a kiss, then hurried over to where Dr. Barker was seated. She slid down to her knees and hugged him.

  "I don't know how to thank you," she whispered.

  "You never should have gotten into this mess in the first place," he growled. "Damned fool thing to do. Let's get out of here and go somewhere where we can talk. "

  Judge Young heard. She stood up and said, "You may use my chambers if you like. That's the least we can do for you. "

  Paige, Jason, and Dr. Barker were in the judge's chambers, alone.

  Dr. Barker said, "Sorry they wouldn't let me come here to help you sooner. You know what goddam doctors are like. "

  Paige was near tears. "I can't tell you how much I . . . "

  "Then don't!" he said gruffly.

  Paige was studying him, suddenly remembering something. "When did you speak to John Cronin?"

  "What?"

  "You heard me. When did you speak to John Cronin?"

  "When?"

  She said slowly, "You never even met John Cronin. You didn't know him. "

  There was the trace of a smile on Barker's lips. "No. But I know you. "

  Paige leaned over and threw her arms around him.

  "Don't get sloppy," he growled. He looked over at Jason. "She gets sloppy sometimes. You'd better take good care of her, or you'll have to answer to me. "

  Jason said. "Don't worry, sir. I will. "

  Paige and Jason were married the following day. Dr. Barker was their best man.