Sidney Sheldon - Nothing lasts forever

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.

Paige Curtis went into private practice and is affiliated with the prestigious North Shore Hospital. Paige used the million dollars John Cronin left her to set up a medical foundation in her father's name in Africa.

Lawrence Barker shares an office with Paige, as a surgical consultant.

Arthur Kane had his license revoked by the Medical Board of California.

Jimmy Ford fully recovered and married Betsy. They named their first daughter Paige.

Honey Taft moved to Ireland with Sean Reilly, and works as a nurse in Dublin.

Sean Reilly is a successful artist, and shows no symptoms of AIDS, as yet.

Mike Hunter was sentenced to state prison for armed robbery and is still serving time.

Alfred Turner joined a practice on Park Avenue and is enormously successful.

Benjamin Wallace was fired as administrator of Embarcadero County Hospital.

Lauren Harrison married her tennis pro.

Lou Dinetto was sentenced to fifteen years in the penitentiary for tax evasion.

Ken Mallory was sentenced to life imprisonment. One week after Dinetto arrived at the penitentiary, Mallory was found stabbed to death in his cell.

The Embarcadero Hospital is still there, awaiting the next earthquake.