“She would make me collect her prescription medication on a regular basis. It made me uncomfortable because it’s not in my job description. My duties are mainly administration.”
Una lets out an audible huff of annoyance from her place in the courtroom. When I look at Jay, he has his arms folded, and there’s the slightest touch of a smile on his face. Then I study Emma, and there’s no denying that she’d rather be anywhere else than on that witness stand right now, no matter if she is unhappy in her job. Somehow, Jay has coerced her into being here. I can just tell.
Dad walks over to the desk and picks up several sheets of paper. He hands them to Emma.
“Are you familiar with these documents, Mrs Feelan?”
“Yes.”
“Where have you seen them before?”
“Miss Harris had me regularly visit her doctor and collect these prescriptions before going to the pharmacy to have them filled.”
“Was there any money exchanged?”
“Yes.”
“How much money?”
Emma scratches at her arm before answering, “Anywhere between two hundred and five hundred euros.”
“Did you find this unusual?”
“I did, but it wasn’t my job to question it. I carried out many tasks for Miss Harris. She’s a very busy woman.”
“I have no doubt. Did you also pay money to the pharmacist who filled the prescription, that is to say, over and above the usual cost of the drugs?”
“Yes.”
Oh, my God. Several people in the gallery gasp in surprise. It’s quite obvious where Dad is going with this, even if on the surface the topic might seem irrelevant.
“In your personal experience, is this usual when collecting medication?”
“No. I have never paid for medicine for myself in this way.”
“In your experience dealing with Miss Harris, did you know her to have any long-standing illnesses that would necessitate the kind of medication she was having you collect for her?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“And in your personal opinion, would you say that Miss Harris was having you procure these medications because she was addicted?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes she would act unusually irritable or confused at the office, but I put it down to stress.”
“Objection,” Thomas Jenkins interrupts. “There is no evidence to prove that my client is not sick, and this line of questioning could be incriminating the witness.”
Dad picks up the prescription papers again and hands them to the judge. “I will bring your attention to the amounts that were being prescribed each month. Even if Miss Harris was severely ill, no law-abiding doctor would prescribe these levels of medication.”
“Overruled,” says the judge.
Dad returns his attention to Emma. “Did you ever try to refuse to carry out Miss Harris’ bidding?”
Emma swallows. “Yes. On several occasions I refused and she threatened to sack me from my job. She also said she’d make certain that I couldn’t find another one.”
“How did that make you feel?”
“I was in fear for my livelihood.”
“One final question. In your personal opinion, do you think that Miss Harris could be trusted to carry out properly researched journalism while under the influence of the kind of medication she was taking?”
“No.”
“Thank you, Mrs Feelan.”
Thomas Jenkins steps up for the cross examination, and although he does an extremely good job of questioning Emma and salvaging some of Una’s reputation, Dad’s point has been made clear. Una Harris is an addict, unfit to carry out her job, and therefore none of what she has written about Jay can be considered credible. Dad even brings a medical professional to the stand to give evidence of how the drugs Una was taking could hinder her, physically and mentally.
When the court adjourns for a break, I rise out of my seat with purpose. I want to talk to Jessie. I catch up to her as she moves to leave the gallery, grabbing her by the arm and practically dragging her outside with me.
“Hey, easy does it, Matilda!” she exclaims. “You’re gonna pull my arm out of the socket.”
“I want to talk to you in private,” I tell her, leading her to the ladies’ disabled bathroom farthest away from the courtrooms. We go inside, and it’s thankfully empty.
I let go of her arm and put my hands on my hips. “What’s going on here?”
“What do you mean?”
“The flipping cougar is Una Harris’ assistant, Jessie! Did you and Jay think I wouldn’t remember her? I’m not stupid.”
“Listen….” she begins, but before she can say anything more, the bathroom door opens and Jay strides in.