Consequences (77 page)

Claire only received two visitors since her arrest. The first was in Iowa City before she gave her plea and was transferred to the correctional institution. Following a guard, she found her best friend waiting. Courtney was in Fiji during Claire’s arrest and came as soon as they returned. Visibly distraught as Claire was escorted by a guard, Courtney apologized to Claire for not being a better friend. If she had pursued her concerns more, perhaps Claire wouldn’t have felt the need to resort to such drastic measures to get away from Tony. Claire assured her, “I did not try to kill Tony. Please don’t believe everything you hear or see. Remember Tony’s regard for appearances. Many times, things are not as they seem.” Courtney said she understood and would try to help her, but . . . Brent, his job . . . Claire hadn’t heard from her since. Honestly, she understood.

The only other visitor since her incarceration was Emily. Claire knew that the trip to Mitchellville, Iowa was difficult for her. When Emily had time to travel she would visit John in New York.

Now Claire curiously followed the guard down the halls and through multiple gates, each one locking, unlocking, and making the electronic beep sound. Wearing her prison clothes she entered a room to find Brent Simmons. It had been so long she momentarily thought she was seeing a friend visit a friend. Brent’s expression instantaneously changed her mind. Claire sat where the guard indicated. The guard then stepped from the room, leaving Brent and Claire alone.

She knew this was
business,
but he was her friend. She couldn’t stop herself. “Brent, how are you? How is Courtney? When is Caleb’s wedding?”

Stone faced and sober, Brent replied, “Ms. Nichols, I have been instructed to inform you of an impending civil suit in which you will be named the defendant.”

Creating an equally professional persona Claire responded, “Okay. Thank you for informing me, may I ask the grounds for this suit?”

“My client has reason to believe that you have spoken slander against him. This defamation of his character is being considered a ploy to damage his personal and professional reputation.” Brent said what was needed, with the demeanor necessary, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Claire looked different from what he expected. It wasn’t just her hair and the clothes, she had confidence and strength. These qualities had never been evident before. He recalled seeing her for the first time on Tony’s plane to New York. She looked nervous and insecure, yet tried to appear otherwise. Now after almost six months, three in a federal penitentiary, Claire seemed independent and strong. He knew it wasn’t where she’d been, but where she hadn’t. She hadn’t been under the gaze of the black eyes. Just like actual black holes they sucked strength, confidence, and assurance out of anyone close enough to be pulled into their orbit.

Carefully considering Brent’s words, Claire laughed and replied, “Thank you, Mr. Simmons. I am very concerned that your client will want my allegations made public, as would happen in such a suit.”

“Ms. Nichols, damage to my client’s professional reputation could result in a loss of income. A civil suit is meant to subsidize that loss of income.”

Smiling, she said, “And of course I have the necessary capital to subsidize your client’s income.”

“It is my responsibility to inform you that such a suit is under consideration and if filed you could be found liable.” Brent stood to leave.

“Brent, can you please talk with me for a minute?” The defeated look of his eyes said no. Brent was just north of fifty but his face looked much older. There were lines and definite circles under his sad eyes. He continued to gather his belongings. “Mr. Simmons?” They made eye contact. “Your wife told me one time that life is not a daily test. She said perfection is not always necessary. I want you to know that I know. I know better than anyone else, today you just passed a test.” She saw the change in his eyes, they glistened with a minuscule amount of moisture and he ever so slightly nodded his head in agreement. He started toward the door. “Mr. Simmons, two more things.” He stopped, she sounded so confident. “Should the subject come up for discussion, I welcome the suit. It will give me the opportunity to make my allegations again, perhaps to a larger forum.” He nodded with a knowing smile. She was right. Tony would never risk that exposure. “And the other thing, I truly love and miss your wife. If she cares, please tell her I really am fine. More fine than I used to be.”

“Thank you, Ms. Nichols. You have been notified.”

“Yes, Mr. Simmons, I have. Thank you.” He knocked and the guard opened the door. He left. The guard took Claire back to her cell. Walking through the halls, through the various locked gates, Claire couldn’t help feeling sorry for Brent. His prison was more of a hell than hers.

About three weeks later she received a short note in the mail. The return address was a PO box in Chicago, she didn’t recognize the name. But the note filled Claire with love and support. It wasn’t much, but it was something. To Claire, that was a lot!

I
care.
I’m
glad.
I’m
sorry.
I
miss
you
too,
and
I
hope
to
be
able
to
do
more.
I
love
you!
Cort

Claire kept the note and read it daily. Over time more notes arrived. Sue and Tim had a healthy baby boy. Caleb and Julia’s wedding will be in June of 2013, little bits of information always signed with love.

You
have
to
accept
whatever
comes
and
the
only
important
thing
is
that
you
meet
it
with
courage
and
with
the
best
that
you
have
to
give.

—Eleanor Roosevelt

 Chapter 52

When the package arrived in October of 2012, Claire assumed it was from Emily. After all, it had her return address on the label. However, when she opened the box, she knew otherwise. It contained old magazines, newspaper clippings or photocopied clippings, and some photographs. Everything in the box was meticulously organized in chronological order. The first item was a note, not signed but it didn’t need to be.

Consider
this
information
perhaps
the
only
act
of
complete
honesty
I
have
ever
shown
you.
I
didn’t
need
to
do
this,
but
I
chose
to
educate
you
some
more.
Hopefully
you
will
understand
that
you
were
but
a
piece
of
the
puzzle.
All
behaviors,
good
or
bad,
have
consequences,
and
even
the
truth
can’t
fight
appearances.

As
I
assume
you
have
plenty
of
time
available
to
you,
read
it
all.
You
will
find
it
enlightening.
In
another
life,
under
different
circumstances,
it
may
have
been
different.
You
taught
me
much,
I
believe
you
learned
some
lessons
too.

PS
I
told
you
once
that
your
appropriate
responses
benefited
you.
The
consequence
could
not
be
improved,
but
you
did
have
a
positive
effect
on
the
actions,
for
that
we
should
both
be
thankful.
I
am.

Sitting the box in the corner of her cell, she began with the first item. Dated 1975, it was a copy of an old newspaper article that talked at length about Rawls Corporation, a privately owned company specializing in textiles. The owner, Nathaniel Rawls, was interviewed because Rawls Corporation was going public. It opened on the NYSE at fifty cents a share. In the first day, it had risen to eighty-nine cents a share. Claire didn’t understand the significance of this information. But Tony told her to read it all, so she did.