It was after 3:00 p.m. before she was once again taken to the small table room. A short while later the door opened and a young man, Paul Task, entered, carrying a briefcase, laptop, and wearing a cheap suit. Claire’s first thought was that he looked more like a high school student than an attorney. “Hello, Mrs. Rawlings, I am your attorney Paul Task. I just want you to know that I am so honored to work on your case. Mr. Rawlings has long been an inspiration to us in Iowa City. Everyone has so much respect for him. Why did you try to kill him? Was it because you don’t have a prenuptial agreement? I mean, for the money?”
“No! I didn’t do this. It is a terrible misunderstanding. I know that once my husband is better he will help me. He knows I wouldn’t do this to him.”
“Yes, of course, Mrs. Rawlings—”
After Mr. Task informed the court that Mrs. Rawlings wouldn’t be able to post bond, she was officially charged with a felony. They took her personal property, her jewelry and clothes. They took her picture, her fingerprints, and did a chemical test on her hands. A female officer offered her a prison jumpsuit, underwear, and a bra. Claire accepted it all.
For the next five days Claire waited and responded appropriately to her counsel. She met daily with Paul Task and his associate Jane Allyson. They asked questions and she maintained her innocence. She told them repeatedly the events of the morning in question. She never broke Tony’s rules. When he came to save her, she would be able to tell him she maintained his confidence. She would explain to him that she drove away. But she had decided to turn around. She hadn’t left him but only left the estate for a while. She would apologize, accept his punishment, and life could resume.
She wondered who poisoned Tony. That answer could save her from 162 months in prison. Unfortunately, the evidence pointed to Claire. She gave Tony the mug of coffee at approximately 11:00 a.m. In plain view of fifteen people via a Rawlings Industries web conference, he took a drink and suddenly lost consciousness. The video footage from their home security showed Claire pouring coffee in the kitchen and carrying the coffee to his office. The desk area wasn’t covered by cameras, but Claire was seen walking away from the desk without the mug.
To make this evidence worse, there was video from the garage of Claire telling Eric to go to Iowa City to get paperwork from Mr. Rawlings’s office. Anthony’s secretary Patricia provided a sworn statement that she didn’t have contracts for Mr. Rawlings, and furthermore she hadn’t spoken to him that morning. Being Tony’s primary source of transportation, having Eric gone would help ensure that the poison would have time to work. The same camera in the garage captured Claire taking the keys to the Mercedes and hurrying to the car. The significance of this car is that it was the only car in the garage registered under the name Claire Rawlings.
Claire was shocked. “It can’t be registered in my name. I don’t drive.” Paul showed her a copy of the registration. The same one she handed to the policeman but hadn’t read. According to the dealership, Mr. Rawlings came in himself, paid cash. It was his wife’s Christmas present and had less than a thousand miles on it.
Her statement regarding no valid driver’s license also proved erroneous. Apparently, she did have an “identification card” with the name Claire Rawlings, but her “driver’s license” from Georgia under the name Claire Nichols was still valid. Paul couldn’t understand how Claire wouldn’t know. She tried to explain, “Tony did everything.” Paul didn’t understand and told her that a jury would also have difficulty.
Iowa furnished Claire with clothes for the preexamination conference. The court ordered preliminary conference remained six days away. This meeting would set the tone and direction for the conference. It was usually attended by the prosecuting attorneys, the defense attorneys, and the defendant, Claire. However, unbeknownst to the defendant, the victim requested to make an appearance. The judge agreed. The goal of this meeting was to determine if a trial can be avoided and an agreement made. The victim convinced the judge that he could help facilitate that end.
Mr. Evergreen and two of his associates sat opposite Claire and her team, Paul Task and his cocouncil Jane Allyson, at a large table covered in documents and laptops. The conference was about to begin when her heart skipped a beat. She saw him through the window of the door. She saw his profile: strong, handsome, and inflexible. She watched as he spoke to someone in the hall, turned the door handle, and entered.
Mr. Evergreen and Paul were talking, but as the door opened everyone became silent. The entire room turned to acknowledge the entrance of Mr. Anthony Rawlings. Mr. Evergreen stood. “Mr. Rawlings, I thought we discussed this and you were not to attend this conference.”
“Mr. Evergreen.” the two men shook hands. Claire involuntarily trembled. If only she had known he was going to be there. “I appreciate everyone’s concern for my safety. I will repeat to you what I told Judge Reynolds, I don’t believe my wife is a threat to my well-being. I believe if we can have a few moments alone we can save the taxpayers of Iowa the cost of a lengthy trial, and this court some time. Judge Reynolds has agreed to my request.” Tony’s command of this situation was obvious. It sounded as though he just asked the others to leave the room, but in reality it had been a mandate.
Mr. Evergreen and his team began to move their chairs and stand to leave. Paul and Jane whispered to one another as Paul stood. He leaned to Claire. “I will confirm that this has been approved by Judge Reynolds.” Then speaking to Tony, doing his best to appear professional, however, obviously intimidated by Tony’s mere presence. “Mr. Rawlings, I will need to confirm that Judge Reynolds has indeed approved this visit. In situations such as this—” Tony’s height loomed over Paul as he interrupted and handed Paul a paper from his breast pocket.
“Of course, Mr. Task, I would have expected no less. Here is the good judge’s written approval.” Paul took the paper and scanned its contents.
“Mrs. Rawlings, it appears to be in order.” The men started to walk toward the door. Jane didn’t move. She was the only member of either team to notice Claire’s physical reaction. She sat looking at her notes, at Claire, and at Tony. The silence intensified.
Finally, Jane rose and met Tony’s eyes. “Mr. Rawlings.”
“Ms. Allyson.” they nodded.
“Mr. Rawlings, this is unexpected. I would like to speak to our client for a few moments and determine her desire regarding this meeting. If you would please step into the hall with Mr. Evergreen and his team, Mr. Task and I will discuss this new situation with Mrs. Rawlings.” Tony started to speak, but Jane continued with conviction in her tone. “And then, if Mrs. Rawlings agrees to your meeting it may proceed under her conditions.” Claire felt a newfound appreciation for her young co-counsel.
Mr. Evergreen placed his hand on Tony’s arm and nodded. Tony looked directly at Claire. His dark eyes took her breath away. She hadn’t seen those eyes in almost a week. They filled her with intense emotions, both love and hate. He slowly agreed with a broad smile. Everyone else left the room, leaving Paul, Jane, and Claire alone. Claire remembered to breathe.
Paul started, “Claire, you don’t have to do this. But if you don’t, it will look like you are not interested in the taxpayers.” She wasn’t. “It isn’t just that. The fact he is willing to talk to you, the person accused of his attempted murder, makes him appear honorable and forgiving. If you refuse . . .” Claire listened, but her mind whirled. She believed that Tony knew she wouldn’t do this. Maybe he wanted to take her home, drop the charges, and forget the whole thing. If she left with him today, she would be out of that cell. She would be home!
Jane touched Claire’s arm. Claire turned to her attorney’s concerned expression. “Claire, I think it is completely up to you. Everything that Paul said is true, but none of it matters. You started to shake when he walked in the room. If you want, Paul and I,” she looked at Paul, who didn’t appear as strong as Jane, “or just me, would be willing to stay in here with you.”