A short newspaper clip dated 1989 indicated Nathanial Rawls dead at sixty-four. Mr. Rawls died after only twenty-two months in a minimum-security facility. The cause of death was a massive heart attack.
The buzzer rang. Claire didn’t want to stop reading. She thought she should grasp some revelation. But other than that Tony’s name had been Anton Rawls before Anthony Rawlings, she didn’t see it. She had to follow the rules, so she put the articles away and turned off her lights.
Her journey resumed the following morning after breakfast. Copies of court documents from New York State vs. Nathaniel Rawls were the next items in the box. Though lengthy, after time, Claire realized a few key testimonies aided in the conviction of Mr. Rawls: first from his son Samuel who had turned state’s witness, second from an undercover FBI agent embedded in the corporation for two years, and lastly a securities investigator. Accompanying these documents was a report stamped “Top Secret.” It gave the unreleased names of the strategic individuals: securities investigator Jonathon Burkes and FBI Agent Sherman Nichols, Claire’s grandfather.
Though warm in her temperature controlled cell, Claire felt a sudden shiver.
A newspaper article also dated 1989: Samuel and Amanda Rawls found dead in their rented Santa Monica bungalow, bodies discovered by their twenty-three-year-old son. Based on the evidence from the scene, it appeared to be a case of murder/suicide. Claire thought back, Tony had mentioned his parents’ death was an accident. That seems to be an all-encompassing word.
NYUNews, 1990 : Anthony Rawlings with Jonas Smithers starts a corporation. While completing their master’s degrees, they filed the necessary paperwork to start Company Smithers Rawlings, CSR. The article said the CSR wanted part of the Internet pie.
NewYorkTimes article, 1994: Anthony Rawlings buys out his friend and partner Jonas Smithers for 4 million dollars. CSR is now Rawlings Industries. The New York Times predicts it is on its way to being an Internet giant.
Newsweek, 1996: Rawlings Industries begins to diversify. Anthony Rawlings, determined to not have allhiseggsinonebasket, enters the realm of entertainment and transportation.
Time magazine, 2003: One of the men mentioned as a runner-up for Man of the Year, Anthony Rawlings. This designation came mainly because of his dedication to people evidenced by Rawlings Industries’ recognition as one of the top ten philanthropic companies in the USA. Mr. Rawlings is quoted, “I plan to spend my life and fortune looking for opportunities to amend my grandfather’s life. Every person is important.”
IndianapolisStarandNews, 2004: Obituary of Jordan and Shirley Nichols.
Claire felt ill as she read the accompanying article with a different mind-set from when she was a grieving child. It talked about the unfortunate accident that claimed their lives, about her father’s police service and full police honors as tribute, and her mother’s devotion to her family and teaching. The accident was caused by wet roads and newly fallen leaves. Photographs taken at the gravesite were clipped to the obituary with words written on the back of each. One of John embracing Emily, John and Emily written on the back; and another of Claire sitting alone, with Claire written on the back in handwriting she recognized. Words came back to her, “Because I wasn’t able to support you when your parents died . . . you had to go through your parents’ death alone. Emily had John but you didn’t have anyone.” With a sudden sickness she realized he’d been there.
ValparaisoUniversityNewsletter, 2005: During the time, Claire was a student. The picture showed Anthony holding a giant check for 5 million dollars. His donation to the university made more scholarships possible.
Again, the buzzer rang. Claire had to wait to continue this journey. She slowly understood that her encounter with Anthony Rawlings in March of 2010 was predestined.
The next items were more actual snapshots, pictures of John and Emily’s wedding. A few even zoomed in on Claire, wearing the ugly sea foam green maid-of-honor dress. Emily and John looked so young and happy, 2005 and Claire written in the familiar handwriting. She wondered, Was he there too?
AlbanyPost, 2006: Appointments to a local law firm. The second name listed was John Vandersol. The article discussed John both professionally and personally. Another 2006 article, “Rawlings Industries Continues to Diversify,” discussed the continued success of any venture Anthony Rawlings put his mind to. Rawlings had now decided to broaden into television with the recent purchase of TTT-TV.
AtlantaDailyJournal, 2009: TTT-TV acquires WKPZ. The acquisition results in multiple layoffs. Anthony Rawlings promised that as the economy improved so will job opportunities. He was dedicated to employment and worried about each individual that was out of work. All of those people who were so nice to her, who helped her with her dream, all lost their jobs because of her.
PeopleMagazine, August 2010: the article which almost killed her. She didn’t need to read it, but she did: “Questions Answered, the Mystery Woman in Anthony Rawlings’s Life Agrees to a One-on-One Interview.” These articles were no longer revelations, mere confirmations. December 19, 2010: Her wedding picture, a smiling her next to a smiling him. She recognized the picture but the unfavorable article was new to her. It talked about how fantastic Anthony was and asked how such a smart businessman could be as gullible as to marry this woman with no prenuptial agreement?
VanityFair, April 2011: Anthony’s and her smiling face on the cover. It hit Claire at that moment. The woman in that picture didn’t even look like her. She was beautiful, blonde, sophisticated, elegant, and way too thin. Not until now had she realized the magnitude of the transformation. She placed a picture of her from Emily’s wedding next to the magazine cover. Did she change or was she changed? And why hadn’t she seen it before?
November 2011: Copy of the printed newsreel Tony brought home. “Tragic Accident Claims the Life of Young Gaming Phenomenon Simon Johnson.”
AlbanyPost, January 2012: column listing arrests: John Vandersol, 32, charged with embezzlement and fraudulent client billing charges. Arraignment is pending.
IowaCityNews, January 2012: Headline, Anthony Rawlings Alive after Attempted Murder by New Wife. No wonder so many reporters had been on the courthouse steps!
IowaCityNews, April 2012: “Claire Nichols (formally Rawlings) avoids trial, pleading no contest to the attempted-murder charge,” accompanied by more unfavorable articles.
IowaCityNews, July 2012: Anthony Rawlings’s Efforts to Save the Iowa Taxpayers Their Money. The picture, black and white, showed a warehouse full of tables lined with merchandise: jewelry, shoes, handbags, clothes, etc. The article explained how Anthony Rawlings, uncomfortable that the taxpayers of Iowa were held responsible for his ex-wife’s pretrial expenses, held an auction of her belongings. It raised enough money to reimburse the state for her counsel and court costs. There was even an additional $176,000 left over, which was donated to the Red Cross of Iowa. Mr. Rawlings explained that this charity remains dear to him because it was Claire’s pet charity. The strip of newspaper that was stapled behind the first had another picture, a close-up of some of the jewelry. The picture was not large, but center frame was a black velvet box containing a white gold necklace with a large pearl centered on a white gold cross.