“And your father?” The blackness of Nathaniel’s eyes pulled Anton’s gaze to him. He felt compelled to maintain eye contact and surrender the rest of his information.
“He testified for the state.” Nathaniel’s pacing continued. “It was done behind closed doors, but it isn’t secret. The media calls him the hero in our family.”
Nathaniel collapsed red faced and defeated into his chair. The realization that his son had turned state’s witness was obviously affecting him. His tone mellowed. “Boy, you will survive.”
“Yes, sir, I will.”
“Being here today, discovering this information, and most importantly having the balls to bring it to me are all evidence of your future. Your father has always been a disappointment, but I believe he was better at one thing than me.” Anton sat in the metal chair facing his grandfather. There was sincerity in his tone and words, he asked Nathaniel to go on. “Public opinion, I never gave a damn what anyone thought. I worked hard and deserved all the money and possessions. I wanted more. That was never a secret. Remember this, you can want the whole goddamn world but never show it.” Nathaniel stared up at the camera in the corner of the room. “If they know what you want, they’ll watch you and take it away. Keep up appearances, boy. If you do that, you can take everything you want, the whole damn world is yours.”
Happiness doesn’t depend on any external conditions,
it is governed by our mental attitude.
—Dale Carnegie
Chapter 51
Claire had been incarcerated for over three months and had come to terms with the knowledge that it would not end soon. The claustrophobic cell and virtual isolation were her new norm. Surprisingly, she was adapting. It was difficult at first, but with time, she developed strength and resolve.
On April 18, 2012, the courtroom sat empty except for the judge, defendant, and legal teams. Each word resonated throughout the cavernous room. Claire Nichols stood in front of the federal court judge and with the help of her legal team pleaded no contest to the charge of attempted murder. As the judge explained the consequences of Claire’s plea, she listened, felt the smooth finish of the chair she used for support, watched the judge’s lips, and wept silently.
This plea saved her the indignity of a jury trial. She didn’t admit guilt, but would not, could not challenge the charges. Therefore, she would take a lesser sentence but couldn’t later decide to appeal. She would avoid Mr. Evergreen and his questions. She would escape the dark penetrating eyes of Anthony Rawlings as she testified. She wouldn’t need to explain to the entire world how she was forced to do things and how things were so different from how they appeared. She could just go away quietly.
The court of public opinion had not gone well either. The people of Iowa City, of Iowa, and of the United States all found her guilty. They tried her as a gold digger. Of course, most of the information hadn’t come out. Even that shared with the members of both legal teams remained private. Anthony Rawlings made sure of it.
The federal judge sentenced her to seven years in prison, minus time served, to be served in a moderate security federal penitentiary. The severity of her crime required a moderate security facility. Apparently, even her ex-husband testified to the judge, asking for a minimum-security facility, more evidence of his forgiving, kind character.
Counsel on behalf of Anthony Rawlings filed the necessary paperwork to dissolve the marriage between him and Claire Nichols. Of course, there was no contest. With a few connections, the court papers were expedited. The divorce was finalized on March 20, 2012. Since there wasn’t a prenuptial agreement, Claire received no financial compensation for her fifteen-month marriage. After all, she was charged with his attempted murder. Why would she get any financial compensation?
According to the smut television shows that played in the common area of the prison, Mr. Rawlings was having no problem finding women to take her place. The world rallied around him and his unfortunate situation. Even Rawlings Industries stock soared.