“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.
As she viewed the next item, she realized the significance. It was a magazine article from Newsweek, 1979. What caught her attention was the picture of a house, looking very similar to Tony’s. Standing in front of the house was a family. The caption read, “Nathaniel Rawls, wife Sharron, son Samuel, daughter-in-law Amanda, and grandson Anton.” The boy looked twelve to fourteen. Even at that age, she could see his dark eyes. The article expounded on the success of Rawls Corporation. A recent stock split confirmed what everyone was saying, this was an up-and-coming company. Nathaniel’s family enjoyed a lavish lifestyle brought on by his success. The Rawls family lived the American dream—they had it all.
The 1982 Time magazine article only had a picture of Nathaniel and was entitled, “Continued Success.” It quoted a lot of important investors stating the attributes of Rawls Corporation, which was now expanding its ventures with continued success, run mainly by Nathaniel, but also by his son Samuel. There was a quote from Nathaniel about grooming his grandson to take over one day.
The next was Newsweek 1986. It wasn’t just a story; it was the cover. In large letters, with a picture of a house of cards, it read “The House of Rawls Falls.” The story was short, considering that it had been a cover story. The gist of it explained that Rawls Corporation stock plummeted due to allegations of wrongdoing. The magazine couldn’t say too much due to an ongoing federal investigation. As investors pulled their money, the corporation was folding before their eyes. There was much more information in the following article from Newsweek but dated 1987. There was a picture of Nathaniel Rawls wearing prison garb entitled “Nathaniel Rawls Convicted.” Based on evidence from a two-year undercover FBI investigation and testimony, Mr. Rawls was convicted on multiple counts of insider trading, misappropriation of funds, price fixing, and securities fraud. The family’s assets were being sold at auction to help recoup investor loss. Distraught investors were quoted. “We lost everything, and it is good to see the entire family lose everything.” The Rawlses were living the high life, homes, vacations, and belongings. Now they have nothing.