Authors: Aleatha Romig
Perhaps it was the check
-- $100,000, made payable to
Cash
or the unsigned note, but accepting this
assignment screamed wrong. What attorney in her right mind would
accept a task and payment from an unknown source? Her future as
well and law license may hinge on this decision. Jane knew she
should consult the partners of her firm. That was her intent, until
the small digital readout at the bottom of her computer screen
caught her attention: 4:32 PM. The governor’s office was a ten
minute walk.
Jane delivered the signed petition.
Now, she nervously awaited the future. The
governor’s decision was made. Jane had watched his press conference
on the web. Pacing her office, she continued to question the ethics
and legality of her decision. If her telephone never rang, if the
pardon wasn’t granted, no one would ever know she filed the
petition. The check would remain in her file cabinet. No matter the
governor’s decision, cashing the check seemed immoral and
unethical.
On the wall in an impressive oak frame,
matted against distinguished slate backing was her diploma from the
University of Iowa, College of Law. The official seal reflected
light even through the glass. Could her decision to help this woman
and accept this assignment void those years of education?
She continued to pace the carpeted floor.
She had plenty of work she could be doing. But, with the press
conference an hour ago, she couldn’t concentrate on anything except
willing her phone to ring. If the call didn’t come soon, it never
would.
The memories of Claire
Nichols’ case flooded Jane’s thoughts. The idea to request a pardon
had never occurred to her, but it
was
a good idea. The part that
scared her – hell, it must have scared the person who sent her the
application -- was Anthony Rawlings. The man was extremely
influential. There would be repercussions if the pardon was
actually granted. Jane pushed those thoughts away. She couldn’t
think about that now. She could only wait.
Lost in her own thoughts, the ringing of her
telephone made her heart race and body flinch. Momentarily, she
stared at the devise. Was it her imagination? Were the sounds truly
resonating from the small plastic telephone? Reaching for the
receiver, with a trembling hand, she utilized her courtroom skills
and steadied her voice. “Hello, yes, this is Jane Allyson…”
Jane’s grip upon the steering wheel blanched
her knuckles. The drive from Des Moines to Mitchellville took less
than thirty minutes, and at two fifteen in the afternoon traffic
wasn’t an issue. The issue which lingered in Jane’s mind was her
continual work under the radar. No one on planet Earth knew what
she was doing. It added to the mystery.
The dichotomous March sky stretched before
her, gray upon gray. The shades weren’t the same, yet they weren’t
different. Just clouds upon clouds. Turning east onto highway I 80
Jane thought about the prisoner only a few miles ahead. In her
briefcase, on the seat next to her, was the one page document that
would change Claire Nichols’ life forever.
Three days ago, this document didn’t exist.
Jane Allyson wondered about the petition and the check. Right or
wrong, she decided to keep the assignment to herself. In the world
of money and influence, anyone could be tempted to inform Anthony
Rawlings of her impending quest.
She wasn’t accusing anyone, at any level, of
wrong doing. It was only that Claire made claims, real valiant
assertions and accusations. Like mist from a lake into the cool
evening sky, her testimony evaporated. Over a year later, no one --
not even nosey reporters -- had the slightest inclination of the
possible alternate personality of Iowa’s golden boy. Some small
voice within Jane’s soul warned her not to share her current
activities. Once complete, she would request a meeting with the
partners of the firm. Hopefully, they would understand. At this
moment, Jane chose to worry about Claire, instead of possible
personal consequences.
Unbelievably, the list of pardoned
individuals released to the media following the press conference
didn’t include Claire Nichols. Yet, the document was in Jane’s
possession. Pulling into the visitor’s parking area, Jane Allyson
tingled with anticipation. Fourteen months ago she wasn’t able to
help her client. Today she would.
The elation vaporized with
an unexpected realization. Jane stood statuesque, her hand upon the
door, immobilized by a thought,
who has
$100,000 available to free Claire from prison?
She’d been so attached to the premise that it was
someone
who feared
Anthony Rawlings. What if instead of someone who
feared
him, what if
it
was
him
?
Could
it be? But why?
By submitting the
petition, instead of being a rebel, could Jane be a pawn? What if
the freedom she was about to grant Claire was nothing more than an
enticement to a web? Her hand held the door handle, and her stomach
lurched. Jane couldn’t let these thoughts stop her forward
progress. Claire Nichols deserved freedom. Jane needed to intercede
and assure Claire’s freedom wasn’t only from the state of Iowa,
but
out
of
Iowa.
An eerie florescent glow
illuminated the small dingy visitor’s room. The artificial light
added to the coolness of the metal table and chairs. Jane continued
to check her watch.
How long does it take
to bring a prisoner to this room?
The answer was thirteen minutes. Nearly
thirteen minutes after Jane’s arrival to the small colorless room
the door opened. Accompanied by a guard, Claire Nichols entered and
sat in the opposing chair. She looked much as Jane remembered, with
her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. Although her complexion
was pale, even without makeup, her eyes were still the vivid green.
Though similar in stature to herself, the prisoner appeared more
petite inside her Iowa issued jumpsuit.
“
Jane, I’m surprised to
see you. Why are you here?” Claire’s inquiry sounded amazingly
strong.
“
Have you heard of a
pardon?’
“
Yes, it’s something the
president does before he leaves office. Why?”
“
Because it’s also
something the governor does before leaving office.”
Claire’s green eyes narrowed as she searched
for words. “I don’t understand.”
“
Governor Bosley has
cancer. He resigned from office today.”
“
I’m sorry to hear that. I
believe he attended my wedding.” She paused momentarily
contemplating the information, “What did you just say about a
pardon?”
“
Claire, he signed a
number of pardons before his resignation. The one I came to talk to
you about is yours.”
Claire heard Jane’s words. She tried
diligently to process the information, but it wasn’t making sense.
Words weren’t forming. Tears were.
Jane watched as her former
client struggled with her new reality. “First, you must accept the
pardon.” Jane pulled the paper from her brief case and placed it on
the smooth surface in front of Claire. “Once you do,
you
are
free.”
The prisoner stared at the document before
her. She read her name and the charges. Governor Bosley’s signature
was present with the official state stamp of Iowa. Only one line
remained blank, the line for her signature. When her eyes left the
paper and returned to the woman who’d been her defense counsel
thirteen months ago, they sparkled with moisture which now coated
her cheeks.
Claire needed reassurance.
Too many times in her life she’d been deceived. “Why do
I
have a pardon…
and
free
… what
does that mean? Free as in free, or free as in I must be watched
and monitored…” her voice faded into unsuppressed
emotions.
Jane reached across the
table and held Claire’s trembling hands. “If you sign this
petition, you are free. A pardon means all charges are gone. They
are expunged from your record. You are forgiven. You may leave this
prison today and never look back.” As the words tumbled from Jane’s
lips, Claire’s resolve melted. Her shoulders slumped and head
bowed. Sounds didn’t indicate her sobs; it was the shuttering of
her shoulders. Jane squeezed her hands. “You may go anywhere
YOU
want,
whenever
YOU
want. Claire, where do you want to go?”
Her green eyes glistened
as her gaze returned to her counsel. “Where do
I
want to go?” Claire’s mind spun,
it had been so terribly long since she’d control of her future. “I
don’t know.”
“
I guess the first
question you need to answer is: Do you accept the pardon?” Jane
watched as Claire’s chest heaved. In desperation, the woman in
orange attire nodded, words continued to fail her. “Then you need
to sign the petition.” Claire nodded again.
It took some time for Jane to calm her
client. Once done, they secured her signature. There was processing
to do, but before this day was done, Claire would leave the
penitentiary alongside Jane.
“
When will I be released?”
Claire found her voice, although more tentative than
before.
“
I’m not leaving today
without you.”
Claire’s eyes beamed admiration toward her
counsel. “What do I need to do?”
“
Do you have anything in
your cell you want to take with you?”
Claire debated her
personal belongings.
Yes, there were
pictures, letters, research, and some tokens
. She nodded.
“
Then you go back to your
cell with a guard. I’ll take this pardon to the main office.
They’ll bring you to me in a short time.” Claire continued to nod
in agreement. “I have some clothes in case the ones you wore during
your arrest don’t fit. They’ll return all your belongings from that
day.”
“
Thank you.” Claire looked
down at the table. “I don’t have any money to pay you for your
work.”
Jane thought of the cashier’s check. “Let’s
get you out of here, and then we’ll talk reimbursement.” Jane’s
smile proved contagious. Claire returned the smile and squeezed
Jane’s hands. “Before you go back to your cell, who can I call? Is
there someone who can meet you? Someone to take you somewhere? Or
do you want to stay in Iowa?” Jane silently prayed her client
wanted to leave, and she had somewhere to go.
“
Where can I
go?”
“
Anywhere you want. Who
can I call?”
Claire contemplated the question. She wanted
to leave Iowa and all its memories as soon as possible. But who
could help her? She had no money. Her sister would come, but it
would take her time. Besides, Emily didn’t have money either. Then
she thought of someone, an albeit unlikely friend.
Many months ago, after receiving Anthony’s
box of secrets, Claire decided to contact Amber McCoy, Simon
Johnson’s fiancée. She felt a connection, two women done wrong by
the actions of Anthony Rawlings. Today, Claire knew Amber was the
one person who could help. “Amber McCoy, CEO of SiJo Gaming, Palo
Alto, California. I don’t know her number.”
Writing everything down, Jane answered,
“Don’t worry, I’ll get in contact with her before you reach me in
the main office.”
“
Thank you.” Claire stood
and walked toward the door. With her hand in mid knock, she
repeated, “Really Jane, thank you, I never expected this,
ever.”
“
We’ll talk more in the
car. Now get your things, there is a big wonderful world waiting
for you.” Jane watched as Claire lifted her head and squared her
shoulders. Next, she knocked upon the door and was led to her cell.
For a few more minutes Claire endured the indignation of her
prisoner status. The guard didn’t know she was now a free woman.
Unlike the last time, as Jane watched Claire escorted away, this
time, she took comfort in knowing it was only temporary.
Jane wondered why it wasn’t more difficult.
Removing a prisoner from a medium security penitentiary should be
harder. Yet, with the governor’s signature and a piece of paper,
Claire Nichols was now riding in the passenger seat of her Toyota
Corolla, wearing jeans and hiking boots from fourteen months
earlier.
Claire chose to wear the blouse Jane brought
for her. It was slightly large, but nonetheless, as Jane viewed
Claire in her peripheral vision, Claire didn’t seem concerned.
Instead, she appeared mesmerized by the landscape, occasionally
sighing or dabbing her eyes. Jane tried to imagine Claire’s state
of mind. Of course, her client was emotional; her entire life had
just abruptly changed – again. It would be a difficult transition
for anyone.
Sporadically, Jane checked her rearview
mirror. There were no signs they were being followed. However, if
the benefactor of the $100,000 knew about Claire’s release, Jane
worried he or she might be waiting for their departure.
Breaking the silence, Jane said, “I didn’t
speak with Ms. McCoy, but her assistant said there’ll be a ticket
waiting for you at the American Airlines counter.”
“
I don’t have
identification.” The sudden realization frightened Claire. Could
this oversight land her back in prison?
“
Yes, you do. Iowa issued
you an identification card identifying your personal belongings.
You have all of that don’t you?”