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.

As Claire was about to close up the box, something caught her eye. Folded in the bottom was a napkin. She pulled it out and unfolded it. On the napkin in scrolling red letters: Red Wing. Under the words on each side were signatures, Claire Nichols and Anthony Rawlings. Above the red letters: Job Contract, and the date, March 15, 2010. She turned the napkin over, no other writing. There was no agreement, no definition of duties and no life-changing event, just a napkin with signatures.

Claire’s mind swirled with possibilities: she could take this information and ask for a new trial. No. She entered a plea of no contest and by definition couldn’t appeal. He knew that. Besides, the legal system and the court of public opinion hadn’t believed her before, they wouldn’t believe her now.

She questioned why he would share the information. Obviously, he didn’t view her as a threat. As Claire repacked the box, she contemplated and found a better reason. Tony spent years—no, decades—planning his vendetta. He liked recognition for his accomplishments. He required gratitude for his deeds. There was no one else with whom he could share his hard work. She wondered what sort of recognition he expected, perhaps a “well done” note?

She kept some of the photos, put everything else back in the box, and requested permission to take the box to the incinerator. The guard consented and accompanied her to the basement. As they walked the passages, thoughts and ideas began to flow through Claire’s mind. She believed that her actions kept her alive. She also knew that obedience took more strength than retaliation. Today with each echoing step she took, her strength transformed into an overwhelming desire for retaliation. She lived her life governed by her grandmother’s and mother’s words, which encouraged truth and forgiveness. The truth did not set her free. The thoughts of revenge weren’t only fueled by her consequences, but the consequences of her parents, John, Emily, Simon, her friends at WKPZ, and even her grandmother’s necklace.

Opening the incinerator, she felt the warmth. It reminded her of the fires in her suite, Tony’s suite, and Lake Tahoe. Throwing the box into the flames, she watched the contents ignite. The flickering of the flames brought back the flames of her past: love, fear, contempt, desire, passion, pain, and sadness. As the fire consumed the memories, it fueled a new determination. Two and a half years ago, she had one goal—survival. Now she had a new one: Mr. Anthony Rawlings will learn that his actions have consequences. Claire contemplated her actions. She had received the rare opportunity to know him. With that knowledge, she had four to seven years to plan his demise.

She turned back to the guard. Immediately, he noticed something different about the prisoner. It was her smile. How could he not notice? It extended into her emerald eyes.

  In three words I can sum up everything

I’velearnedaboutlife:itgoeson. —Robert Frost

 Afterward

The Massachusetts autumn remained cooler than normal. Shivering, Sophia entered her art studio thinking about the events of the last few weeks. First she presented a hugely successful gallery exhibit. Guests and investors from all over the East Coast were in attendance. Her dream was becoming reality as word spread about her art. Then in the course of a day, her whole world fell apart.

The call came just as she left for work two weeks earlier. She almost didn’t answer but decided to pick up after the fourth ring. The New Jersey police called to inform her that a blue Toyota Camry was found by passing drivers. The accident must have occurred during the night. It is believed that perhaps her father lost control on the wet leaves, or it may have been an acceleration issue. She could request tests. He offered his sincere condolences. Could she possibly travel to New Jersey and identify the bodies? Both her mother and her father were killed instantly.

She had so many responsibilities, so many activities that the next week passed in a blur. There was the funeral planning and the settling of their estate. That would take months or years. Sadly, she hadn’t realized the debt her parents incurred helping her with her studio.

Now with a minute to herself, she couldn’t stay home. She feared she would do nothing but cry. That is why even on this cloudy Saturday afternoon, Sophia decided to come into the studio. Putting her purse in the office, she heard the bell on the front door. Damn, she meant to lock that. It wasn’t that she was afraid. This was a great town. She just wanted some quiet time alone.