“No. Don’t worry about that. I’m happy to know you’re not losing it. I was beginning to wonder,” Tom replied with a grin. “We’ll get you out of here as soon as we can.”
“Today. And get me information on my family.”
Brent and Tom nodded.
“Tom,” Tony said, “I want you to go to the hospital. Stephens is a good man, but when Claire wakes, she needs someone she recognizes. I have a bad feeling about Emily and John.”
“The people you risked everything to save?” Tom interjected.
Nodding, Tony continued. “They don’t even know what you know, and that is so little of this story. Everyone keeps questioning our marriage.” Tony’s eyes widened as he turned toward Brent. “I will not implicate anyone else, but as my counsel, please contact the person who can help get the necessary documents to prove we’re married. He’s good, Brent. I’d bet he could obtain what you need in a matter of hours. It would take the State Department days or weeks.”
Tom listened and shrugged. “Need to know?”
“Yes, some things are better left unknown for right now. Just go to Claire. Let Brent get me out of here.”
Tom nodded. “I will.”
“So will I,” Brent replied, and added, “Don’t answer any questions. Don’t let them bait you into anything. Tony, this is not as simple as before. You need to listen to me.”
A slight grin came to Tony’s lips as he once again slapped Brent’s shoulder. “Who am I to refuse the man who just overcame death?”
“What about Courtney?” Tom asked.
“She’s waiting for me here.” Brent’s eyes held the first spark of hope that Tony hadn’t seen in hours. “She wants to go to Claire, but right now she seems to have an issue letting me out of her sight.”
“Thanks Brent. I mean that.” Tony said, with the most heartfelt gratitude he’d ever known. “You too, Tom. I have total faith in both of you. Now get me the hell out of here.”
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.
—Henry Ford
Despite Brent and Tom’s best efforts, the booking of Mr. Anthony Rawlings did occur, as did the booking of Claire Nichols Rawlings. Her name was no longer in question: documentation had been produced verifying their marriage. It didn’t matter who they were or what their last name was. The accusations were too blatant to not be addressed. The Iowa City Police Department had recorded the call from Ms. Catherine London. The transcripts were leaked to the press. She claimed that she feared for her life, said that Anthony Rawlings had returned from hiding and was talking irrationally about killing her and her guests. She wasn’t only scared for herself but for the Vandersols. Why else would he have returned, but to stop their constant public accusations? When the police arrived, the evidence substantiated her claim. Ms. London had been shot. Simple ballistic tests found gun residue, proving that Claire Rawlings was the shooter. According to the Iowa City chief prosecutor, the case was sad, simple, and straightforward.
Due to the severity of the crime, the defendants were not granted stationhouse bail and were kept in custody until the complaint was filed and the first appearance before the judge was scheduled. Claire Rawlings was still in the hospital, and the debate had started about her future. In a bold move, the prosecutor had booked Claire in absentia.
The small Iowa City jail cell wasn’t like anything Tony had ever experienced. Each minute inside of it lasted an eternity. He paced the confines for hours. Thankfully, Brent visited frequently. Of course, it was all in the name of generating Tony’s defense, but it was more than that: it was Tony’s only reprieve, his saving grace. Each time Brent arrived at the jail, a guard would escort Tony from the claustrophobic cell.
“Tell me what’s happening with Claire.” Tony demanded, once they were again alone in the visitor’s room.
“We don’t know much. Roach is our main source of information, and Emily has banned him and anyone else from contact with Claire.”
“I’m her husband. Roach got the documentation from Francis. How can she refuse me? I want to know what’s happening with my wife and daughter. Besides, when Claire gets out of that hospital, she’s not going to jail. I won’t let that happen, not again. I don’t know how she survived in here the first time. She has the full legal staff at Rawlings ready for her defense. Emily can’t possibly want to deny her own sister legal representation.”
Brent shook his head. “She isn’t denying her representation. John is representing her. He has his license back.”
“In Iowa? He was never licensed for Iowa.”
“No, he’s acting as co-counsel with Jane.”
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his dark eyes, and released a long breath. “I’ll pay them whatever they want. I don’t like it, and I’d rather you were involved in her defense, but I think that John and Jane will have her best interests at heart.”
Brent leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Roach is laying low. I told him to leave town, but he won’t. I’m worried that he’ll be charged with aiding and abetting or possibly accessory to commit a crime. He has a rather colorful history. It definitely could be used against him.”
“He doesn’t know a thing. No one does.”
Brent’s brows rose in question.