Tears threatened to stream as I faced his rage. Though every muscle in my body wanted to turn away and run, I knew that wasn’t an option. I stood resolute as his anger spilled forth. My choice of clothing was inconsequential in the equation of the day. As I stood before him, with his business associate still on hold, he told me to undress.
I did.
Phil hated the damn book. He’d done enough research to know that Rawlings and Claire had an unusual relationship, especially in the beginning. However, he’d also spent a lot of time with the two of them and knew that what he was reading was not what he’d witnessed. Yet he also knew the book was based on truth. He’d been around each time Claire and Meredith met.
The topic also came up during a recent meeting with Mr. Rawlings and Brent Simmons at Rawlings’ office. Once they were all seated, Rawlings was the first to speak.
“I’ve reached a plea agreement with the prosecutor.”
Phil nodded.
Tony continued, “I know you probably have the opportunity for more exciting jobs than watching the Vandersols with Nichol and trying to learn about Claire, but I called you here to ask you to keep working for me.”
Phil considered reminding him that he actually worked for Claire, but there was a tiredness about Rawlings’ demeanor that stilled his words. For the first time since he’d met him, Phil felt a pang of sadness at Tony’s weary expression. He wasn’t the domineering man who’d hired him to find and trail his ex-wife. No longer was he the man who had all the answers or made all of the decisions. He seemed older. Phil was glad he’d decided not to share the information about Harrison Baldwin’s visit. He wasn’t sure Rawlings could’ve taken it.
Trying to lighten the somber mood, Phil responded with a slight grin, “I wasn’t planning on stopping, even if you told me you wanted me to.”
Though his eyes didn’t join the party, Tony smiled back. “Thank you. It’ll be easier being away knowing that you’re watching over both of them.”
“Do you know how long you’ll be away?”
Brent answered, “The length of incarceration can change depending on circumstances in prison, but the current agreement is for four years, minus time served.”
Four years. Phil had enough criminal knowledge to know that something had changed. Even after Rawlings was cleared of helping Catherine with her poisoning deaths, there was still Simon Johnson’s murder. It was murder for hire, but he’d admitted to it. Phil doubted that even Anthony Rawlings could get a life sentence reduced to four years.
“I’ll be honest: I thought it would be longer,” Phil replied. “What happened?”
Brent responded, “The FBI dropped the murder charge for Simon Johnson. They said that the NTSB found no signs of tampering with Simon’s plane. Since Tony confessed to making the contact with the intent to murder, the murder charge was reduced to conspiracy, a second-degree felony. Tony also admitted to supplying Catherine with the money for one known hit—that was the second conspiracy charge. Due to his cooperation with prosecuting Catherine and turning state’s evidence, those two charges were negotiated to time served and a hefty fine.”
Phil looked puzzled. “Then what’s with the four years?”
“Kidnapping and sexual assault,” Tony said matter-of-factly.
Brent corrected, “Kidnapping is the only charge that’s standing.”
Phil sat straighter. “I know Claire isn’t pressing charges. It’s the book, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Tony replied. “The state of Iowa can’t stand the persecution it’s getting over the case. Besides the Vandersols, there are victims’ rights groups going nuts.”
Brent added, “Tony hasn’t read the book. His admission is not to all of the contents, publicly, only that he took Claire from Georgia and brought her to Iowa without her consent. Crossing state lines makes it a federal offense.”
“The sexual assault charges?” Phil asked.
“There’s a statute that states the exception to the third degree class C felony is if the act is between persons who are at the time cohabitating as husband and wife. The book doesn’t claim anything nonconsensual happening until Claire was living in Tony’s house. I argued that they did become husband and wife—twice. Without physical evidence or Claire’s testimony, they let that charge drop, as long as he admitted to the kidnapping. The law has varying options for sentencing with kidnapping. Since Claire was an adult, not sold into human trafficking, and there’s record of Tony compensating her for her time with the paying of her debts, the court agreed to a lesser sentence. Tony’s lack of criminal record also helped in reducing the penalty. However, there’s also a hefty fine.”
Phil nodded. Looking at Tony, he said, “If I didn’t know you and witness the two of you in the South Pacific, I’d want to kill you right now. I still kind of do. I sure as hell hope that book has been sensationalized and it’s not an accurate account of what happened.”
Tony shrugged, his confident demeanor temporarily gone. “I haven’t read it, but apparently I’m the only one in the room who can say that.” His dark eyes glanced toward Brent.
“I have a job to do,” Brent said.
The hairs on the back of Phil’s neck stood to attention. The words from Claire’s book came rushing back. You have a job to do. Do it!
Brent went on, “I can’t defend you if I don’t know what I’m up against. And as much as I’m your friend…” he turned to Phil, “…I think I’d help you hide the body.”