Consequences

She told me at the jail she didn’t do it! I knew something was wrong. I kept asking. Why didn’t I push more? God, it said he hurt her in California. We were with them! Brent, think about Claire, her age. What if those things you read happened to our daughter?”
    “I would kill the bastard! But they didn’t. And not only is he my boss, he is now Caleb’s boss. Don’t you think in light of this new information it is coincidental that he recently offered Caleb such a great job? Now not only does he own us, but also our son and future daughter-in-law.”
    “This is America, just quit!”
    “Courtney, I can’t. You don’t walk away from Tony. Ask John Vandersol.” Brent hadn’t meant to divulge that information, it just slipped out. Courtney sat dazed. She poured herself another glass of cabernet and reread the brief. The next day, while Brent was at work, Courtney left. He came home to a note: “If anyone asks, I am taking care of my sick mother. Do not attempt to call or communicate, I will not be available.” Brent tried numerous times. Over a week later she returned. Brent remembered worrying what she would say. He fully expected, “You are weak and I am done, I want a divorce.”
    Instead, Courtney apologized. “I wasn’t there for Claire and apparently can’t be there for her now. I can be here for you. You shouldn’t have to face that bastard every day without support. I love you and will support you. But know this: I want out of here and away from him. From this point forward we slowly, inconspicuously move our assets away from Rawlings stock and work to liberate our family. That will start with Caleb, before he gets in too deep. Do you agree?”
    Brent did. He wanted out too. The first time Courtney needed to see Tony face to face, Brent worried. She did fine. If he could muster a false smile and Claire could do it, she could too. They were already laying the ground work for Caleb’s move to another place of employment.
    As Brent got out of the car and walked into the institution he worried about Claire, what would she look like? Has she been able to survive? How? He hated Tony and damned him with each echoing step down the long, tiled halls.
    A guard took him to a small dingy room, illuminated with a florescent glow, which contained a steel table and four chairs. Brent set his briefcase on the table and waited. Looking around, he noticed the conspicuous camera in the corner. It reminded him of the videotaping mentioned in the preliminary brief and of his conversation with Tony.
    “You want me to go tell Ms. Nichols (Tony didn’t like to hear her first name) you are considering a civil lawsuit against her, for what?”
    “Slander and deformation of character.”
    “Why, what did she say?”
    “It doesn’t matter. You don’t need to know. You just need to do your job.” Tony’s voice was flat and authoritative.
    In actuality Brent was fishing, would Tony share the information Brent already knew? He also wondered if Tony knew he knew, apparently not. “Tony, there are many members of the legal team that haven’t been as involved with Ms. Nichols as I. Perhaps one of them could inform her of the impending suit?”
    “No. It will be you.” His tone was firm and his eyes intense. “Have you ever noticed the nice cameras in those visitor rooms? Those tapes are available for a price. I will assume you will not relay information to her that is not related to the suit. As a reminder, this will not be a friendly visit.” Brent said he understood.
     
    Claire was reading in her cell on that July afternoon when her buzzer sounded. The sound meant she needed to go to her door. She would be receiving something, usually a package. This time a guard informed her that she had a visitor and her presence was immediately required in the visitor area.
    Claire only received two visitors since her arrest. The first was in Iowa City before she gave her plea and was transferred to the correctional institution. Following a guard, she found her best friend waiting. Courtney was in Fiji during Claire’s arrest and came as soon as they returned. Visibly distraught as Claire was escorted by a guard, Courtney apologized to Claire for not being a better friend. If she had pursued her concerns more, perhaps Claire wouldn’t have felt the need to resort to such drastic measures to get away from Tony. Claire assured her, “I did not try to kill Tony. Please don’t believe everything you hear or see.