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?”
Claire hugged the small bag. All of her possessions in the entire world were contained within the small nylon bag. Along with the items from her cell, Claire’s bag held the blue cashmere sweater and the jewelry she’d been wearing upon her arrest. At twenty-nine, it seemed like such a small accumulation. “I do. I didn’t realize the identification card would work outside of prison.”
As Jane turned the Toyota south onto highway 235, she inhaled deeply and breached the uncomfortable subject. “Claire, I need to tell you something. The petition for your pardon wasn’t my idea.”
The trance holding Claire Nichols' thoughts captive released its hold; she zeroed in upon her savior, the person who’d freed her from a life of solitude. However, after so much time alone, conversation was difficult. Claire tried desperately to fill the silences. If one person spoke, then it was time for the next. Very easy, she could do it. “What do you mean?”
Jane told Claire about the anonymous letter, the almost complete petition for pardon, and the certified cashier's check. She didn’t mention her fear as she entered the penitentiary. She waited to see if it was shared.
Claire asked, “Who would spend $100,000 for my release?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire observed the expression, body language, and tone of the woman next to her. It had been a while, but she believed Jane spoke truthfully. Her attorney didn’t know who planted the seed for her emancipation.
Jane continued, “I can tell you, initially, I believed whoever this was, they wanted you released without associating their name. I believed they were protecting themselves from your ex-husband.”
Claire ingested her words, it made sense. She reasoned, if Tony knew someone helped in her release, who knows what he might do. Then she registered every word, “Initially? Jane, what do you mean initially?”
As Jane answered, her Toyota headed south toward the Des Moines International Airport. “I have to admit, I’ve had another thought.” Claire didn’t speak, but listened and watched. Jane continued, “What if the petition, letter, and money came from an unlikely source, someone to whom $100,000 was nothing?”
Claire’s emerald eyes opened wider. The elation which had filled her lungs evaporated. No longer involuntary, breathing required thought. She stammered, “You think it was Tony?” Claire fought an onset of nausea, “Why would he do that?”
“I really don’t know. I just know the best thing is to get you out of Iowa especially before the press frenzy begins.”
Claire hugged her belongings close to her thumping chest. As she remembered the unrelenting press and more importantly her ex-husband, old fears made her heart to race. Looking again at Jane, Claire noticed Jane’s eyes darting between the landscape ahead and the one behind in the rearview mirror. What if Tony or someone else were following her? Claire replied, “Yes, please, let’s do that.”