the Red Wing, a restaurant in
Atlanta, until 2010. It’s at that point the history of her life
becomes mostly conjecture.
One of the few facts: on
December 18, 2011, she married Anthony Rawlings. Claire had read
the information before about her being a gold-digger . However, the ferocity
of the newly found articles surprised her. It was as if some of
these reporters were truly hell-bent on righting the wrongs done
to Anthony Rawlings .
Claire scrolled numerous
articles which made her every sin public knowledge. She read about
her changing hair color and shopping habits. There were accurate
and inaccurate reports of travels. Thinking that perhaps this was a
journey she shouldn’t have taken, she clicked and discovered an
unlikely ally – a redeemer of her reputation. The article appeared
in Rolling Stone ,
February 2012, following her arrest – prior to her plea. It was
entitled, Mrs. Rawlings, No longer a Mystery – But Seriously a
Killer? by Meredith Banks. The article discussed Claire Nichols,
the real person, student, sorority sister, daughter – grieving the
loss of her parents following their tragic deaths, intern,
meteorologist assistant in Atlanta, bartender . It went on to
discuss the impromptu meeting in Chicago and the unlikelihood of
Claire Nichols attempting to murder her husband. Meredith mentioned
Claire’s hesitation to discuss her future husband. Hesitation, I didn’t discuss him! Meredith also discussed the obvious -- with as
much money as Anthony Rawlings possessed, why would Claire want to
kill him? She used the travel, shopping, and pampering spas as
evidence. Why would Claire want to kill the handsome generous
husband who showered her with luxuries? She had access to all the
money she wanted and Anthony was making more. Meredith concluded
killing him made no sense.
Claire couldn’t help but see the irony – the
first, perhaps only, positive and accurate article was written by
the same woman who wrote the article eighteen months earlier which
almost cost her, her life!
Claire opened another page
on her laptop and Googled Meredith
Banks , independent correspondent based out
of Long Beach, California. The website contained her email and
phone number. After a quick check of Google Maps, Claire learned
Long Beach was a six and a half hour drive from her current
location. She pondered that information. With Tony’s current state
of mind, perhaps a 400 mile drive wasn’t a bad plan.
Claire considered her new option. She could
contact Meredith. She could promise an exclusive interview. But,
what was she willing to reveal? If she couldn’t look Amber and
Harry in the eye and talk about her life as Mrs. Rawlings, was she
ready to do it with Meredith?
Off the dining room were
two sets of sliding glass doors leading to a courtyard with a small
outdoor sitting area and hot tub. Claire eased her way out into
the yard and into
a chair. Holding her mug of warm French Vanilla latte, she looked
up toward the sky. The clouds had parted revealing patches of blue.
She knew the entire disclosure process needed to be well
thought-out. Claire reminded herself not to act impulsively or
without forethought. Perhaps, as stunning as it seemed, Meredith
may be the answer she’d been seeking. Yet, before she attempted to
make contact, Claire needed to be sure of what she intended to
share. Her article years ago with Vanity
Fair taught her that every question must
be thoroughly reviewed and dissected. Each impromptu answer must go
through the same scrutiny.
If she planned on
informing the world the truth , she needed to be sure it came
across the way she intended. The question looming in Claire’s mind
-- could she trust Meredith Banks to write that article? Claire
truly didn’t know the answer.
White filmy wisps of
condensation moved ever so gently across the sky as beams of
sunshine continued to win their battle. Tilting her face toward the
sun, Claire closed her eyes and inhaled the fresh spring air. The
warm
Atlanta, until 2010. It’s at that point the history of her life
becomes mostly conjecture.
One of the few facts: on
December 18, 2011, she married Anthony Rawlings. Claire had read
the information before about her being a gold-digger . However, the ferocity
of the newly found articles surprised her. It was as if some of
these reporters were truly hell-bent on righting the wrongs done
to Anthony Rawlings .
Claire scrolled numerous
articles which made her every sin public knowledge. She read about
her changing hair color and shopping habits. There were accurate
and inaccurate reports of travels. Thinking that perhaps this was a
journey she shouldn’t have taken, she clicked and discovered an
unlikely ally – a redeemer of her reputation. The article appeared
in Rolling Stone ,
February 2012, following her arrest – prior to her plea. It was
entitled, Mrs. Rawlings, No longer a Mystery – But Seriously a
Killer? by Meredith Banks. The article discussed Claire Nichols,
the real person, student, sorority sister, daughter – grieving the
loss of her parents following their tragic deaths, intern,
meteorologist assistant in Atlanta, bartender . It went on to
discuss the impromptu meeting in Chicago and the unlikelihood of
Claire Nichols attempting to murder her husband. Meredith mentioned
Claire’s hesitation to discuss her future husband. Hesitation, I didn’t discuss him! Meredith also discussed the obvious -- with as
much money as Anthony Rawlings possessed, why would Claire want to
kill him? She used the travel, shopping, and pampering spas as
evidence. Why would Claire want to kill the handsome generous
husband who showered her with luxuries? She had access to all the
money she wanted and Anthony was making more. Meredith concluded
killing him made no sense.
Claire couldn’t help but see the irony – the
first, perhaps only, positive and accurate article was written by
the same woman who wrote the article eighteen months earlier which
almost cost her, her life!
Claire opened another page
on her laptop and Googled Meredith
Banks , independent correspondent based out
of Long Beach, California. The website contained her email and
phone number. After a quick check of Google Maps, Claire learned
Long Beach was a six and a half hour drive from her current
location. She pondered that information. With Tony’s current state
of mind, perhaps a 400 mile drive wasn’t a bad plan.
Claire considered her new option. She could
contact Meredith. She could promise an exclusive interview. But,
what was she willing to reveal? If she couldn’t look Amber and
Harry in the eye and talk about her life as Mrs. Rawlings, was she
ready to do it with Meredith?
Off the dining room were
two sets of sliding glass doors leading to a courtyard with a small
outdoor sitting area and hot tub. Claire eased her way out into
the yard and into
a chair. Holding her mug of warm French Vanilla latte, she looked
up toward the sky. The clouds had parted revealing patches of blue.
She knew the entire disclosure process needed to be well
thought-out. Claire reminded herself not to act impulsively or
without forethought. Perhaps, as stunning as it seemed, Meredith
may be the answer she’d been seeking. Yet, before she attempted to
make contact, Claire needed to be sure of what she intended to
share. Her article years ago with Vanity
Fair taught her that every question must
be thoroughly reviewed and dissected. Each impromptu answer must go
through the same scrutiny.
If she planned on
informing the world the truth , she needed to be sure it came
across the way she intended. The question looming in Claire’s mind
-- could she trust Meredith Banks to write that article? Claire
truly didn’t know the answer.
White filmy wisps of
condensation moved ever so gently across the sky as beams of
sunshine continued to win their battle. Tilting her face toward the
sun, Claire closed her eyes and inhaled the fresh spring air. The
warm
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