Truth Read Free

practiced with a firm in the heart of Iowa’s capital.
Life was busy. Jane moved on -- until three days earlier, when a
courier delivered a certified letter labeled: Confidential: Esquire Jane Allyson .
Within the envelope she found the completed Petition for Pardon for Claire
Nichols. No work on Jane’s part was required, except to sign as
representing counsel. The attached typed note was short:
     
    Ms. Allyson, Perhaps you remember a client
from about a year ago, Claire Nichols. Enclosed please find a
petition for pardon to Governor Bosley. As you are probably aware,
his time in office is short. This MUST reach his office today. All
that is required of you is your signature. Enclosed please find a
certified check to reimburse you for your undertaking. Thank
you.
     
    Perhaps it was the check
-- $100,000, made payable to Cash or the unsigned note, but accepting this
assignment screamed wrong. What attorney in her right mind would
accept a task and payment from an unknown source? Her future as
well and law license may hinge on this decision. Jane knew she
should consult the partners of her firm. That was her intent, until
the small digital readout at the bottom of her computer screen
caught her attention: 4:32 PM. The governor’s office was a ten
minute walk.
    Jane delivered the signed petition.
    Now, she nervously awaited the future. The
governor’s decision was made. Jane had watched his press conference
on the web. Pacing her office, she continued to question the ethics
and legality of her decision. If her telephone never rang, if the
pardon wasn’t granted, no one would ever know she filed the
petition. The check would remain in her file cabinet. No matter the
governor’s decision, cashing the check seemed immoral and
unethical.
    On the wall in an impressive oak frame,
matted against distinguished slate backing was her diploma from the
University of Iowa, College of Law. The official seal reflected
light even through the glass. Could her decision to help this woman
and accept this assignment void those years of education?
    She continued to pace the carpeted floor.
She had plenty of work she could be doing. But, with the press
conference an hour ago, she couldn’t concentrate on anything except
willing her phone to ring. If the call didn’t come soon, it never
would.
    The memories of Claire
Nichols’ case flooded Jane’s thoughts. The idea to request a pardon
had never occurred to her, but it was a good idea. The part that
scared her – hell, it must have scared the person who sent her the
application -- was Anthony Rawlings. The man was extremely
influential. There would be repercussions if the pardon was
actually granted. Jane pushed those thoughts away. She couldn’t
think about that now. She could only wait.
    Lost in her own thoughts, the ringing of her
telephone made her heart race and body flinch. Momentarily, she
stared at the devise. Was it her imagination? Were the sounds truly
resonating from the small plastic telephone? Reaching for the
receiver, with a trembling hand, she utilized her courtroom skills
and steadied her voice. “Hello, yes, this is Jane Allyson…”
     
    Jane’s grip upon the steering wheel blanched
her knuckles. The drive from Des Moines to Mitchellville took less
than thirty minutes, and at two fifteen in the afternoon traffic
wasn’t an issue. The issue which lingered in Jane’s mind was her
continual work under the radar. No one on planet Earth knew what
she was doing. It added to the mystery.
    The dichotomous March sky stretched before
her, gray upon gray. The shades weren’t the same, yet they weren’t
different. Just clouds upon clouds. Turning east onto highway I 80
Jane thought about the prisoner only a few miles ahead. In her
briefcase, on the seat next to her, was the one page document that
would change Claire Nichols’ life forever.
    Three days ago, this document didn’t exist.
Jane Allyson wondered about the petition and the check. Right or
wrong, she decided to