Chapter 10: The Name On The Paper
I stared at the signature until the letters blurred.
I knew that name.
I had seen it on birthday cards.
On school forms.
On emergency contact paperwork.
A person who had sat at our kitchen table.
A person who had hugged Malik and called him family.
My own sister.
Tanya.
The room went completely silent.
Principal Reynolds noticed my expression.
"Mr. Carter?""
I couldn't answer.
The investigator looked between us.
"You know this person?""
I slowly nodded.
"She's my sister.""
The words felt strange coming out of my mouth.
Because suddenly, the investigation was no longer about strangers.
It was about someone who knew Malik before he ever entered Mrs. Baxter's classroom.
Someone who knew our family.
Someone who knew exactly how much we trusted her.
I left the office without saying much.
I needed answers.
Not guesses.
Not accusations.
Answers.
When I arrived at Tanya's house, she opened the door with a smile.
A smile that disappeared the second she saw my face.
"What's wrong?""
I held up the document.
Her expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
"Tanya, what is this?""
She looked at the paper.
Then looked away.
"Where did you get that?""
"That's not an answer.""
She stepped back.
"Can we talk inside?""
I walked in.
The house looked exactly the same.
Family photos.
Old memories.
Pictures of Malik when he was a toddler.
That made it worse.
Because I remembered how she used to say she wanted the best for him.
I placed the document on the table.
"Your name is on my son's file.""
Tanya sat down slowly.
"I know.""
My chest tightened.
"You know?""
She covered her face with her hands.
"I didn't think it would go this far.""
"What does that mean?""
She looked up.
"Malik was struggling.""
I stared at her.
"Struggling?""
"He was challenging teachers. Questioning rules. Making things harder.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"He was asking questions.""
"Exactly.""
The word hit me.
Exactly.
Like curiosity was something dangerous.
"Why would you give information about him to the school?""
She looked uncomfortable.
"Because I thought I was helping.""
"Helping who?""
She didn't answer.
That was the answer.
I stepped back.
"Did you know what Mrs. Baxter was doing?""
Tanya looked down.
"No.""
I believed that part.
At least for a moment.
Then she said something that changed everything.
"But I knew Thomas Reed.""
I froze.
"What?""
She swallowed.
"He approached me last year.""
"Why?""
"He said the school was trying to identify students who needed extra support.""
I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because I couldn't believe it.
"Extra support?""
She nodded weakly.
"I gave him information because I thought it was a program.""
"What kind of program?""
She didn't answer.
"Tanya.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I made a mistake.""
I looked at the woman who had held my son when he was born.
Who had promised she would always protect him.
"How many families?""
She looked confused.
"What?""
"How many families did you give information about?""
She went quiet.
Then whispered:
"I don't know.""
That answer terrified me.
Before I could say anything else, her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her face changed.
"Who is it?""
She didn't respond.
The phone kept ringing.
Finally, she answered.
"Hello?""
She listened.
Then stood up.
"No. I didn't tell him.""
My heart stopped.
She looked at me.
Too late.
She realized I heard.
The person on the phone said something.
Tanya's face became pale.
Then she whispered:
"You promised nobody would find out.""
A cold feeling moved through me.
I stepped closer.
"Who are you talking to?""
She ended the call.
But it didn't matter.
May you like
Because I already knew.
The person controlling the situation wasn't hiding anymore.
