Chapter 5: The Missing Badge
Police locked the school gates.
Nobody was allowed back inside until the fire department finished inspecting the building.
And nobody could find Mr. Hayes.
Detective Alvarez immediately sent officers to his house.
Principal Whitmore stood beside a patrol car, talking fast.
"I gave Hayes my spare access badge in December.""
"Why?"" Alvarez asked.
"We were preparing for the winter concert. He needed access to several storage rooms.""
"And you never got it back?""
"I thought I did.""
"You thought?""
Principal Whitmore rubbed both hands over his face.
"There's a spare badge in my desk. I assumed it was the same one.""
Detective Alvarez didn't look convinced.
"Assumptions are becoming expensive today.""
Principal Whitmore flinched.
Mrs. Carter heard him.
"So Ms. Parker wasn't doing this alone?""
"We don't know that," Alvarez said.
"But somebody used his badge.""
"Yes.""
"And now that somebody vanished.""
"Yes.""
Mrs. Carter looked at Noah.
He was sitting beside me on the curb.
His knees were pulled to his chest.
"Mom," he said quietly.
"What?""
"Mr. Hayes knew.""
Every adult turned toward him.
Mrs. Carter walked over.
"Knew what?""
Noah stared at the pavement.
"The day before Christmas break.""
"What happened?""
"Ms. Parker kept me after class.""
Mrs. Carter's jaw tightened.
"Did she touch you?""
"No.""
"Then what?""
Noah hesitated.
"She made me clean.""
"Clean what?""
"Her classroom.""
"Why?""
"She said scholarship students should learn gratitude.""
Mrs. Carter closed her eyes for a second.
"Okay.""
Noah continued.
"I was carrying trash into the hallway when Mr. Hayes came by.""
"What did he say?""
"He asked why I was still there.""
"And?""
"I told him Ms. Parker made me stay.""
Noah finally looked up.
"He went into the classroom.""
Mrs. Carter crouched.
"Did you hear them talking?""
Noah nodded.
"What did they say?""
"Mr. Hayes told her she had to be more careful.""
A terrible silence followed.
Detective Alvarez stepped closer.
"Those exact words?""
"I think so.""
"What did Ms. Parker say?""
Noah squeezed his hands together.
"She said, 'They're children. Who are they going to tell?''"
Mrs. Carter's face twisted.
"And Hayes?""
Noah looked frightened.
"He laughed.""
His mother stood.
"Find him.""
"Mrs. Carter—"
"Find him.""
Detective Alvarez nodded once.
"We will.""
Mom pulled me closer.
I suddenly remembered all the times Mr. Hayes had visited our classroom.
He was always smiling.
Always joking.
He handed out candy before holidays.
He knew everybody's name.
Once, after I got an A on a science project, he'd given me a high five.
The memory made my stomach hurt.
An hour later, firefighters finally cleared part of the building.
Detective Alvarez, Principal Whitmore, and Mr. Daniels went inside.
Parents were told to take us home.
But Mrs. Carter refused.
"I'm not leaving until I know those recordings are safe.""
Mom agreed.
"Neither are we.""
So we waited.
The sun began dropping behind the gymnasium.
The courtyard grew colder.
Finally, Mr. Daniels returned.
His shirt was damp from the sprinklers.
He was carrying a hard drive.
"I have them.""
Mrs. Carter stood.
"All thirty-seven?""
"Thirty-five.""
Her face fell.
"What happened to the other two?""
"Corrupted.""
"From the fire?""
"I don't know yet.""
Detective Alvarez came through the doors behind him.
"We're taking the drive into evidence.""
Mrs. Carter nodded.
"When will we know what's on it?""
"Some footage can be reviewed tonight.""
"Some?""
"Mrs. Carter, there are children involved. We have to handle this carefully.""
She looked at Noah.
"I understand.""
Then a police officer approached quickly.
"Detective.""
Alvarez turned.
"We located Hayes's vehicle.""
"Where?""
"Airport parking garage.""
Principal Whitmore stared at him.
"The airport?""
"Car's there. Hayes isn't.""
Mrs. Carter whispered, "He's running.""
The officer continued.
"We're checking terminals.""
Detective Alvarez's phone rang.
He answered.
"Alvarez.""
He listened.
His expression hardened.
"When?""
Another pause.
"Keep him there.""
He hung up.
"Hayes didn't board a flight.""
Principal Whitmore frowned.
"Then where is he?""
"Hospital.""
Everyone stared.
"He checked himself into the emergency room thirty minutes ago claiming chest pain.""
Mrs. Carter gave a bitter laugh.
"How convenient.""
Alvarez looked at the officer.
"Have someone stay with him.""
The officer hurried away.
Mr. Daniels opened his laptop again.
"I may have something else.""
Detective Alvarez frowned.
"I thought you said the footage needed processing.""
"Not footage.""
He turned the screen.
"Email.""
Principal Whitmore stepped closer.
"What email?""
"The school's archive automatically retains deleted staff messages.""
Mrs. Carter's eyes narrowed.
"Between Parker and Hayes?""
Mr. Daniels nodded.
"There are dozens.""
"Read one.""
He hesitated.
"Detective?""
Alvarez nodded.
Mr. Daniels opened the oldest recovered message.
It was from Ms. Parker.
The subject line said:
PROBLEM STUDENTS.
Mr. Daniels read quietly.
"'We need to discuss the Carter boy before his mother becomes another issue.''"
Mrs. Carter went perfectly still.
Noah looked at her.
"Mom?""
She didn't answer.
Mr. Daniels scrolled.
"There is a reply from Hayes.""
"What does it say?"" Principal Whitmore asked.
Mr. Daniels swallowed.
"'Handle him the same way you handled the others. Just make sure the camera is dark first.''"
No one spoke.
Detective Alvarez reached for the laptop.
But another message was visible underneath.
A newer one.
Sent that morning.
Seven minutes before Ms. Parker accused Noah of stealing her bracelet.
From Hayes to Parker.
Mr. Daniels clicked it.
There was only one sentence.
May you like
And when he read it aloud, Noah's mother stopped breathing.
"'Today's the day. Give me a reason to revoke his scholarship.''"
