Chapter 9: The Person Pulling the Strings
The flash drive sat between us like it weighed a hundred pounds.
I stared at it.
One tiny piece of plastic.
One recording.
One chance to prove everything.
“You had this the whole time?””
Principal Harris nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you give it to the investigator?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“Because I was afraid.””
I wanted to be angry.
I was angry.
But I also saw something else.
Fear.
The same fear that had silenced parents before me.
“Who threatened you?””
He looked at the door.
“I don’t know.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“I received emails.””
“From who?””
“Anonymous accounts.””
I crossed my arms.
“And you believed them?””
He looked at me.
“When someone sends you a picture of your child walking home from school, you believe them.””
The room went cold.
“What?””
He swallowed.
“They sent me photos of my daughter.””
I didn’t speak.
“They knew where she went after school. They knew her schedule.””
For the first time, I saw Principal Harris as something other than an administrator.
I saw a father.
A scared father.
But fear didn’t erase what he had done.
“You still should have protected those children.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
The words were quiet.
But real.
I picked up the flash drive.
“I’m taking this to Karen.””
“Wait.””
I stopped.
“What?””
He pointed at the drive.
“There’s something you need to know first.””
I looked at him.
“The recording doesn’t only capture Mrs. Collins.””
My eyebrows tightened.
“What else does it capture?””
He hesitated.
“Someone came into the classroom afterward.””
“Who?””
His face turned pale.
“The person who told her to disconnect the camera.””
I stared at him.
“You know who it is?””
He nodded.
“I heard the voice.””
“Whose voice?””
He looked at me.
And said:
“The person responsible for protecting Mrs. Collins.””
My hand tightened around the flash drive.
“Tell me.””
Before he could answer, his office phone rang.
Both of us froze.
He looked at the caller ID.
His expression changed.
“What?””
I stepped closer.
“Who is it?””
He didn’t answer.
The phone kept ringing.
Finally, he picked up.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, he listened.
Then his face lost all color.
“Where did you get this number?””
Silence.
Then he slowly lowered the phone.
“What happened?””
He looked at me.
The fear in his eyes was unmistakable.
“They know about the recording.””
My heart sank.
“How?””
He looked down at the flash drive.
Then at the office window.
And whispered:
“Because someone inside this school has been watching us the entire time.””
A shadow moved across the hallway outside the glass door.
Someone stopped.
Someone was listening.
And then a familiar voice said:
“Principal Harris?””
We both turned.
May you like
Mrs. Collins was standing outside.
Smiling.
