Chapter 14: The Final Recording
Gregory Wells walked into the basement slowly.
No panic.
No fear.
Just confidence.
Like he still believed he was in control.
Officer Reyes stepped forward.
“Don’t move.””
Gregory smiled.
“You still think this is about arresting one person.””
Aaron stared at him.
“You built an entire system.””
Gregory looked around the hidden room.
“At least someone finally noticed.””
My anger burned.
“You ruined people’s lives.””
Gregory looked at me.
“No.””
His voice was calm.
“I organized chaos.””
I almost couldn’t believe him.
“You’re blaming everyone else?””
“I gave the district structure.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“You erased evidence.””
“I corrected mistakes.””
Maya whispered, “You called victims mistakes.””
Gregory looked at her.
“People are fragile.””
His words made my skin crawl.
“They believe whatever story they are given.””
Sarah looked disgusted.
“You were never protecting the school.””
Gregory smiled.
“Neither were you.””
Sarah froze.
He looked at her.
“You knew.””
Aaron looked at his sister.
“What does he mean?””
Sarah’s face changed.
“Gregory…”
“You signed the first reports.””
The room went silent.
Aaron looked betrayed.
Sarah whispered, “I was trying to get evidence.””
Gregory laughed.
“Everyone says that when they get caught.””
Aaron stepped back.
“You signed them?””
Sarah looked at him.
“I had to.””
“Had to?””
Her eyes filled.
“If I didn’t cooperate, Gregory would destroy Malik’s family.””
I looked at her.
“You knew about my father.””
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
Sarah looked away.
“I don’t know.””
Gregory smiled.
“He does.””
Everyone turned.
Gregory looked at Aaron.
“You found the records.””
Aaron said nothing.
My heart raced.
“Found what?””
Gregory laughed.
“The final piece.””
He pointed toward the boxes.
“Your mother hid the original evidence somewhere else.””
Sarah looked confused.
“No.””
Gregory smiled.
“She trusted the wrong person.””
Aaron’s face changed.
Slowly.
Like he understood.
Then he reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
Everyone stared.
“What is that?”” Officer Reyes asked.
Aaron looked at me.
“Your mother gave this to me.””
I froze.
“Why didn’t you show us?””
Aaron looked ashamed.
“Because I was afraid.””
Gregory smiled.
“There it is.””
Aaron opened the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph.
My mother.
My father.
And another person.
A younger Gregory Wells.
Standing beside them.
The three of them looked like friends.
I stared.
“You knew my parents?””
Gregory looked at me.
“I knew everyone.””
The photograph flipped over.
A message was written on the back.
*The person who started this was not Gregory.*
My breath stopped.
“What?””
Aaron turned the picture around.
Everyone read the words.
*Gregory was only following orders.*
The basement went silent.
Even Gregory looked uncomfortable.
Officer Reyes frowned.
“Following whose orders?””
Gregory didn’t answer.
He looked toward the ceiling.
Then toward me.
“You really want the truth?””
I didn’t respond.
“Yes.””
Gregory smiled sadly.
“Then ask yourself one question.””
“What?””
“Who had the power to erase everything?””
Nobody spoke.
Gregory continued.
“Who had access to every file?””
My heart pounded.
“The district board.””
He nodded.
“Exactly.””
Aaron looked at the documents.
“But why target Malik?””
Gregory stared at me.
“Because your family was the last one standing against them.””
The lights suddenly shut off.
Complete darkness.
A crash echoed.
Someone moved.
Officer Reyes shouted.
“Stay where you are!””
When the emergency lights returned, Gregory was gone.
But he left something behind.
A final document.
On top was one name.
Not mine.
Not my mother’s.
Not Gregory’s.
A name that made Aaron go completely still.
*WHITMORE FOUNDATION.*
Maya looked at him.
“Aaron?””
He didn’t answer.
Because he recognized it.
May you like
And I realized the truth was bigger than Gregory.
Much bigger.
