Chapter 5: The Name Hidden in the Files
Gregory Wells didn’t walk into the office like someone who had been caught.
He walked in like he owned the room.
That scared me.
Most people looked nervous when they were accused of something.
Gregory looked annoyed.
Like we had interrupted his schedule.
“Principal Harris,” he said calmly, “I assume there’s an explanation for why my name is being dragged into this.””
Mr. Harris stared at him.
“There’s a video of you meeting with Mrs. Baxter.””
Gregory didn’t even blink.
“A private conversation.””
“About Malik,” Aaron said.
Gregory looked at me.
For a second, I felt like I was back in the classroom.
Small.
Powerless.
Invisible.
Then he smiled.
“Malik Carter.””
He said my name like he was reading it from a file.
“Your mother is Amelia Carter, correct?””
My entire body froze.
“How do you know my mom?””
Gregory ignored my question.
“She has medical difficulties.””
Aaron stepped between us.
“Answer him.””
Gregory looked irritated.
“I review student records.””
“Medical records?”” Aaron asked.
The room went silent.
Gregory’s expression changed slightly.
Just enough.
Aaron noticed.
“You shouldn’t have access to that information.””
Gregory crossed his arms.
“You’re making assumptions.””
“No,” Aaron said.
“I’m noticing details.””
Officer Reyes moved closer.
“Mr. Wells, why were you discussing Malik before the incident happened?””
Gregory sighed.
“Because Mrs. Baxter was concerned.””
“Concerned?”” Maya repeated.
Her voice was shaking.
“She made him kneel.””
Gregory looked at her.
“Watch your words.””
Maya flinched.
I hated that.
I hated that someone like him could still make people afraid.
Then Aaron placed the flash drive on the desk.
“Do you recognize this?””
Gregory looked at it.
“No.””
“You’re sure?””
“Yes.””
Aaron nodded.
“Interesting.””
He turned to Mr. Harris.
“Because this drive contains video from a hidden camera installed three days ago.””
Gregory’s face changed.
Only for a moment.
But it happened.
“You’re lying.””
Aaron smiled slightly.
“That reaction tells me enough.””
Gregory stepped forward.
“You have no idea what you’re dealing with.””
“Then explain it.””
Gregory looked around the room.
At the principal.
The officer.
The students.
Then finally at me.
“You think this is about a teacher embarrassing a student?””
Nobody answered.
Gregory leaned closer.
“It’s bigger than that.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What does that mean?””
He looked at me.
“It means your mother should have been more careful about who she trusted.””
My breath stopped.
“What?””
Nobody spoke.
Even Aaron looked surprised.
Gregory turned toward the door.
“I suggest you stop digging.””
Officer Reyes blocked him.
“You’re not leaving.””
Gregory smiled.
“Do you really think one video changes everything?””
Then he walked away.
Because nobody stopped him.
Nobody knew what to do.
After he left, the silence felt heavier.
I looked at Aaron.
“What did he mean about my mom?””
Aaron didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me.
Finally he said, “Malik, your mother worked somewhere before she got sick, right?””
I nodded slowly.
“At the district office.””
Mr. Harris looked shocked.
“I didn’t know that.””
“She was an assistant,” I said.
Aaron looked at the flash drive.
“Not just an assistant.””
He opened another file.
A document appeared.
My mother’s name was at the top.
*AMELIA CARTER — INTERNAL COMPLAINT REPORT.*
My heart stopped.
“That’s my mom.””
Aaron nodded.
“She filed a complaint.””
“About what?””
He scrolled down.
The words appeared.
I read them slowly.
*Concerns regarding student treatment, falsified records, and misuse of disciplinary procedures.*
My hands went cold.
My mom had known.
She had known something was wrong.
And she tried to stop it.
“But why didn’t she tell me?””
Nobody answered.
Then another file opened automatically.
A video.
Recorded in a hospital room.
My mother appeared on the screen.
Weak.
Tired.
But alive.
My breath caught.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Malik, if you’re watching this…”
She paused.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“…it means they found out.””
I couldn’t move.
My mother took a shaky breath.
“I’m sorry I kept this from you.””
The video froze.
Then a final sentence appeared.
*PLAY NEXT FILE?*
And below it was a name.
May you like
A name I never expected to see.
*MALIK’S FATHER.*
