Chapter 10: Don't Come Alone
Marcus read the message twice.
Come to the old science building alone.
His thumb hovered over the screen.
“Marcus?””
Angela had seen his face change.
He locked the phone.
“Nothing.””
His mother stared at him.
“Don't do that.””
“Do what?””
“Protect me by lying.””
The words stopped him.
That was exactly what every adult around him seemed to have done.
David had lied because he thought disappearing would protect him.
Angela had hidden the old complaint because she didn't want him carrying it.
Administrators had hidden records to protect the school.
Everyone had a reason.
The result was still the same.
Marcus unlocked the phone.
“I got a message.””
Dr. Hayes stepped closer.
“From whom?””
“Unknown number.””
He showed her.
Angela read the final line.
Her expression hardened immediately.
“No.””
“Mom—”
“No. Absolutely not.””
“I wasn't going to—”
“Yes, you were.””
Marcus opened his mouth.
Angela pointed at him.
“I gave birth to that face. I know exactly what you're thinking.””
Despite the tension, Claire let out a tiny laugh.
Marcus almost did too.
Then Santos took the phone.
“Do not respond.””
Marcus nodded.
She examined the photograph.
“Old science building?””
Dr. Hayes frowned.
“It's across the east courtyard. Mostly storage now.””
Santos looked toward her colleague.
“Have campus security secure it.””
William Vance suddenly spoke.
“There's nothing there.””
Everyone turned.
Santos studied him.
“You seem certain.””
“I know this campus.””
“So does Mr. Carter.””
Vance looked away.
Marcus noticed.
“You know why he wants me there.””
“No.””
“You knew he accessed my mother's file.””
“No.””
“You know what's in that box.””
“I have never seen that photograph.””
Marcus stepped toward him.
“You didn't say you haven't seen the box.””
Vance's eyes narrowed.
“Don't play lawyer, son.””
David moved immediately.
“Don't call him son.””
Marcus turned sharply.
“I don't need you defending me.””
David stopped.
Pain crossed his face.
“You're right.””
Marcus hated that answer too.
Santos handed Marcus's phone to one of the officers.
“Preserve the messages.””
Then she looked at Dr. Hayes.
“I need a floor plan.””
Dr. Hayes opened her tablet.
Before she could find it, Claire spoke.
“I have one.””
Everyone looked at her.
She shrugged.
“AV runs cables through half the campus.””
She pulled up a building diagram.
“The old science building has three entrances. Main hall, loading door, and a basement tunnel connecting to the theater storage area.””
Santos pointed.
“Where does that tunnel come out?””
Claire slowly turned toward the velvet curtain.
“Behind this stage.””
The auditorium erupted.
Security moved immediately.
One officer disappeared backstage.
Another locked the side door.
Vance's face went pale.
Marcus saw it.
“You knew.””
“I didn't.””
But the confidence was gone.
Then a crashing sound came from behind the curtain.
Everyone jumped.
A security officer shouted.
“Stop!””
Footsteps pounded backstage.
Marcus instinctively moved toward the curtain.
Angela grabbed his gown.
“No.””
A man burst through.
Not Mr. Carter.
He wore maintenance coveralls and carried a cardboard archive box.
He froze when he saw the packed auditorium.
The security officer caught him.
The box hit the floor.
Folders spilled everywhere.
One slid across the stage and stopped against Marcus's shoe.
He looked down.
REED, ANGELA — COMPLAINT.
2017.
Marcus's heart slammed against his ribs.
Santos shouted, “Nobody touch anything!””
The maintenance worker raised both hands.
“I was told to bring these.””
“By whom?””
He looked terrified.
“I don't know.””
“You carried a box through a restricted tunnel without knowing who requested it?””
“I got a work order.””
“Show me.””
He pulled out his phone.
Santos read the request.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Who has access to the maintenance system?””
Dr. Hayes answered.
“Administrators. Facilities supervisors. Board executive staff.””
“Timestamp?””
“Ten minutes ago.””
Marcus looked at Vance.
Vance shook his head.
“Not me.””
For once, Marcus almost believed him.
Because Vance looked confused too.
Santos's colleague carefully photographed the scattered files.
“Maria.””
“What?””
“There are dozens.””
He lifted one folder without opening it.
Each had a family name.
Some Marcus recognized.
Former students.
Graduates.
Scholarship recipients.
Then the officer found an envelope taped underneath the box.
“There's a note.””
Santos opened it.
She read silently.
“What does it say?”” Marcus asked.
Santos looked toward him.
“Ask William what happened to Ethan Cole.””
Vance went rigid.
Caldwell whispered, “Ethan?””
Dr. Hayes looked at him.
“You know the name?””
“Everyone on the board did.””
“Who was he?””
Caldwell swallowed.
“Eastbrook's valedictorian twelve years ago.””
Marcus felt the room shift.
“What happened to him?””
Caldwell stared at Vance.
“He never gave his speech either.””
Marcus looked toward the microphone.
The similarity was impossible to miss.
“Why?””
Caldwell shook his head.
“We were told he withdrew voluntarily.””
Vance snapped, “Because he did.””
A woman's voice came from the audience.
“No, he didn't.””
Everyone turned.
An older woman stood near the rear doors.
She had been sitting quietly through the entire ceremony.
Now tears covered her face.
“My son came home that night and burned his graduation gown.””
Vance stared at her.
She walked into the aisle.
“My name is Laura Cole.””
Caldwell whispered, “Ethan's mother.””
Laura pointed toward Vance.
“You told my son that if he gave his speech, Eastbrook would revoke his younger brother's scholarship.””
Gasps filled the auditorium.
Vance shook his head.
“That is false.””
Laura continued walking.
“You made him choose between his voice and his brother's future.””
“I never—”
“I was standing outside your office.””
Vance stopped.
Laura's voice broke.
“I heard you.””
Marcus couldn't breathe.
Twelve years.
Same school.
Same graduation.
Same threat.
Different student.
Laura reached the stage.
Then she placed an old folded piece of paper on the edge.
“This was Ethan's speech.””
Marcus stared at it.
“He kept it?””
“I did.””
“What happened to him?””
Laura's eyes filled.
“He spent twelve years believing silence was the price of protecting his family.””
She looked toward David.
“And I think some people in this room understand what that can do to a person.””
David lowered his eyes.
Santos asked quietly, “Where is Ethan now?””
Laura looked toward the auditorium doors.
“He's outside.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why won't he come in?””
Laura swallowed.
“Because the last time he stood on this stage, William Vance told him nobody would believe him.””
Then Marcus's phone vibrated again.
Another message from the unknown number.
You found the box.
Good.
But the original Reed file isn't there.
Marcus stared at the next line.
May you like
Carter has it.
And he's not the one you should be afraid of.
