Chapter 4: What Did I Steal?
“What did I steal?””
The question came out of my mouth before I even realized I had spoken.
Miles stood beside Principal Bennett’s desk, trembling.
“I don't know, Mom.””
“You just said the man told you I stole something.””
“He didn't say what.””
“Then tell me exactly what he said.””
Miles rubbed his eyes.
“He said you were going to find out. Then he told me Ariana needed to look like the problem.””
Ariana stiffened.
I looked at her.
“Did he ever talk to you?””
“No.””
“Did he give you anything?””
She shook her head.
Principal Bennett closed the folder.
“Everyone needs to remain calm. I'm contacting the district security office.””
I pulled out my phone.
“I need to call my boss.””
My finger hovered over his name.
Then I stopped.
If someone inside my company was involved, calling him might warn whoever was behind this.
I thought about the photograph of my office.
The photograph of my schedule.
The threat.
The missing security footage.
And that word.
*Stole.*
“I need to go to the building,” I said.
Principal Bennett frowned.
“That may not be safe.””
“I need answers.””
Ariana's mother stood.
“I'll come with you.””
I looked at her.
“You don't have to.””
“Yes, I do.””
Her voice was quiet but firm.
“My daughter is already caught in this.””
Before I could respond, Mrs. Cole stepped between us.
“Wait.””
Everyone turned.
She looked pale.
“I may know something.””
She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone.
“Ethan told me something last night.””
“What?”” Principal Bennett asked.
Mrs. Cole swallowed.
“He said somebody had been paying him.””
Miles stared at her.
“Paying him?””
“Yes.””
“For what?””
She looked at me.
“To keep Ariana scared.””
My chest tightened.
“How much?””
“Twenty dollars at first. Then fifty.””
Ariana whispered, “Why?””
Mrs. Cole shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Principal Bennett's voice hardened.
“Who was paying him?””
“Ethan refused to tell me.””
“Where is Ethan now?””
“He's waiting outside.””
Principal Bennett opened the door.
A teenage boy sat in the hallway with his arms crossed.
“Ethan,” the principal called.
He entered slowly.
His eyes landed on Miles.
“You told them?””
Miles shook his head.
Ethan looked at his mother.
“Mom…”
She stood.
“Tell the truth.””
Ethan's jaw tightened.
“I didn't do anything.””
Principal Bennett pointed toward the chair.
“Sit.””
Ethan sat.
I moved closer.
“Who paid you?””
“No one.””
“Ethan.””
He looked at me.
For the first time, I saw fear in his face.
“I don't know his name.””
“Describe him.””
“Gray hair.””
My heart sank.
“Expensive watch?””
Ethan nodded.
“Black SUV?””
Another nod.
“Where did you meet him?””
“Parking garage.””
“When?””
“Three weeks ago.””
Principal Bennett exchanged a glance with me.
“Why would he pay you to target Ariana?””
Ethan looked down.
“He said her mother had something that belonged to him.””
“What?””
“I don't know.””
“What did he tell you to do?””
Ethan hesitated.
“Make people hate her.””
Ariana's face crumpled.
“You made everyone hate me because some stranger told you to?””
Ethan looked ashamed.
“I didn't think it would get this bad.””
“You posted the picture.””
“I know.””
“You laughed.””
“I know.””
“You let them call my mom trash.””
“I said I know!””
Ariana flinched.
I stepped between them.
“Enough.””
Ethan lowered his head.
Then he whispered, “There was one more thing.””
Principal Bennett leaned closer.
“What?””
“The man told me to get Miles involved.””
I felt my blood run cold.
“Why Miles?””
Ethan looked directly at me.
“Because he said Miles would do anything if he thought his mom was in trouble.””
I looked at my son.
Miles couldn't meet my eyes.
The room suddenly felt too small.
I reached for my phone again.
This time, I called my boss.
He answered immediately.
“Laura? What's wrong?””
“David, I need to ask you something.””
His voice changed.
“Are you alone?””
I looked around the office.
“No.””
A pause.
Then he said something that made every hair on my arms rise.
“Good. Because if you're at the school, don't come to the office.””
I froze.
“How did you know where I was?””
Silence.
“David?””
He exhaled.
“Laura, there's something you need to know about September fourteenth.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“The security footage?””
“Yes.””
“Why was it deleted?””
Another pause.
Then David whispered,
“Because the person in that footage was your husband.””
May you like
I couldn't speak.
My husband had been dead for six years.
