Chapter 5: The Person Who Knew Too Much
Marcus stared at the message for nearly a minute.
The hallway around him continued moving.
Students laughed.
Lockers slammed.
Teachers walked past.
But everything sounded distant.
Because someone knew something.
Something bigger than a torn scholarship letter.
Jordan found him near the stairs.
“Hey, you look like you just saw a ghost.””
Marcus handed him the phone.
Jordan read the message.
His expression changed immediately.
“Who sent this?””
“I don’t know.””
“You’re not actually thinking about meeting some random person alone, right?””
Marcus looked toward the exit.
“I need answers.””
Jordan shook his head.
“No. You need backup.””
Marcus almost smiled.
“You sound like my mom.””
“Your mom sounds smart.””
Despite everything, Marcus laughed.
It was the first time he had all day.
But the message stayed in his mind.
After school, Marcus waited outside the old science building.
The place was almost empty.
The sun was setting behind the football field.
A few minutes passed.
Then someone stepped out from behind the corner.
Marcus recognized him.
Ethan Cole.
A former student.
But unlike Olivia, Ethan had never been a top student.
He was the kind of person teachers overlooked.
“You sent the message?””
Ethan nodded.
“I did.””
Marcus looked around.
“Why?””
Ethan took a breath.
“Because I saw what happened.””
“To me?””
“To everyone.””
Marcus studied him.
“What does that mean?””
Ethan leaned against the wall.
“Mrs. Vance has been controlling scholarship recommendations for years.””
Marcus frowned.
“Controlling?””
“She decides who gets pushed forward. Who gets encouraged. Who gets ignored.””
“That doesn’t explain why she destroyed my letter.””
Ethan looked away.
“Because you weren’t supposed to get it.””
Marcus felt confused.
“What?””
Ethan lowered his voice.
“There was another student she wanted to recommend.””
“Who?””
Ethan hesitated.
Then he said the name.
“Dylan Vance.””
Marcus froze.
“Her son?””
Ethan nodded.
“Her son applied for the same program.””
The pieces started connecting.
Mrs. Vance hadn’t just disliked Marcus.
She had a reason.
But Ethan wasn’t finished.
“She knew Dylan didn’t qualify.””
Marcus looked at him.
“So she tried to remove the competition?””
“Yes.””
The answer felt impossible.
“She would risk her job for that?””
Ethan gave a bitter laugh.
“You still don’t understand.””
“What don’t I understand?””
Ethan stepped closer.
“She doesn’t think she can lose.””
Marcus remembered her expression.
The confidence.
The arrogance.
The way she stood there believing nothing could touch her.
“Why?””
Ethan looked toward the school building.
“Because someone always protected her.””
A cold feeling moved through Marcus.
“Who?””
Ethan didn’t answer.
Instead, he reached into his backpack.
He pulled out a photograph.
Not a phone image.
Not a copy.
An actual printed photo.
Marcus looked at it.
It showed Mrs. Vance standing beside several school officials at an event.
But one person in the background caught his attention.
A man wearing a suit.
Marcus recognized him.
Everyone in town did.
He was one of the largest donors to the school.
Ethan pointed at him.
“That’s the person you need to worry about.””
Marcus looked confused.
“What does he have to do with this?””
Ethan’s face became serious.
“Everything.””
A car suddenly pulled into the empty parking lot.
The headlights turned toward them.
Ethan immediately stepped back.
Marcus turned.
A black SUV had stopped near the building entrance.
The window slowly lowered.
And a familiar voice called out:
“Marcus Hill.””
Marcus froze.
May you like
Because he knew that voice.
It belonged to the man in the photograph.
