Chapter 10: The Setup
For three seconds, nobody said anything.
I stared at Madison Carter's name on Priya's screen.
Then I laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because after two years of wondering whether I was imagining things, the truth had become almost ridiculous.
“She planted the files?””
Priya held up one hand.
“We know the uploads originated from a school-issued device assigned to Madison. We still need to establish who was physically using it.””
Dad stepped beside me.
“When were they uploaded?””
Priya opened the activity log.
“Fourteen months ago. Then again eleven months ago. The most recent batch was last April.””
Last April.
The anonymous emails.
The fellowship invitation.
Everything was connected.
“Why would someone upload test files to my account a year ago and wait until now to accuse me?””
Dr. Pierce answered.
“Insurance.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“If someone wanted leverage against you, they wouldn't necessarily use it immediately.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“They built evidence they could pull out whenever Emma became inconvenient.””
A cold feeling spread through me.
Madison hadn't lost control today.
Not completely.
Someone had been preparing for this possibility for more than a year.
“Can you prove I didn't open those files?””
Priya nodded slowly.
“I think so.””
She pulled up another window.
“The uploads happened at 9:47 p.m., 10:12 p.m., and 8:36 p.m.””
“So?””
“Where were you on these dates?””
I looked.
The first was a Thursday.
I couldn't remember.
The second date caught my attention immediately.
“That's my birthday.””
Dad leaned closer.
“You were home.””
“We had dinner at Grandma's.””
Dad pulled out his phone.
“I took pictures.””
Priya nodded.
“That helps.””
I pointed to the third date.
“And this one was during spring break.””
Dad looked at me.
“We were in Oklahoma.””
“My aunt's house.””
Priya's eyebrows rose.
“You have proof?””
“Probably fifty pictures.””
“Good.””
I exhaled.
Then she shook her head.
“But location evidence isn't even the strongest part.””
She enlarged the device logs.
“The account activity shows the files being uploaded from Madison's school laptop. Less than two minutes later, her personal school account was accessed from the same device.””
Dad leaned forward.
“So whoever used Emma's account immediately logged into Madison's?””
“Yes.””
“Can that be faked?””
“Technically? Almost anything can be manipulated with enough access. But these are archived authentication logs. Altering them cleanly would be extremely difficult.””
I looked at Madison's video again.
The views were climbing.
Thousands.
Comments moved too quickly to read.
Some defended me.
Others didn't.
*She always seemed fake.*
*Scholarship kids cheat all the time.*
*Why does she know self-defense if she isn't violent?*
That one made my stomach turn.
I locked my phone.
Dad noticed.
“Don't read it.””
“They believe her.””
“Some strangers believe a sixty-second video.””
“But colleges could see this.””
Dad's face softened.
“Emma.””
“She could destroy everything I've worked for.””
“No.””
“You don't know that.””
His expression changed.
“You're right.””
That surprised me.
He pulled his chair closer.
“I don't know what happens next. I can't promise you this won't be ugly.””
My eyes burned.
“But I can promise something else.””
“What?””
“You won't face it alone.””
Before I could answer, Dr. Pierce's phone rang.
She listened for less than thirty seconds.
Then her face tightened.
“Understood.””
She ended the call.
“What happened?”” Dad asked.
“The Carters' attorneys have sent Westbridge a preservation demand.””
“For what?””
“Records related to Emma.””
I blinked.
“They're investigating me?””
“They're positioning themselves.””
Dad stood.
“Then we need our own attorney now.””
Dr. Pierce nodded.
“I agree.””
A voice came from the doorway.
“You already have one.””
We turned.
A woman stood outside with a leather briefcase.
Mid-forties. Dark suit. Calm eyes.
Dad frowned.
“Who are you?””
“Rachel Bennett.””
My head snapped toward Dad.
He looked just as confused.
The woman smiled slightly.
“Unfortunate coincidence. No relation.””
She handed him a card.
“Rachel Bennett, attorney. Claire Donovan called me.””
Claire.
The attorney stepped inside.
“I represented Claire's family briefly three years ago.””
Dad stared at her.
“You were the lawyer they couldn't afford?””
Rachel's expression tightened.
“I was a junior associate then. The firm wouldn't take the case without a retainer.””
“And now?””
“Now I'm a partner.””
She looked at me.
“And I don't intend to make the same mistake twice.””
Something in my chest loosened.
Rachel placed her briefcase on the table.
“I need permission to speak freely in front of Dr. Pierce and school personnel.””
Dad looked at me.
I nodded.
“Go ahead.””
Rachel opened a folder.
“First: don't post anything. Don't respond to Madison publicly. Don't delete messages. Don't contact the Carters.””
Dad nodded.
“Fine.””
“Second: preserve every device Emma uses.””
“Done.””
“Third.””
Rachel looked toward Priya.
“I need copies of the authentication logs through the appropriate process.””
Dr. Pierce said, “Westbridge will cooperate.””
“Good.””
Rachel sat.
“Because Madison's accusation creates a problem for her.””
I frowned.
“How?””
“She publicly claimed to possess evidence that appears connected to files secretly planted in your account.””
Dad slowly smiled.
“She knew about them.””
“Exactly.””
Rachel looked at me.
“She may have just tied herself publicly to evidence nobody outside the person who planted it should have known existed.””
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
This one came from Madison.
*You think you won? Check your locker tomorrow.*
Dad read it over my shoulder.
Rachel held out her hand.
“Don't answer.””
I gave her the phone.
She photographed the screen.
Then another message arrived.
*You'll finally understand why your dad should've kept you out of Westbridge.*
My blood went cold.
Dad's face changed.
“What does she know about me?””
I looked at him.
“What?””
But he wasn't looking at Madison's message anymore.
He was staring at one phrase.
*kept you out of Westbridge.*
“Dad?””
He sat slowly.
“There is something I never told you.””
Every person in the room became silent.
“What?””
Dad looked toward the window.
May you like
Then back at me.
“Westbridge didn't want you here in the first place.””
