Chapter 11: The First Twenty-Three
“What happened to them?””
Nathan sat in an old office chair with his hands clasped between his knees.
Nobody looked at him with sympathy.
“The first group was six years ago.””
“How many?”” I asked.
“Twenty-three.””
The same number as the current list.
My stomach turned.
“Where are they now?””
“Most graduated.””
“Most?””
Nathan looked toward Dad.
Dad's face was rigid.
“I didn't know about a first group.””
“I know.””
Nathan's voice was quieter now.
“That was the point.””
He explained.
Project Merit had begun at another private school outside the city.
Samuel selected twenty-three students receiving financial aid.
At first, researchers only observed them.
Then observation became interference.
A missed recommendation letter.
A mysteriously canceled internship.
A rumor planted at the right moment.
Social exclusion.
Academic sabotage.
Small things designed to look accidental.
“What happened?”” I asked.
Nathan swallowed.
“One student discovered it.””
“Who?””
“Daniel Reyes.””
Lena searched the name.
A photograph appeared.
Seventeen years old.
Dark hair.
Serious eyes.
“He confronted Samuel,” Nathan said.
“And?””
“He recorded the conversation.””
Dad leaned forward.
“Where is the recording?””
“That's what M-ORIGINAL contains.””
The room went silent.
I understood.
Mom hadn't just found documents.
She'd found a witness.
“What happened to Daniel?””
Nathan looked ashamed.
“Samuel destroyed his reputation.””
“How?””
“He made it look like Daniel hacked the school's grading system.””
I stared at him.
“Did he?””
“No.””
The word came quickly.
“He lost his scholarship.””
My stomach twisted.
“Where is he now?””
Lena searched.
Then stopped.
“I found him.””
Dad looked at her.
“Where?””
“Brooks Meridian.””
Nobody moved.
“What?””
“He works here?””
“Not exactly.””
Lena turned the monitor.
*Daniel Reyes — Senior Cybersecurity Consultant.*
Dad stared.
“I hired him two years ago.””
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“Samuel must have loved that.””
I looked at Dad.
“You didn't know?””
“No.””
“Did Daniel?””
Dad's expression changed.
“He knew exactly who I was.””
A new possibility entered the room.
“What if Daniel is the administrator?””
Lena began typing.
Dad shook his head.
“Don't assume.””
Nathan looked uneasy.
“Samuel framed him once.””
I turned toward him.
“That doesn't make him innocent now.””
“No.””
Nathan's voice became quiet.
“But it gives him a reason.””
Lena found Daniel's access history.
“He logged into Meridian Outreach archives yesterday.””
Dad stood.
“Where is he?””
“His office.””
Security moved.
We returned to Brooks Meridian headquarters.
Daniel Reyes didn't run.
He was sitting behind his desk when we entered.
He looked at Dad.
Then at me.
“I wondered how long it would take.””
Dad remained standing.
“Are you the administrator?””
Daniel leaned back.
“Yes.””
Lena reached toward her radio.
Dad raised his hand.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“To keep the files alive.””
I frowned.
“You could've exposed Samuel.””
“I tried that when I was seventeen.””
His voice carried no anger.
That made it worse.
“Nobody believed me.””
Dad stepped closer.
“My wife did.””
Daniel's expression softened.
“Yes.””
“You knew Amara?””
“She found me.””
He opened a drawer slowly.
Security tensed.
Daniel removed a photograph.
Mom stood beside a teenage Daniel.
My chest tightened.
“She promised she'd clear my name,” he said.
Dad stared at the photograph.
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because Samuel had people everywhere.””
Daniel looked at Nathan.
“Especially inside your family.””
Nathan lowered his eyes.
Daniel continued.
“Amara created M-ORIGINAL with my recording, Samuel's payment records, and every authorization she could find.””
“Where is it?”” I asked.
Daniel looked directly at me.
“I gave it to her.””
“What happened after she died?””
“I thought it was gone.””
Dad stepped closer.
“Samuel says he has it.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
“You're sure?””
“Absolutely.””
“How?””
Daniel turned his monitor toward us.
A tracking program showed a file signature.
“M-ORIGINAL isn't a normal file. I encrypted it for Amara.””
Lena leaned closer.
“Where is it?””
Daniel pointed.
The signal was active.
Not at Samuel's address.
Not at Brooks Meridian.
At Westbridge Academy.
My school.
“Why would it be there?”” Dad asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“Because Amara hid it somewhere Samuel would never think to search.””
My heart began pounding.
Then I remembered the silver keychain.
The one Mom had given me.
The one Madison had stepped on.
My hand flew to my backpack.
I pulled it out.
Daniel's face changed.
“Where did you get that?””
“My mother.””
He stood.
“Nia…”
“What?””
“That isn't a keychain.””
I stared at the small silver pendant.
Daniel reached for it carefully.
He twisted the edge.
It opened.
Inside was a tiny storage chip.
Nobody spoke.
Daniel whispered:
“Your mother gave you M-ORIGINAL.””
Dad stared at the object that had been hanging from my backpack for four years.
Then every phone in the room buzzed.
One message.
From Samuel.
*THANK YOU FOR FINDING IT FOR ME.*
May you like
The office windows suddenly went dark.
And the building's security alarm began screaming.
