Chapter 3 - The Dead Father

The words landed harder than shouting.

Clara stared up at Ben as if she needed to make sure he was still solid.

"They said you're dead?"

"Someone entered that into the system," Ben said. "It doesn't make it true."

Dr. Voss stepped toward the classroom computer. "Mr. Keene, I need access to the student information record."

Keene hesitated.

That was the first thing Ben did not like.

The second was Ms. Harrow quietly sliding Clara's blue folder away from the trash can and onto her desk.

Ben noticed.

So did Clara.

"Yesterday you threw it away," Clara said.

Ms. Harrow's cheeks colored. "I placed it aside because the project required verification."

"In the trash," said a girl named Molly.

"Molly," Ms. Harrow snapped.

Ben lifted one hand. "Nobody needs to pressure the kids."

The security officer, whose badge read J. Alvarez, nodded slightly. He looked uncomfortable being there.

Dr. Voss typed into the computer.

"Clara Reed. Emergency contact: Margaret Reed, grandmother. Mother: deceased. Father..."

She stopped.

Keene said, "It's probably an old clerical error."

"No," Dr. Voss replied. "The record was edited nine days ago."

Ben's jaw tightened.

Nine days ago he had been at a training site three hours away. Clara had called him that night to ask whether Scout's scar was on the right ear or left.

He had laughed and told her, "Right ear. Same side as the tiny notch in his harness tag."

She had been so proud of the detail.

Now the same detail had been used to accuse her of inventing him.

"Who edited it?" Ben asked.

Dr. Voss clicked again.

Keene moved closer. "Elaine, we should handle this privately."

"Agreed," she said. "After I determine whether a child's records were improperly altered."

The screen loaded.

A user name appeared.

HARROW_M.

Clara looked at her teacher.

Ms. Harrow backed away from the desk.

"I didn't do that."

Keene stepped between her and the monitor.

"This is clearly a credential issue."

Ben looked at him.

"Then you won't mind if we call the district IT office."

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Keene's expression hardened.

"Actually," he said, "I do mind."