Chapter 13 - The Hearing
Westbridge scheduled Ethan's disciplinary hearing for Friday morning.
Pike advised them to attend.
"Why give them the chance?" Laura asked.
"Because people who think they control the room often say useful things."
The hearing took place in the board conference room beneath a wall of donor names.
Victoria Whitmore sat at the head of the table.
Five trustees sat beside her. Principal Vale and Mr. Danner faced Ethan across from Laura and Pike.
Mason was not required to attend.
Ethan noticed that immediately.
"Where is he?"
Mercer, the school attorney, answered. "This hearing concerns your conduct."
"Of course it does."
Pike touched Ethan's sleeve, reminding him to stay calm.
Vale read a list of allegations: aggressive conduct, unauthorized access to restricted media systems, involvement in a library disturbance, possession of copied security material, and behavior inconsistent with Westbridge values.
When he finished, Pike said, "Are you alleging Ethan started the physical contact in the library?"
"Witness accounts differ."
"Do you have video?"
Vale paused.
"We have incomplete footage."
"Please play it."
Mercer interrupted. "That won't be necessary."
Pike smiled slightly. "Then we'll play ours."
He set a laptop on the table.
Ben's copied footage filled the screen.
Mason reached for Maya's bag. Blake shoved Ethan. Blake stole the laptop and ran.
Nobody spoke.
Pike then displayed the hallway screenshot showing Mason's shoe on Ethan's hand.
Victoria's face remained still.
"A still image can be misleading," she said.
Pike opened the server log.
"This is the deletion record for the full video. Account DANNER.M. Mr. Danner, is that your administrative account?"
Danner shifted.
"Accounts can be accessed from multiple terminals."
"Is it yours?"
"Yes."
"Did you delete the video?"
Mercer stood. "We are not turning this student hearing into a deposition."
Pike closed the laptop.
"Then we can end it."
Victoria leaned forward.
"Not yet."
She looked directly at Ethan.
"You have made serious accusations about my son and this institution. Are you prepared to accept responsibility if those accusations are false?"
Ethan thought of his father's letter.
He thought of Ms. Ruiz changing words because she was afraid.
He thought of Mr. Danner standing in the hallway while a shoe crushed his hand.
"Yes," Ethan said. "Are you?"
The room went completely silent.
Then the door opened.
Maya walked in with her father.
Behind them was Ms. Ruiz.
And behind Ms. Ruiz were three former Westbridge students Ethan had never met.
One had a scar running from his eyebrow to his hairline.
Victoria stood.
"What is this?"
May you like
Ms. Ruiz placed a thick folder on the table.
"Context," she said.
