Chapter 12 - Five Million Dollars

Nia read the number three times.

$5,000,000.

Then she started laughing again.

"We don't even have five thousand dollars."

Andre did not laugh. "That's the point."

The lawsuit accused the Carters of ruining Thomas and Eleanor Baxter's reputations, interfering with charitable operations, and encouraging harassment.

Malik's name appeared nineteen times.

He was thirteen.

"Can they do this?" he asked.

Rachel sat at the Carter kitchen table with the complaint spread in front of her.

"Anyone can file a lawsuit. Winning is different."

"Are we going to lose our house?"

Nia immediately turned toward him. "No."

Rachel nodded. "Your parents are not facing this alone."

Andre studied her. "What are they trying to accomplish?"

"Fear. Delay. Money pressure. And silence."

"So what do we do?"

Rachel closed the complaint.

"We answer with discovery."

For the first time that day, she smiled.

If Thomas Baxter wanted litigation, litigation opened doors.

Financial records. Internal emails. Foundation communications. Draft statements. Contacts with former complainants.

Three days later, Rachel filed a counterclaim and a motion accusing the Baxters of retaliatory litigation.

The news changed again.

Former students began contacting her directly.

A teacher named Melissa Grant asked to meet after dark in a coffee shop two towns away.

"I worked with Eleanor Baxter for six years," Grant said. "I reported her twice."

"What happened?"

"Nothing. Then my evaluation dropped from excellent to needs improvement. Thomas Baxter personally asked why I was 'creating division.'"

"Do you have documentation?"

Grant slid a flash drive across the table.

"Emails."

Rachel did not touch it yet.

"Why now?"

Grant looked out the window.

"Because Malik stood at that microphone and said he shouldn't have to be perfect to deserve protection."

Her voice shook.

"I was an adult and I was afraid. He was thirteen and he still spoke."

The flash drive contained 312 emails.

One subject line appeared over and over.

E.B. CONCERNS.

In the oldest chain, the former superintendent wrote: We need a long-term solution.

Thomas Baxter replied six minutes later.

There is no problem if we stop documenting one.

Rachel stared at the screen.

Then another email opened automatically.

It contained a list of employees.

May you like

She Tried to Kill a Disabled Woman at a Billionaire’s Pool Party—But One...

She had already lost her leg. Now, they were trying to take her life.At a luxury mansion filled with millionaires, a terrified you...

THEY DECLARED HER DEAD—THEN ORDERED HER CREMATED WHILE SHE WAS STILL ALI...

They were about to burn her alive.Her death certificate had already been signed. Her body was scheduled for immediate cremation. A...

She Pushed a Pregnant Woman in a Wheelchair Into the Pool—Then Her Husba...

She was pregnant. She was in a wheelchair. And the woman standing behind her was smiling.Seconds later, one brutal shove sent her...

Beside Principal Reeves's name were two words:

REPLACE SOON.