Chapter 4 - The Chairman's Wife
Nia actually laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because sometimes anger gets so big the body has to let it escape somehow.
"Of course he is," she said.
Principal Reeves raised both hands. "I need you to understand, I am not defending what happened."
"You already did," Nia said. "For three years."
Rachel turned to Caleb. "Tell me exactly what you saw. Start before the ruler."
Caleb described the history lesson, Malik correcting the textbook quote, Mrs. Baxter ordering him to the front, the insult, the strike, the threat about grades.
Malik interrupted only once.
"It wasn't the first time she said stuff like that."
Everyone looked at him.
He stared at his shoes.
"What else has she said?" his mother asked.
Malik swallowed. "She told me my writing was 'surprisingly articulate.' She said my dad must be proud I don't talk like 'those boys downtown.' She asks if my hair is distracting. Last month she moved me away from the honors group because she said I was making them uncomfortable."
Nia's face went blank.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you already work twelve-hour shifts. Dad works nights. And every time I complained, she said I was being disrespectful. I thought maybe..." He looked away. "Maybe I was."
Nia reached across the desk and took his uninjured hand.
"No."
One word. Firm.
"You were not."
A knock sounded.
Before Reeves could answer, the door opened.
Mrs. Baxter entered with a tall gray-haired man in an expensive overcoat.
"There he is," she said, pointing at Caleb. "That's the boy who illegally photographed me."
The gray-haired man barely glanced at the children.
"I'm Thomas Baxter," he said. "Board chairman."
Rachel did not stand.
"Rachel Monroe. Attorney."
Recognition flickered in his eyes.
"I've heard of you."
"Good. Saves time."
Thomas turned to Reeves. "Suspend both boys pending investigation."
Nia shot to her feet. "Excuse me?"
"Mrs. Baxter was assaulted by a coordinated act of student defiance."
Malik stared at him. "She hit me."
Thomas looked at the red mark on Malik's hand, then back at Reeves.
"Children lie when consequences frighten them."
The office became silent.
Rachel slowly unlocked her phone.
"Mr. Baxter," she said, "before you say another word, you should know Caleb's picture wasn't the only thing that left that classroom."
May you like
Thomas's expression finally changed.
Because Emma Ruiz had recorded thirty-eight seconds of audio.
