Chapter 5 - The Story She Told
Mrs. Vale recovered fast.
Too fast.
Her shoulders relaxed. Her voice softened. She even looked toward Ethan with practiced concern.
“I think everyone is emotional right now.”
Daniel almost laughed.
Principal Ward shut the classroom door, leaving it unlocked this time. “Marissa, sit down.”
“I don’t need to sit.”
“Yes, you do.”
Ethan stood close enough to Daniel that his sleeve brushed his father’s hand.
Mrs. Vale spoke carefully. “Ethan became upset after I confronted him about bullying Logan during today’s test.”
Ethan’s head snapped up. “I didn’t bully him!”
“She’s changing it,” he said to Daniel. “That’s not what happened.”
Daniel squeezed his shoulder. “I know.”
Mrs. Vale continued. “He refused instructions, knocked over a chair, and became physically agitated. The ruler was in my hand because I had been using it at the board.”
“You told me to put my hand out!” Ethan shouted.
“Lower your voice.”
Daniel’s stare stopped her cold.
Principal Ward asked, “Why was the camera unplugged?”
“I told you. It was malfunctioning.”
Daniel took out his phone. “No. It wasn’t.”
He opened the device log the technician had sent him.
4:17:03 — local power removed.
4:17:49 — manual endpoint reconnect attempt failed.
4:18:21 — secondary network restored.
Mrs. Vale looked at the screen but said nothing.
Daniel said, “That camera didn’t fail. Someone physically disconnected it.”
“You’re making assumptions.”
“The cable is hanging out of the wall.”
She swallowed.
Principal Ward rubbed her forehead. “Marissa, where is Logan?”
“At home.”
Ethan shook his head. “No, he isn’t.”
Everyone looked at him.
Ethan pointed toward the coat closet.
“His backpack is still here.”
Mrs. Vale’s face drained of color.
Daniel looked at the backpack hanging from a hook. A red name tag was stitched across the front.
LOGAN VALE.
Principal Ward whispered, “Where is your son?”
May you like
Mrs. Vale opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, three soft knocks came from the supply room at the back of the classroom.
