Chapter 10: They Wanted My Son More Than the Evidence
Daniel stared at the security monitor.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to breathe.
Mrs. Whitmore stood outside the school entrance, holding Mateo's photograph against the glass. Beside her, Richard Hale kept one hand on Thomas Reed's shoulder while Patricia Vance watched the parking lot.
They weren't hiding anymore.
They wanted us to know exactly what they were capable of doing.
"Nobody is going outside," Officer Brooks ordered.
Daniel stepped toward the monitor.
"That's Thomas. They're holding him against his will.""
"I can see that.""
"Then get him out!""
Officer Brooks reached for his radio.
"Dispatch, we have three adults outside the main entrance. One individual appears to be restrained. We need police assistance immediately.""
A voice responded.
"Units are approximately four minutes away.""
"Tell them to approach carefully.""
Daniel turned toward Principal Collins.
"Give me your phone.""
She handed it over.
"What are you doing?""
"Calling the police myself.""
Officer Brooks shook his head.
"Don't call anyone involved in the district. Use emergency dispatch.""
Daniel looked at him.
"I wasn't calling the district.""
He dialed the emergency number.
While he spoke, I watched Mateo.
He had gone completely silent.
His eyes were fixed on the photograph in Mrs. Whitmore's hands.
"Dad," he whispered.
Daniel ended the call.
"What is it?""
"Why do they want me?""
Daniel crouched in front of him.
"Because they think hurting you will make me surrender.""
"But I didn't do anything.""
"I know.""
Mateo's voice cracked.
"I just wanted to go to school.""
Daniel pulled him into an embrace.
"I know, son.""
I looked away.
It was difficult watching a thirteen-year-old apologize for wanting something as ordinary as an education.
Then Principal Collins noticed something on the monitor.
"Wait.""
She pointed toward Richard.
"Look at his left hand.""
Richard was holding a small black device.
Officer Brooks zoomed in.
It appeared to be a remote control connected to a wireless receiver.
"What's that?"" I asked.
Daniel answered.
"The recording equipment.""
Officer Brooks nodded.
"They may have brought a signal jammer.""
Principal Collins looked alarmed.
"Could they disable our cameras?""
"Possibly.""
The security monitors flickered.
One by one, several hallway feeds disappeared.
Then the main entrance camera went black.
Officer Brooks swore under his breath.
"They're interfering with the system.""
Daniel looked toward the basement corridor.
"What about the original ledger?""
Officer Brooks glanced at the blue book.
"We have it.""
"Then we need to protect it.""
Principal Collins closed the ledger and placed it inside her handbag.
"I'll take responsibility for this.""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. We need independent police custody.""
Officer Brooks nodded.
"Agreed. Nobody leaves this room with evidence until officers arrive.""
A loud knock echoed through the school.
Everyone froze.
Then a voice came through the hallway.
"Police department! Open the front entrance!""
Officer Brooks hurried toward the security monitor.
The cameras were still offline.
He reached for his radio.
"Identify yourselves.""
A man's voice responded.
"Officer James Porter. Responding to the emergency call.""
Officer Brooks looked relieved.
"Hold your position. We're coming.""
He turned toward Daniel.
"Stay with your son.""
Then he left.
A minute later, we heard footsteps approaching the security office.
The door opened.
Two uniformed officers entered.
The first was a tall man with a shaved head and a badge reading PORTER.
The second was a younger woman carrying a tablet.
"Officer Brooks," Porter said.
"Where are the suspects?""
"Outside the main entrance. They were holding a man against his will.""
Porter looked toward the computer.
"Where is the footage?""
"Signal interference. We've lost several feeds.""
The younger officer opened her tablet.
"Do you have an external copy?""
Officer Brooks nodded toward the desk.
"The original access logs are here. We also recovered a physical ledger from the old records room.""
Porter looked at Daniel.
"Mr. Alvarez?""
"Yes.""
"Are you the person whose credentials were used to enter the archive?""
"Someone stole my identity.""
"Do you have evidence?""
Daniel pointed toward the ledger.
"We have documents showing the district manipulated student assistance records and used disciplinary reports to punish families who complained.""
Porter looked at Principal Collins.
"Is that true?""
She hesitated.
"I have reason to believe it is. But I need to review the documents before making a formal statement.""
The younger officer examined the ledger.
"These records need to be secured immediately.""
Before she could close it, something slipped from between the pages.
A small photograph landed on the floor.
Officer Porter picked it up.
It showed a group of district employees standing inside a conference room.
Richard Hale was there.
Patricia Vance was there.
Mrs. Whitmore was there.
And standing between them was a younger Margaret Collins.
On the back, someone had written:
*THE FIRST MEETING — APPROVAL OF THE PROGRAM.*
Principal Collins stared at the photograph.
"I've never seen this.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Are you sure?""
She nodded.
Then the younger officer noticed a date printed beneath the image.
It was eleven years old.
Porter examined the photograph more closely.
"Who's the woman sitting at the head of the table?""
Nobody answered.
The photograph showed only part of her face.
But Daniel suddenly recognized her.
He pointed at the image.
"That's Helen Whitmore.""
Principal Collins looked confused.
"Who?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Eleanor's mother. She was the district superintendent when the program began.""
Officer Porter looked at the photograph.
"Is she still alive?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
He looked toward the main entrance.
"She's the reason all of this started.""
Then the younger officer's tablet chimed.
She examined the notification.
"Officer Porter, we've got a problem.""
"What?""
"Richard Hale has just submitted a statement claiming Daniel Alvarez entered the archive illegally and stole confidential records.""
Daniel stared at her.
"He's accusing me?""
She nodded.
"And he's requesting your immediate arrest.""
Officer Brooks returned to the room.
He looked at Daniel.
"There's something you need to know.""
"What?""
"Richard isn't just threatening you anymore.""
May you like
He held up his phone.
"He's already filed a criminal complaint.""
