Chapter 6: The Man Behind the Locked Door
Officer Brooks grabbed his radio.
"Security, this is Brooks. Locate Richard Hale immediately. I repeat, locate Richard Hale.""
A crackling voice responded.
"Copy. Checking the visitor log.""
Principal Collins stood up.
"Why would he come here?""
Daniel looked at the security monitor.
"Because he knows we found the recording.""
Mateo moved closer to his father.
"Is he going to hurt us?""
Daniel crouched as much as his injured leg allowed.
"Nobody is going to touch you.""
But I could hear the uncertainty in his voice.
Officer Brooks switched to another camera.
The hallway outside the administrative offices appeared on the screen.
A man in a charcoal suit walked past the reception desk.
He carried a black leather folder.
Principal Collins recognized him.
"That's Richard.""
The man stopped outside her office.
Then he looked directly at the hallway camera.
He smiled.
Officer Brooks frowned.
"Why is he smiling?""
The man entered the office.
A few seconds later, the door closed.
Principal Collins looked at the screen.
"That's my office.""
Officer Brooks immediately picked up his radio.
"Nobody enters or leaves the administrative wing without my authorization.""
The security officer responded.
"Understood.""
Daniel turned toward the principal.
"Does he have a key?""
"Yes. He has access to every administrative office.""
"Then he can reach your computer.""
Principal Collins suddenly remembered something.
"My office contains the original complaint files.""
Daniel's expression changed.
"What?""
"All the reports submitted by families. I keep copies because I don't trust the district's central filing system.""
Officer Brooks moved toward the door.
"Stay here.""
Principal Collins grabbed her handbag.
"I'm coming with you.""
"No. You're a potential witness. Stay with the students.""
"I am the principal of this school.""
"And right now, you're also someone whose office may contain evidence.""
He looked at Daniel.
"Can you stay with them?""
Daniel nodded.
Officer Brooks left.
For several seconds, the security office was quiet except for the hum of the computers.
Then Mateo spoke.
"Dad?""
"Yes, son?""
"Did you lose your job because of those families?""
Daniel looked at him.
"I lost my job because I refused to stay quiet.""
Mateo's eyes filled.
"Was it worth it?""
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
He looked at his son's worn backpack, then at the bruises visible beneath his sleeves.
Finally, he placed a hand on Mateo's shoulder.
"I wish I could tell you that doing the right thing is always rewarded.""
He paused.
"But I would rather struggle with you knowing I told the truth than live comfortably teaching you to be afraid.""
Mateo hugged him.
I looked away, trying not to cry.
Then the security monitor flickered.
The hallway camera outside Principal Collins' office showed Richard Hale emerging from the doorway.
He was carrying a large brown envelope.
Officer Brooks wasn't visible.
Principal Collins stared at the screen.
"Where is Raymond?""
Nobody answered.
She reached for the radio.
"Security office to Brooks. Do you copy?""
Static.
"Raymond?""
Nothing.
Then the hallway camera changed angles.
Richard walked toward the stairwell.
He was no longer carrying the envelope.
Principal Collins stood abruptly.
"He left something in my office.""
Daniel looked at the monitor.
"Or took something.""
The security phone rang.
I jumped.
Principal Collins answered.
"Security office.""
A familiar male voice responded.
"Margaret, I need you to come to my office.""
Her face tightened.
"Richard?""
"Yes. We need to discuss what you've been doing.""
"I'm not coming alone.""
A short laugh came through the receiver.
"Then bring whoever you like.""
He disconnected.
Principal Collins stared at the phone.
Daniel shook his head.
"Don't go.""
"I need to know what he took.""
"Call the police.""
Before she could answer, Officer Brooks' radio crackled.
"Security office, respond.""
Principal Collins snatched it up.
"Raymond, where are you?""
"I'm in the east corridor. I found the deputy superintendent.""
"Is he alone?""
A pause.
"No.""
Principal Collins looked at the radio.
"Who is with him?""
Officer Brooks' voice became quieter.
"Patricia Vance.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"Of course.""
Then another voice came through.
It was Richard Hale.
"Officer Brooks, I believe you've misunderstood the situation.""
Officer Brooks responded.
"Step away from the documents, sir.""
Richard laughed.
"Those documents belong to the district.""
"They're evidence in an active investigation.""
"An investigation you have no authority to conduct.""
Officer Brooks spoke firmly.
"Do not move.""
There was a scraping sound.
Then the radio went silent.
Principal Collins tried again.
"Raymond! Answer me!""
Nothing.
Mateo gripped his father's hand.
I felt my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Then the security office door opened.
Officer Brooks entered.
His uniform was disheveled, and one sleeve had been torn near the elbow.
Principal Collins hurried toward him.
"What happened?""
He raised one hand.
"I'm fine.""
"Where is Richard?""
"He's in the east corridor with Patricia. I ordered them to remain there until district police arrive.""
"Did you recover the envelope?""
Officer Brooks shook his head.
"No.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"What's inside it?""
Officer Brooks looked at him.
"That's what worries me.""
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small flash drive.
"This was on the floor outside the principal's office.""
Daniel stared at it.
"Where did you find it?""
"Beside the filing cabinet.""
Principal Collins took the drive.
A small label was attached.
*ALVAREZ — ORIGINAL COMPLAINTS.*
Daniel's expression changed.
"That's mine.""
He reached for it, but Principal Collins held it back.
"Wait.""
She turned it over.
On the other side was a handwritten note.
*IF THEY FIND THIS, CHECK THE BACKUP SERVER.*
Officer Brooks looked at the computer.
"There's a backup server?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"Old administration building. Basement archive room.""
Principal Collins stared at him.
"That building was closed two years ago.""
"I know.""
"Why would they store evidence there?""
Daniel looked down at the flash drive.
"Because the person who sent me these documents said the original records were never destroyed.""
Officer Brooks moved toward the computer.
"Can you access that archive remotely?""
"No," Daniel replied.
"It has to be opened physically.""
Principal Collins looked at the clock.
"We need to contact district police.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not yet.""
"Why?""
He pointed toward the monitor.
The hallway camera showed Patricia Vance standing outside the security office.
She was speaking to someone on her phone.
Then she turned toward the camera and slowly raised her hand.
In her fingers was a small metal key.
Principal Collins recognized it immediately.
Her face went pale.
"That's the key to the old archive.""
Daniel stared at the screen.
"How did she get that?""
Patricia slipped the key into her pocket and walked away.
Officer Brooks immediately reached for his radio.
"Security, intercept Patricia Vance. She has district property.""
But the security officer's reply made everyone's blood run cold.
"She's already outside.""
"Where is she going?""
A pause.
Then:
"She's getting into a black SUV.""
Daniel moved closer to the monitor.
The vehicle's rear passenger door opened.
Someone was already sitting inside.
The camera captured the person's face for just two seconds.
Principal Collins covered her mouth.
It was Mrs. Eleanor Whitmore.
The teacher who had struck Mateo.
And she was holding a thick folder marked with the same words as the flash drive:
*ALVAREZ — ORIGINAL COMPLAINTS.*
Daniel slowly turned toward his son.
"Mateo, we need to go home.""
Mateo looked frightened.
"Why?""
His father stared at the screen.
"Because they aren't trying to hide what happened in your classroom anymore.""
He looked at Officer Brooks.
"They're trying to erase the reason it happened.""
Then the security monitor displayed one final notification.
*OLD ADMINISTRATION ARCHIVE — FIRE ALARM ACTIVATED.*
Officer Brooks grabbed his radio.
"Dispatch, send emergency services to the old administration building. We may have evidence inside that is about to be destroyed.""
But before he could finish, another alert appeared.
*ARCHIVE ROOM ACCESS: UNLOCKED.*
Someone had already entered the basement.
May you like
And the security system identified the person using the access card.
*DANIEL ALVAREZ.*
