Chapter 7: Someone Had Stolen My Father's Identity
For several seconds, nobody in the security office moved.
The monitor continued displaying the same message.
*ARCHIVE ROOM ACCESS: DANIEL ALVAREZ.*
Mateo stared at his father.
"But Dad is here.""
Daniel gripped his crutches.
"I haven't been near that building.""
Officer Brooks immediately opened the access log.
"Someone used your credentials.""
Daniel shook his head.
"My access card was deactivated after my accident.""
"Then how did someone enter?""
"I don't know.""
Principal Collins leaned toward the monitor.
"Can you show us the live camera?""
Officer Brooks switched to the basement surveillance feed.
The image appeared slowly.
A narrow corridor stretched beneath the old administration building. Dust covered the floor, and several fluorescent lights flickered overhead.
At the far end stood a metal door.
It was open.
A person wearing a dark hoodie entered the frame carrying a large plastic container.
Their face was hidden.
But something about their movements made Daniel lean closer.
"Go back.""
Officer Brooks rewound the recording.
"What?""
"Look at the left hand.""
The footage slowed.
The person was holding the container with their right hand, while their left hand remained close to their body.
Daniel stared.
"That person has an injured left shoulder.""
Principal Collins frowned.
"How can you tell?""
"Because they're protecting it. They're moving the same way I did after my accident.""
Mateo looked at his father.
"Could it be someone pretending to be you?""
Daniel nodded.
"That's what I think.""
Officer Brooks switched to another camera.
The person entered the archive room.
Then the image disappeared.
A red warning replaced it.
*CAMERA SIGNAL LOST.*
Officer Brooks slammed his hand against the desk.
"Not again.""
Principal Collins stepped backward.
"They're disabling the cameras.""
Daniel looked toward the security office door.
"We need to get someone there.""
Officer Brooks grabbed his radio.
"Dispatch, send units to the old administration building immediately. Possible unauthorized entry and evidence destruction.""
The response came almost immediately.
"Units are responding.""
Daniel turned toward Mateo.
"You're staying here with Principal Collins.""
Mateo shook his head.
"No.""
"Son, listen to me.""
"I'm not leaving you.""
Daniel crouched slightly.
"I need you somewhere safe.""
Mateo's eyes filled.
"Every time something happens, you tell me to stay behind. I'm tired of being scared.""
Daniel looked at his son for a long moment.
Then he placed both hands on Mateo's shoulders.
"I know.""
He glanced at the security monitor.
"But being brave doesn't mean walking into danger.""
Mateo swallowed.
"Then don't go alone.""
Before Daniel could answer, Sofia spoke.
"He's right.""
Everyone turned toward me.
I continued.
"We should stay together. If they are trying to frame his father, they might try to say he went there.""
Officer Brooks nodded.
"She's making a good point.""
He picked up his phone.
"I'm contacting the responding officers. Nobody moves until they arrive.""
A minute later, the security office phone rang.
Officer Brooks answered.
"Westbrook security.""
A woman's voice came through.
"Raymond, this is Patricia Vance.""
He looked at Principal Collins.
"How can I help you?""
"I understand there's been some confusion involving a security alert.""
"There's nothing confusing about an unauthorized entry.""
Patricia sighed.
"Please don't make this more complicated than necessary. The person in the archive has authorization.""
"Whose authorization?""
"Mine.""
Officer Brooks looked at Daniel.
"Then why is the system showing Mr. Alvarez's credentials?""
"Because he was previously authorized to access those records.""
"His card was deactivated.""
A pause.
Then Patricia spoke again.
"Raymond, you have a family. You have a career. I would strongly recommend that you consider both before taking another step.""
Officer Brooks' expression hardened.
"Are you threatening me?""
"I'm giving you professional advice.""
He hung up.
Principal Collins stared at him.
"She just admitted knowing someone was in that building.""
"She admitted authorizing the access," Officer Brooks replied.
"That's going into my report.""
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared from one of the responding officers.
*WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE OLD BUILDING. FRONT ENTRANCE IS OPEN. NO PERSONS VISIBLE.*
Officer Brooks typed a response.
*CHECK THE BASEMENT.*
Another message arrived.
*BASEMENT DOOR LOCKED. SMOKE DETECTED INSIDE.*
Daniel immediately stood.
"They're burning the records.""
Officer Brooks grabbed his jacket.
"Nobody is going anywhere until emergency services clear the building.""
Then another message appeared.
*WE FOUND SOMEONE INSIDE.*
Officer Brooks read it aloud.
"Adult male. Unconscious. Near archive entrance.""
Daniel's face tightened.
"Who?""
A second message arrived.
*IDENTIFICATION FOUND: THOMAS REED. FORMER DISTRICT RECORDS MANAGER.*
Daniel went completely still.
Mateo looked up.
"Who is Thomas Reed?""
Daniel slowly sat down.
"He was the man who gave me the first documents.""
Principal Collins covered her mouth.
"He's alive?""
"He was the last person I spoke to before the threats started.""
Officer Brooks looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Because I didn't know whether I could trust anyone.""
A few seconds later, the security office phone rang again.
This time, Officer Brooks placed it on speaker.
A man's weak voice came through.
"Daniel?""
Daniel moved toward the phone.
"Thomas! Can you hear me?""
"Listen carefully.""
"Where are you?""
"They came back.""
"Who?""
"Patricia. Richard. They found the original files.""
Daniel gripped the desk.
"Did they take them?""
Thomas coughed.
"Some of them. But not everything.""
"What do you mean?""
A long pause followed.
Then Thomas whispered:
"The real records were never in the archive room.""
Daniel looked at Principal Collins.
"Where are they?""
Thomas breathed heavily.
"Under the school.""
Nobody spoke.
Then the call ended.
Officer Brooks immediately called the responding officers.
"Did you hear that?""
"Affirmative.""
"Secure the old building. We need an ambulance for Thomas Reed.""
Daniel stared at the phone.
"Under the school," he repeated.
Principal Collins looked confused.
"Why would district records be under Westbrook?""
Daniel's eyes moved toward the floor.
"Because this school used to be the district's central records facility.""
He looked at her.
"And there's an old basement beneath the gymnasium that was sealed years ago.""
Mateo suddenly remembered something.
"Dad?""
"Yes?""
He reached into his backpack.
"I think I know where the entrance is.""
Daniel frowned.
"What?""
Mateo pulled out a small folded drawing.
It was a rough map of the school basement.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
*RECORDS ROOM — DO NOT OPEN WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION.*
Daniel stared at the handwriting.
May you like
He recognized it.
It belonged to Thomas Reed.
