Chapter 7: What the Camera Revealed
I arrived at Westbrook Ballet Academy at 8:30 the following morning.
This time, I wasn't alone.
Rebecca Carter sat in the passenger seat of my truck, holding Emily's original trust documents in a leather folder.
Mara was waiting outside the building.
She looked exhausted.
"Did you sleep?"" I asked.
"About two hours.""
"That's more than I got.""
She gave me a tired smile.
Then her expression changed.
"Bear, before we go inside, there's something you need to understand.""
I closed the truck door.
"Go ahead.""
"The assistant instructor who found the footage is named Sophie Grant. She's twenty-six. She's terrified of losing her job.""
"Why?""
"Patricia has threatened her too.""
I looked toward the building.
"How many people has this woman threatened?""
"More than you know.""
Rebecca stepped forward.
"That's exactly why we need to handle this properly. If Patricia believes everyone is afraid of her, she'll continue.""
I nodded.
"Then let's make sure nobody has to be afraid anymore.""
Inside, Sophie was waiting in a small conference room.
She was a slender young woman with brown hair tied in a loose bun.
A laptop sat open on the table.
When she saw me, she stood.
"Mr. Malone?""
"Duke.""
She glanced at my leather vest.
Then at Mara.
"I'm sorry about what happened to Lily.""
I pulled out a chair.
"You didn't do anything to her.""
Sophie swallowed.
"I should have spoken up sooner.""
Mara sat beside her.
"Let's watch the footage.""
Sophie turned the laptop toward us.
The video showed the children's dressing-room hallway.
The timestamp read 4:16 p.m.
Lily appeared on screen wearing her pink ballet outfit.
She was holding her slippers.
Patricia entered from the left.
She stopped directly in front of my daughter.
Even without sound, I could see the difference in their sizes.
Patricia stood straight, arms crossed.
Lily looked up.
Then her shoulders dropped.
Sophie pressed play.
The sound came through the laptop speakers.
Patricia's voice was perfectly clear.
"Olivia has worked very hard for her place in this school, Lily.""
Lily nodded.
"Yes, ma'am.""
"And she needs to be surrounded by children who take ballet seriously.""
Lily looked down at her slippers.
"I practice every day.""
Patricia gave a short laugh.
"Practicing in your living room isn't the same as being ready for a real performance.""
Lily said nothing.
Then Patricia crouched.
"Listen carefully, sweetheart. Not every little girl belongs on the main stage.""
I felt my hands tighten.
Mara looked away.
On the screen, Lily's eyes began to fill.
"But Miss Mara said I could dance.""
Patricia straightened.
"Miss Mara is paid to teach you. She doesn't make the important decisions.""
Then another voice came from the hallway.
Olivia.
"Mommy?""
Patricia turned.
"What is it?""
Olivia approached, holding a pink ribbon.
"Can Lily come with me?""
Patricia's face changed immediately.
"No.""
"But she's my friend.""
"Olivia, we've discussed this.""
"I want to dance with her.""
Patricia took her daughter's arm.
"Then perhaps you should think about how much you want to remain in this program.""
Olivia's eyes filled.
"But I like Lily.""
Patricia leaned closer.
"And I like you having opportunities. Don't make me choose between your happiness and your future.""
Olivia stopped talking.
Then Patricia pointed toward Lily.
"Go change your shoes. You don't need to be standing here.""
The recording continued.
Patricia walked away.
Olivia remained beside Lily.
For several seconds, neither child moved.
Then Olivia reached into her little bag.
She pulled out a pink ribbon and quietly handed it to Lily.
Lily accepted it.
"Thank you.""
Olivia whispered something.
The audio was faint.
Sophie increased the volume.
"Don't tell Mommy," Olivia said.
"I want you to stay.""
Then the two girls hugged.
I stared at the screen.
The next section showed Patricia returning.
She noticed the girls.
Her face hardened.
"Olivia Whitmore!""
Both children jumped.
Patricia grabbed Olivia's bag.
"Inside. Now.""
Olivia began crying.
"Mommy, please.""
Patricia pulled her toward the dressing room.
Then she stopped beside Lily.
And what she said next made Rebecca cover her mouth.
"Your father may think he can buy his way into places with his ridiculous performances, but he can't. And neither can your mother, no matter what promises she made.""
The screen went silent.
Sophie stopped the recording.
Nobody spoke.
I stared at the frozen image.
My daughter's little face was turned toward the floor.
Rebecca wiped her eyes.
"That woman knew Rachel was dead.""
I nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
Mara leaned forward.
"There's more footage from the following day.""
I looked at her.
"Show me.""
Sophie opened another recording.
This one showed the main studio.
The girls were practicing their final choreography.
Lily stood in the second row.
Patricia entered with a clipboard.
She approached Mara and pointed toward the children.
The audio was clear.
"That little girl needs to be moved.""
Mara replied, "Lily is in the correct position.""
"She's distracting Olivia.""
"Olivia is concentrating perfectly well.""
Patricia stepped closer.
"Then perhaps Olivia needs a different partner.""
Mara shook her head.
"The choreography has already been assigned.""
Patricia lowered her voice.
"Do you remember who paid for the mirrors in this room?""
Mara stared at her.
"Yes.""
"Then I suggest you remember who helps keep this school operating.""
Sophie stopped the recording.
Mara's face was pale.
"She threatened me in front of the children.""
I looked at the screen.
"How many people have seen this?""
"Only me, Mara, and Eleanor.""
"Good. Nobody deletes anything.""
Rebecca opened the trust folder.
"These recordings may be important evidence of interference with the scholarship program.""
Mara nodded.
"There's another issue. Patricia has been contacting parents individually.""
"About what?""
"She's been telling them Lily's family receives financial assistance from the school.""
I frowned.
"That's not true.""
"I know.""
Sophie looked down.
"She told several parents that Lily was only included in the recital because of a special arrangement.""
I leaned forward.
"Did anyone believe her?""
Sophie nodded.
"Some did.""
I took a slow breath.
That explained the whispers.
The looks.
The way certain parents had moved their chairs away from us.
Patricia hadn't simply targeted Lily.
She'd built a story around her.
And she'd repeated it until people started treating it as fact.
I stood.
"Where's Eleanor?""
Mara looked toward the door.
"Her office.""
I walked out.
Eleanor was speaking on the phone when I entered.
She looked up and immediately ended the call.
"Mr. Malone.""
"I've seen the footage.""
Her expression changed.
"All of it?""
"Enough.""
She lowered her eyes.
"I understand this is upsetting.""
"Upsetting?""
I placed my hands on her desk.
"That woman threatened a five-year-old.""
Eleanor sighed.
"I know.""
"Then why is she still allowed in this building?""
"We need to follow the proper process.""
"Fine. Follow it.""
I stepped back.
"But don't ask me to sit quietly while my daughter is being humiliated.""
Eleanor looked at the folder Rebecca carried.
"What is that?""
"Emily Carter's trust documents.""
Her face went pale.
"Mr. Malone...""
"Apparently, you have a scholarship fund connected to this school. Apparently, Patricia has been trying to interfere with it.""
Eleanor stood.
"That is a serious matter.""
"Yes. It is.""
I turned toward the door.
Then Eleanor spoke.
"There's something I haven't told you.""
I stopped.
"What?""
She looked toward the hallway.
"Patricia isn't the only person who has been asking questions about Emily's money.""
I turned around.
"Who else?""
Eleanor hesitated.
Then she opened her desk drawer and removed a printed letter.
It was addressed to the academy's board.
The signature at the bottom belonged to someone I hadn't expected.
Mara Ellison.
I stared at it.
"Why is Mara's name on this?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"She didn't write it.""
I looked closer.
The letter requested that Lily's scholarship application be suspended until the trust's ownership could be reviewed.
But there was something else.
A digital signature.
May you like
Someone had signed Mara's name.
And whoever had done it was trying to make it look as if Lily's own teacher wanted her removed.
