Chapter 10: The Boy in the Photograph
Daniel Reed stared at the photograph on his phone.
Jordan Carter stood outside a residential facility, wearing a gray sweatshirt. His shoulders were hunched, and his eyes were fixed on the ground.
Beside him stood Eleanor Dalton.
The same woman who had made Malik kneel on a classroom floor.
The same woman who had been escorted out of Westbrook Elementary.
Daniel enlarged the photograph.
It had been taken recently.
Very recently.
"Collins," he called.
His colleague approached.
"What's wrong?""
Daniel showed him the image.
Collins stared at it.
"How the hell is Dalton standing beside that boy?""
"That's what we're going to find out.""
"She's supposed to be under investigation.""
"Exactly.""
Daniel checked the facility's address.
It was called Pinecrest Youth Residence, a privately operated center approximately forty minutes outside the city.
He immediately contacted his supervisor.
Within minutes, the department obtained the necessary authorization to conduct an urgent welfare check.
Daniel and Collins left.
At 8:15 p.m., they arrived at Pinecrest.
The building looked more like an old hotel than a residential facility. Its windows were dark, and a security guard sat behind a glass reception desk.
Daniel approached.
"Officer Reed. We're here to conduct a welfare check involving Jordan Carter.""
The guard checked his computer.
"He's not available.""
Daniel showed his badge.
"We need to speak with him.""
"I'll contact the director.""
The guard picked up the phone.
A minute later, a woman in a navy cardigan appeared.
She introduced herself as Patricia Lowell, the facility director.
"Officers, I understand your concern, but Jordan is receiving specialized support.""
"Who authorized his placement?""
Patricia opened a folder.
"Robert Hargrove.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Mr. Hargrove is a school district administrator. What authority does he have to place a child here?""
Patricia hesitated.
"We were provided with the necessary paperwork.""
"May I see it?""
She handed him a copy.
Daniel examined the document.
It carried the signature of a supposed child-protection coordinator.
But the coordinator's name was unfamiliar.
He turned the page.
There was another signature.
Margaret Ellis.
Daniel looked at Patricia.
"Did either of these people personally accompany Jordan?""
"No.""
"Did his mother?""
"No.""
"His father?""
Patricia shook her head.
"Mr. Hargrove handled everything.""
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
"Where is Jordan?""
Patricia looked toward the hallway.
"He's upstairs.""
"We need to speak with him privately.""
She hesitated before finally agreeing.
Jordan was sitting on the edge of a narrow bed when Daniel entered.
He looked twelve years old.
Thin.
Tired.
His hair was uncombed, and a small bruise was visible near his wrist.
Daniel crouched beside the doorway.
"Hey, Jordan. My name is Daniel.""
The boy looked at his badge.
"Are you a police officer?""
"Yes.""
Jordan immediately looked away.
"Did Mr. Hargrove send you?""
"No. I'm here because I want to make sure you're safe.""
The boy gave a quiet laugh.
"That's what everybody says.""
Daniel pulled a chair closer.
"Do you know a woman named Eleanor Dalton?""
Jordan's fingers tightened around the edge of his blanket.
"Why?""
"Because we found a photograph of you standing beside her.""
Jordan shook his head.
"I don't want to talk about her.""
"That's okay. You don't have to tell me everything tonight.""
The boy looked up.
"Did something happen to Malik?""
Daniel froze.
"How do you know Malik?""
Jordan's eyes filled.
"He's my little brother.""
Daniel felt as though someone had struck him.
He knew Malik had an older brother, but he hadn't understood that the boy was connected to the same teacher.
"Jordan, your brother is safe. He's with your mother.""
"Does he know about me?""
"Yes.""
Jordan began crying.
"Is he angry?""
"No, buddy. He's worried about you.""
The boy covered his face.
"I tried to tell them.""
Daniel waited.
Jordan finally looked up.
"Ms. Dalton used to make me stay after school. She said I was stupid. She said my father was a troublemaker.""
"What happened after that?""
"One day, Mr. Hargrove came into the classroom. He told me my father had stolen school records.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Did your father steal anything?""
Jordan shook his head.
"He said he was trying to help the children.""
"Which children?""
Jordan reached beneath his pillow and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
It was an old photograph.
Several children stood in a classroom.
Malik was among them.
So were Noah Bennett and Olivia Grant.
At the back of the room stood Ms. Dalton.
And beside her was Robert Hargrove.
Jordan pointed toward the photograph.
"Those are the children who were hurt.""
Daniel examined it.
"Who took this?""
"My dad.""
"Why?""
"Because he wanted to prove that Ms. Dalton wasn't working alone.""
Daniel looked at the boy.
"What happened to your father?""
Jordan's face crumpled.
"He was trying to take the videos to the police. Then he had a car accident.""
Daniel remained silent.
Jordan continued.
"Mr. Hargrove told everyone my dad was dangerous. He said he had stolen money and records. Nobody believed him.""
"Did you see the accident?""
Jordan nodded.
"I was in the car.""
Daniel felt his chest tighten.
"What happened?""
Jordan began trembling.
"My dad told me to hide the little camera under my seat. Then another car came behind us.""
Daniel leaned closer.
"Do you remember what the other car looked like?""
Jordan nodded.
"It was black.""
"And then?""
"My dad told me to close my eyes.""
The boy began crying harder.
Daniel gently placed a hand on the chair.
"You're safe now, Jordan.""
But Jordan shook his head.
"No, Officer.""
He reached into his pillowcase and removed something else.
A tiny memory card.
"My dad said if anything happened to him, I should give this to someone who would believe me.""
Daniel stared at it.
"Is this the original recording?""
Jordan nodded.
Then he whispered:
"It shows who was driving the other car.""
At 9:05 p.m., Daniel contacted the evidence team.
The memory card was sealed and transferred through the proper evidence procedure.
Within an hour, the first video file had been recovered.
The footage showed the interior of Marcus Carter's vehicle.
Marcus was driving.
Jordan sat in the back seat.
A small camera had been positioned near the rear window.
Behind them was a black SUV.
Daniel watched the vehicle follow them through several intersections.
Then it accelerated.
The video shook violently.
There was a loud impact.
The screen went black.
Daniel stopped the recording.
Collins stared at him.
"That could be a deliberate collision.""
"Could be.""
An investigator entered.
"We recovered another file.""
Daniel turned.
"What is it?""
"A video recorded approximately twenty minutes before the collision.""
He pressed play.
Marcus Carter appeared on the screen, speaking directly to the camera.
"If anyone finds this, my name is Marcus Carter. I worked for Westbrook Elementary.""
He looked exhausted.
"I have evidence that school officials have been hiding abuse reports involving children.""
He held up a folder.
"Robert Hargrove knows about it. Margaret Ellis knows about it. And Eleanor Dalton is not the only teacher involved.""
Daniel leaned closer.
Marcus continued.
"There's a room beneath the old administration building. That's where they kept the original student records before moving them.""
The recording ended with Marcus looking toward the driver's window.
He whispered:
"They know I'm leaving.""
Then the video stopped.
Collins turned toward Daniel.
"An underground records room?""
May you like
Daniel looked at the old school building on the map.
"Looks like we just found our next destination.""
