"No... nobody uses that stairwell, and the camera's broken..."
The words were barely out before he seemed to realize what he'd let slip. He clapped a hand over his mouth and burst into tears again.
"Sir, please, stop pushing me... I'm so scared..."
Caroline shot to her feet.
"Owen! That's enough! You're victimizing him all over again!"
She jabbed a finger at the office door.
"Here's my decision. Jeanette makes a public apology, forfeits every honor and her scholarship, and takes a formal disciplinary mark on her record. If you won't accept that, I'll report this to the university right now and have her expelled outright!"
Davina was hopping with panic. She lunged over and grabbed my arm.
"Owen, shut up already! Advisor Lambert's being lenient here—what more do you want!"
I looked at that righteous mask on Caroline's face.
"Advisor Lambert, if the camera's broken, how exactly are you convicting my daughter on his word alone?"
"You think anyone would gamble with their own good name over this!"
Caroline drew herself up, all indignation.
"Those fingernail scratches on him don't lie! Why would he make it up?"
I nodded and pulled out my phone.
"Fine. If the school can't get to the truth, then we'll bring in someone who can."
I pressed three numbers.
The line connected.
"Hello, is this 911? I want to report a crime."
The instant the call went through, the office fell dead silent.
Hilary's head snapped up, his eyes locked on my phone.
Caroline's face changed in a flash. She reached out to snatch the phone from me.
"What are you doing! Who told you to call the police!"
I dodged her hand.
Into the phone, calm as anything, I said, "Yes, the student affairs office at Kingsport University. Someone is accusing my daughter of harassment, of forcing herself on a young man, but I believe the other party is extorting money through a false accusation. Please send officers immediately."
I hung up and looked at Caroline.
"Advisor Lambert, why the panic? If it's a crime, then naturally it belongs to the police. Since when does a university have the authority to enforce the law?"
Caroline was shaking with rage, her finger stabbing toward my face.
"You are completely out of your mind! You don't air dirty laundry in public. You just have to blow this up, don't you—won't rest until you've ruined the school's reputation!"
Davina charged at me like a woman possessed, both hands clutching her head, screaming herself hoarse.
"Owen! If you want to die, leave me out of it! The second the police show up, the whole school will know! Where does that leave my face? How is Jeanette ever supposed to live this down!"
She whirled on Jeanette, her eyes bloodshot.
"You ungrateful little witch! I'll beat you to death today and pretend I never had you!"
She raised her fist to bring it down on Jeanette.
I grabbed the thermos off the desk, the one full of scalding water, and slammed it down right by Davina's feet.
A dull thud.
"Davina. You lay one more hand on my daughter, I dare you."
I stared at her, my eyes ice cold.
"Smoothing things over for strangers out there, throwing your weight around at home—is that all you know how to do? Someone dumps this filth on your own daughter's head, and instead of digging for the truth, you force her to her knees and make her confess. What kind of mother are you?"
Davina pointed at me and couldn't get a word out.
Right then, the office door was shoved open.
A crowd of students poured in, phones raised.
Flashes went off like crazy.
"She's in there! That creepy girl is right in there!"
"Trash! Get out of Kingsport University!"
"Protect Hilary! Come down hard on scum like her!"
Leading the pack was the girl in designer clothes from outside the dorm.
She pointed at Jeanette.
"Everyone get a good look. This is the state's top liberal arts scorer of our year! A sanctimonious hypocrite through and through!"
