Chapter 7 - Evidence Secured
Marcus Sterling stepped into the quiet classroom, his leather-soled shoes making a soft thud against the tile floor. He walked past the rows of empty desks until he stood directly in front of five-year-old Leo, who looked up with wide, fearful blue eyes. Marcus knelt down so he was at eye level with the boy, his stern expression softening just enough to appear human.
"Are you Leo?" Marcus asked, his voice low and steady.
Leo nodded slowly, his curly brown hair bouncing slightly. "Yes, sir."
"You don't need to be afraid anymore," Marcus said, pulling a clean white handkerchief from his pocket and gently offering it to the boy. "Your mother sent us. She’s very proud of how brave you and your friend were today."
Julian stepped forward from the adjacent desk, holding out the heavy black cloth he had pulled down from the wall. "She was going to hit Leo again," Julian said matter-of-factly, his young voice lacking any trace of hesitation. "We have the pictures on the box in the corner."
Marcus took the black cloth, examining the reinforced stitching and the hidden wiring running along the hem. It wasn't just a security camera; it was a recording device designed to capture audio data across multiple frequencies. He stood up, signaling the two security guards waiting in the doorway.
"Bag the hardware, secure the local hard drives, and pull the backup logs from the server room," Marcus commanded crisply.
Behind Marcus, Helen Gable appeared in the doorway, her face mottled with fury. "You have no right to tamper with school property! Those drives contain confidential student evaluations!"
"Those drives contain three years of concealed disciplinary infractions and physical assaults," Marcus replied without turning around. He turned his gaze to the security guards. "Escort Mrs. Gable off the premises immediately. If she attempts to re-enter, charge her with trespassing and interference with an active corporate investigation."
Helen lunged forward, her hands clawing the air. "You can't do this! I built this school's discipline standard! Without me, these kids are nothing!"
The two security guards moved instantly, pinning Helen’s arms to her sides and dragging her backward out of the classroom as she screamed curses down the hallway.
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Leo watched her go, a small, tentative sigh escaping his lips. But Marcus’s phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him away from the momentary peace. He pulled it out, saw Evelyn’s name flashing on the screen, and answered immediately.
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