Chapter 10 - What Olivia Saw
Olivia gave the name of a junior who followed her everywhere. His name was Preston Bell. He'd taped the photograph up after reading Emma's video statement.
"Did you tell him to?" Emma asked.
"No. I told him to stop, actually."
"After he did it?"
Olivia's silence was an answer.
Preston was questioned, and the locker harassment became a separate disciplinary matter. Emma didn't forgive Olivia. She was relieved only that someone had finally stopped pretending every cruel act was harmless.
Olivia waited by the counseling room door. "You think I like what people are saying about me?"
"I think you liked what they said about me."
"That's different."
"It always is when it's your turn."
For the first time, Olivia had no reply.
Helen traced the foundation's transfer to Harper Dining. The invoice named North Vale Logistics for storage and transportation. North Vale's registered office was a locked suite in a strip mall, and its listed manager was Charles Harper's brother-in-law.
The records did not establish where the food went. Ruiz asked the district to preserve procurement documents, and Helen opened a formal review within the foundation. Grant signed the request even though his own board had approved the transfer.
"If my people missed this, their names go in the report too," he said.
Emma thought about that during algebra. Trust, she decided, meant accepting scrutiny.
At four o'clock Olivia approached her again near the gym.
"My dad wants me to say you threatened me before I touched the tray," she said.
"Are you going to?"
"I don't know."
"Then figure it out before you hurt someone else."
Olivia looked past her shoulder. "You don't understand. He has the original video, and he thinks the rest are copies."
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Emma stared. "How does your father have it?"
Olivia whispered, "Because he took it out of our kitchen safe last night."
