Chapter 2 - The Name on the Wall
"What did you just say?" Principal Dana Merritt asked.
Emma felt the whole cafeteria lean toward her. Grant moved to block the nearest phone, not to hide his daughter but to give her room to breathe.
"I said some kids are still getting bills," Emma replied. "Kids who are supposed to eat free."
Charles Harper, school board vice president and owner of Harper Dining Services, stepped from behind the principal. His tailored suit looked expensive enough to pay a teacher's salary.
"This is not an appropriate time for accounting accusations," he said.
Olivia suddenly recovered her voice. "Daddy, she insulted me first."
"I watched the whole thing," a boy murmured, then looked away when Charles turned.
Grant guided Emma to an empty bench. A custodian brought towels. Emma thanked him with shaking hands.
Principal Merritt offered to handle the incident privately. "Olivia will apologize. Emma can go home. We don't want this becoming a spectacle."
"It already is," Emma said, pointing to the phones.
A notification lit her screen: a video of the tray, edited to begin with Emma's answer. The caption called it a harmless prank.
Grant watched it once. "Who cut the beginning?"
"Someone who knows which part matters," Emma answered.
He could have called half the city. Instead he asked for the names of the staff responsible for the incident reports and reminded Merritt to preserve the cafeteria recordings. He wanted the process written down.
Charles smiled tightly. "You don't need to worry about the contract, Grant. We've been partners for years."
"Then records should be easy to produce."
Emma went to the nurse's office. Before she reached it, she found a note stuffed into her locker. It was written on the back of a printed meal balance statement.
STOP ASKING ABOUT ACCOUNT 417. NEXT TIME IT WON'T BE A TRAY.
May you like
The name printed at the top was not Emma's.
It was Maya Ortiz, her best friend.
