Chapter 13 - EVERYTHING
We did not plug the memory card into a school computer.
Ben took it to a district forensic lab across town.
Helen called state police about Mason Mercer.
Peter’s attorney called the accusation “a family misunderstanding.”
Sloane’s mother called it something else.
“Kidnapping.”
For the first time, Claire Mercer broke publicly with her husband.
She told police Peter had sent twelve-year-old Mason to an unknown “leadership camp” after Sloane refused to testify against Dad.
Within three hours, officers found Mason at a private hunting lodge owned by one of Peter’s business partners.
He was physically fine.
Emotionally, he wasn’t.
Neither was Sloane.
At the lab, the memory card opened with a password Sloane knew because her father used the same six digits for everything.
Inside were folders.
DONORS.
BOARD.
STAFF.
DISCIPLINE.
PRESSURE.
Peter hadn’t kept files.
He had kept leverage.
A folder labeled HARPER contained Mom’s old case, Dad’s personnel history, and surveillance photos of our house.
I stopped breathing for a second.
One photograph showed me leaving middle school when I was twelve.
Peter had been watching us for years.
Dad put his hand over his mouth.
Helen opened another file.
It was an audio recording between Peter and Crowe.
Crowe said, “The Bennett girl is becoming a problem.”
Peter answered, “Then make her leave like the others.”
Crowe asked, “What if Daniel finds out who she is?”
Peter laughed.
“He won’t. He doesn’t know his own daughter is being eaten alive in his building.”
My father flinched like he had been struck.
I reached for his hand.
Then came the worst file.
CAFETERIA - PLAN.
It contained text messages between Sloane, Chloe, Piper, and an unknown number.
The unknown number suggested using the cleaning bucket.
MAKE IT PUBLIC. HUMILIATE HER ENOUGH AND SHE’LL TRANSFER.
Sloane replied: THIS IS TOO FAR.
The unknown number answered: YOUR FATHER EXPECTS RESULTS.
Ben traced the number.
It belonged to Melissa Crowe.
Sloane had still poured the bucket.
She was guilty.
Helen closed the laptop.
“We have enough to seek warrants.”
Dad looked at me.
“It’s over.”
I wanted to believe him.
Then Ben opened one final folder.
Its name was TOMORROW.
Inside was a document scheduled to be emailed to every parent at 6:00 a.m.
It accused Dad of financial fraud, sexual misconduct, and falsifying student records.
All fabricated.
Attached were forged documents designed to prove every claim.
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Peter wasn’t trying to win the board vote anymore.
He was trying to destroy my father’s life.
