“Clumsy. Just like her mom.”
The principal forced an awkward smile beside him.
Marcus continued.
“This is what happens when schools accept scholarship cases.”
I ignored him.
Instead, I looked at Dylan.
“Did you push Ava down the stairs?”
He didn’t even look up.
“So what if I did?”
My heart went cold.
“She has a broken arm.”
“Then she shouldn’t stand in my way,” he shrugged.
Marcus burst out laughing.
“That’s my boy.”
Then Marcus stood and approached me.
“Look,” he said, pulling out a checkbook. “Five thousand dollars. Take it and move your kid somewhere else.”
He smiled cruelly.
“Like mother, like daughter. Both failures.”
I didn’t take the check.
“You think this is about money?”
He smirked.
“Everything is.”
Suddenly Dylan stepped forward and shoved me.
“Leave,” he said. “My dad owns this school.”
The room fell silent.
I looked at the boy calmly.
“You just made a serious mistake.”
Chapter 3: The Recording
I pulled out my phone.
Marcus rolled his eyes.
“Oh please. Calling the police?”
“No,” I said calmly. “Just checking something.”
But the phone had been recording since I walked in.
“So,” I continued, “you admit your son pushed Ava intentionally?”
Marcus shrugged.
“He’s learning leadership.”
“And you,” I said to the principal, “are witnessing this?”
The man looked terrified.
“I didn’t see anything.”
Marcus smirked again.
“You always were pathetic, Victoria. Didn’t you quit law school?”
I smiled slightly.
“No. I transferred.”
“To Yale.”
Marcus froze.
I raised the phone.
“I have everything recorded.”
Marcus lunged toward me.
“You can’t record me!”
“Yes I can.”
He leaned close, furious.
“I’ll destroy you. I own the judges in this town.”
I tapped the speaker.
“Did you hear that?”
A voice replied instantly.
“Crystal clear, Chief Justice. Units entering now.”
Marcus blinked.
“Chief… what?”
The office doors burst open.
Six officers in tactical uniforms stormed inside.
JUDICIAL MARSHAL SERVICE printed across their vests.
Chapter 4: The Arrest
Marcus’s face turned pale.
“What is this?!”
I stepped forward and opened my badge wallet.
The gold seal glinted under the lights.
“Marcus Hale,” I said calmly. “You’re under arrest.”
The room went silent.
“You’re… a judge?” he stammered.
“I’m the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court.”
I turned to the officers.
“Take him into custody for assault, witness intimidation, and attempted bribery.”
The marshals slammed Marcus against the desk and cuffed him.
“This is a mistake!” he shouted.