The suspension letter was printed and ready before Naomi sat down. "Pending disciplinary hearing. Crowley said, not meeting her eyes. "Effective immediately. Valerie arrived 20 minutes later, her face pale.

"They called the clinic, said there might be concerns about my judgment if I can't control my niece. Layla appeared in the doorway, shaking her head. "They killed the article.

Won't let the student paper run anything about football or bullying until after homecoming." Naomi sat on the bench outside Crowley's office, staring at her phone screen. The video had been viewed 300 times already. Comments poured in calling her violent, dangerous, unstable, just like they did to her father. She watched the clip again and again. In the trophy case reflection behind Brock, she caught something.

A quick movement before he fell, his own elbow jerking backward into Jake's chest. And there, in the corner of the glass, a tiny red light blinked from the ceiling. The security camera had been recording everything.

Valerie's hands gripped the steering wheel tight as she drove away from Redwood Valley High.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the dashboard, but the light felt cold. Naomi sat in the passenger seat, Layla's borrowed tablet balanced on her knees, re-playing the viral video for the seventh time. "Stop watching that. Valerie said. "It's just making you angry.

"I'm not angry. Naomi's voice was steady, calm. She touched the screen to replay the clip again.

"I'm looking." The edited footage showed her in the defensive stance, hands raised, then Brock falling backward, arms flailing. 23 seconds total. 347 views now. Naomi paused the video at the exact moment before Brock fell. Behind him, the trophy case glass reflected the hallway like a mirror.

She could see herself, small and clear in the reflection. She could see Jake holding the phone. And there, barely visible in the corner of the glass, was something else. "There's a security camera," she said. Valerie glanced over.

"What? "In the trophy hallway. Look. Naomi turned the tablet toward her aunt. "See that red light in the reflection?

Top corner of the case? Valerie pulled into their driveway and put the car in park. She took the tablet, squinting at the screen.

"I can't really see. "It's there. And it was recording everything. Naomi's voice got stronger. "The real footage shows what happened before they started filming.

It shows Brock knocking my books down. It shows him crowding me against the wall.

Even if there's a camera, you think they'll let us see it? Naomi met her aunt's eyes. "They'll erase it. Tonight, probably. Valerie was quiet for a long moment.

Then she pulled out her phone. "We need a lawyer. "We can't afford. "I don't care what it costs. Valerie's voice was fierce.

"They did this to Marcus. They're not doing it to you." 20 minutes later, they sat at Eleanor Briggs's kitchen table while the retired secretary made phone calls. Eleanor's living room was small but organized, with neat stacks of papers and a rotary phone that looked older than Naomi. "Amelia Grant," Eleanor said, hanging up. "She's the one you need.

Used to be a prosecutor before she went into civil rights. She always suspected Marcus got railroaded, but she couldn't prove it back then. Eleanor dialed the number from memory. "Amelia, it's Eleanor Briggs. I need you to listen carefully.

They just did it again. The conversation was brief but intense.

Eleanor explained about Naomi, the video, and the security camera. When she hung up, her face looked grim but determined. She's sending a preservation order to the school district tonight. Emergency filing. They won't be able to destroy or alter any security footage without facing criminal charges.

Will that work? Valerie asked. It better, because if they erase that footage now, it's obstruction of justice.

Across town, Principal Crowley's office phone rang at 11:47 p.m. He answered it in his pajamas, standing in his home kitchen. This is attorney Amelia Grant, representing Naomi Ellis, the voice said. I'm calling to inform you that a preservation order has been filed with the district court. All security footage from October 15th must be preserved immediately.

Crowley felt his stomach drop. I will need to review our policies. Principal Crowley, this is not a request. Tampering with evidence after receiving this notice is a felony. The order will be served officially tomorrow morning.

The line went dead. Crowley stared at his phone, then immediately dialed Wade Harlan's number. We have a problem, he said when Wade answered. Big problem.