Chapter 7 - The Man Behind the Glass
Sarah pulled into traffic.
The SUV followed.
She turned left.
It turned left.
She crossed three lanes and exited toward downtown.
The SUV stayed behind her.
Sarah's fear disappeared.
Training took over.
She accelerated.
The driver responded.
"All right."
Sarah checked the mirror.
"Let's see how good you are."
She cut through a service road beside a construction zone.
The SUV followed too late and nearly collided with a delivery truck.
Sarah made another sharp turn.
Then another.
She slipped beneath an overpass and exited through a narrow access road.
The SUV vanished behind traffic.
Sarah drove directly to an old diner near the industrial district.
Mr. Henderson waited in the last booth.
He was in his late sixties, thin and tired-looking.
He had worked at the academy for twenty-seven years.
Sarah sat opposite him.
"You were there."
He stared into his tea.
"I shouldn't have called you."
"But you did."
"They'll fire me."
"Who?"
He laughed bitterly.
"You know who."
Sarah leaned closer.
"Tell me what you saw."
Henderson's hands shook.
"I saw the boy push her."
"Both hands?"
"Yes."
"Could it have been an accident?"
"No."
His answer came immediately.
"He backed up first."
Sarah froze.
"What?"
"He wanted more force."
Henderson looked sick.
"He stepped backward."
"Then he charged forward and shoved your daughter."
Sarah's stomach twisted.
"Why didn't you tell the police?"
"I tried."
"What happened?"
"The principal pulled me into his office."
Henderson looked toward the diner window.
"Thorne's lawyer was already there."
Sarah said nothing.
"They reminded me my pension wasn't fully protected."
"They reminded me my wife receives medical coverage through the school."
"They didn't threaten me directly."
"They didn't need to."
Sarah clenched her fists beneath the table.
Then Henderson leaned closer.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"The playground camera works."
Sarah stared at him.
"The principal said it was broken."
"He lied."
"Where does it record?"
"Basement server."
Henderson looked terrified.
"Thorne's security people are coming tomorrow morning."
Sarah understood instantly.
"They're wiping it."
Henderson nodded.
"You've got one night."
Sarah stood.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Captain Miller.
TURN IN YOUR BADGE AND FIREARM IMMEDIATELY.
Sarah read it twice.
Suspension.
Formal.
Effective immediately.
Henderson saw her expression.
"What happened?"
Sarah put away the phone.
"They just took away my badge."
He looked devastated.
"I'm sorry."
Sarah looked toward the academy visible several blocks away.
"Don't be."
May you like
Because Marcus believed he had just removed the greatest weapon Sarah possessed.
He had no idea he had also removed the rules.
