Mrs. Price noted, sliding a steaming mug toward Jada. Her voice was gentle but carried the weight of someone who'd fought similar battles decades ago. "Can't sleep." Jada wrapped her hands around the warm ceramic, dark circles under her eyes. "Not while Caleb's in there.
Mrs. Price adjusted her reading glasses, peering at the screen. These security feeds are exactly what we need. Multiple angles, clear timestamps. She clicked through several files. But we need to move fast.
Evidence has a way of vanishing when it threatens the right people. The Whitmores already doctored one video. Jada said bitterly. Made it look like Caleb was the aggressor. Mhm.
Mrs. Price took a careful sip of coffee. That's why we need backups, lots of them. And witnesses who will stand by their statements when pressure comes. She pulled out a yellow legal pad covered in her precise handwriting. First step, we secure these originals.
I've got a friend at the ACLU who can authenticate the timestamps. Jada leaned forward. What about the phone footage? Luna's viral video? Already downloaded and saved to three separate clouds.
Mrs. Price said with a small smile. Your generation may live online, but some of us old folks know our way around digital evidence, too. She tapped her pen against the pad. Now, about that podcaster who's been messaging you. Truth Trek.
Jada pulled up the messages on her phone. They want to run the story tomorrow night. Said they've been tracking similar cases across the state. Mrs. Price nodded slowly. Good.
We need wider exposure. Local media won't touch this. Too many connections to the mayor's office. She made another note. But we need more than just the assault footage.
We need to show the pattern. Pattern? Of selective enforcement. Targeted harassment. Mrs. Price's voice took on the sharp edge that had made her legendary in courtrooms.
How many other students have the Whitmore boys terrorized? How many complaints disappeared? She paused. And why was coach Mallory so quick to help you? Jada sat back considering.
He seemed nervous. Like he wanted to do the right thing, but but something's holding him back, Mrs. Price finished. She stood moving to a filing cabinet in the corner. People like that, they're either being pressured or protected. Sometimes both.