The evidence was still there. Maya's file, the deletion, the student government access code, and now the edited video was everywhere. Professor Collins opened a blank document, typed three words. I witnessed misconduct, then stopped, deleted them, typed them again. Her hands hovered over the keyboard.
Fear had protected her job for several days. Now, that same fear was helping ruin someone else's name. Meanwhile, Daniel Hayes stood inside Riverton's security office beside a technician reviewing corridor camera indexes. West parking corridor, Daniel said. Thursday night.
The technician frowned. Retention should be 30 days. Good. Why? Daniel looked through the glass toward the administration building.
Because somebody's hoping we forgot to save the truth. Back in Jefferson Heights, Maya finally called Lena. Lena answered on the first ring. I've been trying to reach you for 3 hours. I know.
Are you okay? No. It was the first time Maya had said the word honestly. Lena fell quiet. Then she said, "Good." Maya frowned.
What? Not good that you're not okay. Good that you finally said it. Maya almost laughed. Almost.
What did you need? Lena's voice changed. Evan's lying. I know. No, I mean I can prove it.
Mia sat straighter. How? Student government media files. Mia said nothing. Lena continued.
Evan used the shared campus account to upload raw clips before he posted edited versions. He did it all the time because he liked working from the computer lab. Maya's heart began to beat faster. He deleted them, maybe from his phone. Lena paused.
But Riverton's system backs up shared media folders. Maya stood. Are you sure? I used the same archive last semester. For the first time all day, something shifted.
Not relief. Not yet. Possibility. Lena lowered her voice. If those files are still there, then whatever he cut out of the public video may still exist.
Maya looked toward her father's photograph. Denise watched her from across the room. What is it? Denise asked. Mia held up one finger.
Lena continued. And Maya, yes. There might be more than the corridor video. Maya's grip tightened on the phone. What do you mean?
I think Evan uploaded older clips, too. The blocked doorway, the forum hallway, Mason's shoulder, Tyler's voice. Pieces Maya thought had vanished into phones and private jokes. Lena whispered, "If I'm right, they didn't just record what they did to you." She paused.