Harder. That distinction mattered. Marcus shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. You think Whitmore came to pull Ryan out? Maya watched the third floor windows.
No. What then? To keep him in. Marcus looked at her. Maya nodded toward Heritage Hall.
People like Thomas Whitmore don't show up in person when they're ready to surrender. By nine that night, Maya was back in her dorm. Her books were open across the desk, though she had read the same paragraph three times without understanding it. Her phone kept lighting up. Students posting apologies.
Faculty asking for an independent review. A campus petition demanding immediate action against Ryan, Chase, and Emily. For the first time since the confrontation, public pressure was moving in Maya's direction. At 9.42, Daniel texted, stay off social media tonight. Maya frowned.
"Why?" Three dots appeared. Then disappeared. Finally. Just do that for me.
She sat back. Something was wrong. At 10.17, Marcus called. His voice was tense. Check your email.
What happened? Not email. Your student portal. Maya opened her laptop. The screen loaded slowly.
Then a red banner appeared across the top. Campus data security notice. Her stomach tightened. What am I looking at? Marcus exhaled.
Somebody dumped confidential files online. Maya stared at the notice. What kind of files? A lot. How much is a lot?
Hundreds. Maya stopped breathing for a second. Marcus continued. Financial aid records. Conduct complaints.
Counseling accommodations. Private addresses. Emergency contacts. All adult students? As far as I can tell, yes.
Maya closed her eyes. Who did this? I don't know. Do you still have access to the system? For now.
For now? There was silence on the line. Then Marcus said, Maya, one of the internal notices says the records may have been accessed through archive-related research activity. Her eyes opened. Archive-related?
Yes. The implication hit immediately. Evelyn. The ledgers. Her investigation.
No. I know. No, Marcus. We never accessed live student files. I know.
We photographed paper logs. I know. And those old case files were already in the archives. I know. Maya stood so fast the chair rolled backward.
Then why are they saying that? Marcus didn't answer. He didn't need to. At 1041, the first news post appeared. Confidential Crown Bridge records leaked amid President's daughter investigation.
At 1103, a second. Questions emerge over archive access in campus bullying case. At 1128, an anonymous account posted screenshots of Maya entering the archive basement with Marcus. The photograph had been taken from across the library corridor. Maya stared at it.
Someone had been watching them. At 1147, Daniel called. Are you alone? Yes. Lock your door.
Dad, what is happening? I'm trying to find out. They're making it look like I leaked those files. I know. I didn't.
I know. Then say that. Daniel went quiet. Maya understood before he spoke. You can't.