Emily Collins, four restricted archive requests. Maria Santos, Owen Price, other former complainants. Evelyn adjusted her glasses. I maintained those logs because electronic access records were not always reliable after administrative changes. Hayes frowned.
You were not authorized to conduct an independent investigation. Evelyn looked at her. I recorded who entered my archive. That was my job for 32 years. Sophia placed Maria's screenshots beside the ledger.
Private information from Maria Santos' sealed file was circulated 12 days after Emily Collins requested it. Then Owens. Private conduct information concerning Owen Price circulated eight days after Ms. Collins requested his file. Emily finally spoke. I was doing research.
For what? Student media. Where are the published stories? Emily hesitated. I didn't finish them.
Four separate confidential files. My project changed. Sophia nodded. Did it change before or after the private information appeared anonymously? Emily's attorney objected.
Margaret raised one hand. We are not a courtroom. Ms. Rodriguez may continue, and Ms. Collins may decline to answer. Emily declined. Next came the authenticated access record.
Emily's credentials. 10.06 p.m. restricted student services index. Founders society network. The night of the leak. Emily's face drained of color.
That could have been anyone using my password. Sophia nodded. It could. Thomas leaned back slightly. For the first time, Maya saw relief in him.
Then Sophia played the audio. Static. Ryan's voice. Hayes said the access trail can be redirected. Emily.
What about Marcus's backup camera? The recording ended. Nobody moved. Catherine Hayes stared at the speaker. Sophia did not exaggerate.
This recording does not contain a confession. She looked around the table. It does establish that Mr. Whitmore and Ms. Collins were discussing an access trail and Mr. Reed's backup camera before the confidential record breach became public. Hayes spoke quickly. That conversation is being interpreted without context.
Then provide the context. Silence. Sophia turned to Ryan. Maya recorded a statement you made yesterday concerning Maria Santos' emergency loan request. Ryan crossed his arms.
So that detail was not in the public leak. Ryan's father looked sharply at him. Sophia continued. It was contained in a sealed complaint file. Ryan's confidence flickered.
Somebody told me who. I don't remember when. I don't know where. Ryan's face reddened. I said I don't remember.
Maria spoke from behind Maya. I remember. Everyone turned. She stood. I remember being 27 and leaving Crown Bridge because strangers knew things I had told the university in confidence.
Her voice trembled but she continued. I remember wondering for years what I had done wrong. Owen stood beside her. So do I. Thomas Whitmore shifted in his chair.
This has become a spectacle. No, Maya said. The word came quietly. Everyone looked at her. Sophia gave a small nod.
Maya stood. She had prepared a statement. She did not open it. I came here to study. Her voice was steady.