He had been standing less than 15 feet away. He had said nothing. That bothered her more than she wanted to admit. By noon, a campus sports account posted Danny's record. 19 professional fights, 19 wins, zero losses.
The clip beneath it showed Tyler hitting the padded floor. It passed 100,000 views before lunch. Tyler's social media accounts went private. Madison posted nothing. For the first time since Danny arrived at Hawthorne, the Blake siblings had lost control of the story.
Professor Miller found Danny outside his seminar room. I hear I had a professional fighter sitting in my class. Former, you could have put that on your application. I applied to study rehabilitation, not intimidation. Danny gave him a look.
Miller smiled. Then his expression softened. I'm sorry about your father. Danny looked away. Thank you.
I read why you retired. She nodded. Neither spoke for a moment. Then Miller said, for what it's worth, I watched every available angle. Danny looked at him.
You didn't lose control. No, you could have. Yes, but you didn't. Danny's voice dropped. That was the point of all those years of training.
Professor Miller nodded. Then hopefully the administration understands the same thing. At 8.12 the next morning, Danny received an email. Meeting required. Office of the Dean of Students.
She read it twice. No explanation. No congratulations. No notice that her harassment complaint had been resolved. Just an instruction to report to Dean Robert Hayes at 9.
The administration building was unusually quiet when she arrived. A receptionist escorted her through a set of heavy wooden doors. Dean Hayes stood at the window with his back to her. At 5.06 he had the polished appearance of someone who had spent decades in rooms where every sentence was measured before it was spoken. Ms. Carter.
He motioned toward the chair opposite his desk. Please sit. Danny did. A folder lay open before him. She recognized still images from the pavilion footage.
Hayes folded his hands. I've reviewed the incident. Then you saw Madison strike me. I did. And Tyler charged me.
I saw that as well. Danny waited. Hayes glanced down at the folder. You were a professional combat athlete. Years ago.
Undefeated. Yes. 19 and zero. Yes. He studied her.
You possessed a level of training neither Madison nor Tyler possessed. Danny felt something cold settle in her stomach. I also used that training to avoid hurting them. That is your interpretation. No. Michael Harris reviewed the footage.
Hayes leaned back. You must understand the university has a responsibility to consider the imbalance of capability. Danny stared at him. Imbalance of capability. You knew what you were doing.
Yes. The answer came immediately. That's why they walked away. Hayes' eyes narrowed. Danny continued.