Teenagers roughousing. That girl should have known better than to provoke them. Mrs. Hail chimed in, her voice dripping venom. Exactly. Look at her acting all stoic.
It's obvious she wanted attention. Some girls will do anything to make boys react. Ayana stayed still. Henderson's jaw tightened. Logan's mother whispered, horrified.
She was thrown off a roof. She could have died. But Carter's father scoffed. Oh, please. She landed on her feet.
Obviously, she's trained in whatever this is. It looks like she staged the whole thing. Ayana's eyes lifted slightly. Calm, sharp, lethal. Staged.
Henderson growled. Your son shoved a minor off a building. Mr. Hail crossed his arms smuggly and she didn't break a bone, did she? That alone tells me she's been trained to manipulate situations. She probably goated them.
Principal Green rubbed his temples in exhaustion. Mr. Hail, the school will not tolerate victim blaming, but he cut in again. She put my son at risk. That girl needs discipline. She needs to learn her place.
Silence dropped like a guillotine. Ayana said nothing. She didn't need to because Major Henderson stepped forward, placing a thick folder on the table with a heavy thud. His voice was low, controlled, dangerously controlled. Mr. Hail, before you accuse my lieutenant of manipulation, perhaps you should understand exactly who she is.
Mr. Hail snorted. Lieutenant, don't be absurd. She's a teenager. Henderson flipped open the folder. Inside were documents stamped with federal seals, photos of Ayana in full tactical gear, standing beside military trained dogs, her posture commanding and alert.
He slid the first page across the table. This, Henderson said, is Ayana Brooks, certified K9 operational trainer. Youngest ever admitted into the Federal Juvenile Tactical Program, responsible for training dogs used in real field operations. She's not performing. She's not pretending.
She is the reason dozens of officers have returned home alive. The room went dead silent. Even Mr. Hail stopped breathing. Green adjusted his glasses, stunned. I had no idea she held such credentials.
You weren't supposed to, Henderson replied. She requested anonymity to have a normal academic year. Something your sons destroyed. Mrs. Hails voice trembled. But she's just a child.
Henderson's stare hardened. She's a soldier. Logan's mother put her hand over her mouth, tears welling. Bryce's father closed his eyes in shame. But Carter's father forced out one last desperate argument.