Susan folded her arms. The university will follow procedure. I would expect nothing less. Richard smiled. Then he looked directly at Maya.
How long have you trained? Maya didn't answer immediately. David stepped closer. She doesn't need to answer questions from you. Richard ignored him.
Seven years, he asked. Maya's stomach tightened. Tyler had already told him. There were no answers in Krav Maga less competition level. Maya said nothing.
Richard looked toward Susan. You see the problem. No, Maya said. Everyone turned toward her. Richard's eyebrow lifted.
Maya continued. I see what you're trying to make the problem. Richard studied her. My son is a student athlete. You have years of combat training.
He put his hands on me. He says otherwise. Then he's lying. The sentence landed cleanly. No anger.
No hesitation. Richard's expression cooled. That's a serious accusation. So is saying I attacked him. Jason stood several yards away.
Phone still in his pocket. Maya looked toward him. He immediately looked down. That hurt more than she expected. He had recorded at least part of what happened.
He knew. Yet Richard's presence seemed to have changed the cost of saying so. Ethan noticed Jason too. Jason was filming, he said. Richard looked over.
Were you? Jason swallowed. Some of it. Then I'm sure the university will review anything relevant. The words sounded reasonable.
His eyes did not. Jason slipped both hands into his pockets. David saw the movement. So did Tyler. Susan raised her voice slightly.
Everyone who recorded anything tonight is instructed to preserve the original files. Do not edit them. Do not delete them. Campus safety will collect copies. Richard smiled again.
Excellent. Maya couldn't tell whether he was confident because the recording would support Tyler. Or because he already believed recordings could become someone else's problem. Within an hour, the reception hall emptied. Statements were taken in separate rooms.
Maya repeated the same account three times. Tyler shoved Ethan.Linda intervened. Tyler pushed Linda. Maya stepped between them. Tyler grabbed her hair.