Tyler kicking it farther away. Jordan kneeling. Nobody helping. Then the warning. Don't touch me again.
Then Tyler's fist. Professor Hayes watched without moving. When the video ended, she said, "Play the last 30 seconds again." Emily did. They watched Chase come from behind, watched Jordan turn him safely to the ground, watched Logan grab Jordan's wrist, watched Jordan control him and release him the instant he said he was done.
Then Jordan stepping back, hands open, no pursuit, no extra force. Professor Hayes pointed at the screen there. Emily paused it. What the time code? Emily enlarged the metadata panel.
Professor Hayes leaned closer. This file was created continuously. Yes. No interruption? No. No export?
No. Emily opened the file information. Original creation time. Device identifier. Continuous duration. Check some from the camera card.
I transferred a copy to my laptop, she said, but I kept the original on the card. Professor Hayes looked at her. Do not alter that card. I won't. Do not send the original file through messaging.
I won't make two verified copies. Emily nodded. Jordan watched them talk. For the first time in days, the problem in front of him had edges, a file, a beginning, a sequence. Evidence did not erase what had happened, but it could make lying harder.
Professor Hayes turned to Jordan. We submit this immediately. Jordan looked at Emily. You sure? Emily blinked.
About what? Once your name is attached to it. She understood. For the first time, fear entered her face openly. My fellowship review is next month.
Jordan knew the fellowship. Competitive, prestigious. A direct pipeline into a major regional newsroom. Emily looked down at the laptop. One of the advisory donors is connected to the Witmore Foundation.
Professor Hayes's eyes narrowed. You knew that? Emily nodded. That's why I hesitated. Jordan said nothing.
Emily closed the laptop. I kept telling myself I needed to be careful, that I was a student, that I didn't know enough, that somebody with more authority would handle it. She looked toward the glass doors at the end of the hallway. Then I watched everybody use the same excuse. Jordan's expression softened slightly.
Emily faced him. I saw them humiliate you. I saw Tyler hit you and I froze. She swallowed. I can't undo that.
Jordan didn't rescue her from the discomfort. She wasn't asking him to. That video can, she continued. At least part of it. Jordan looked at the laptop.
No. Emily frowned. He looked back at her. The video can show what happened. That's different. She nodded slowly.