Judge Mitchell's voice became firmer. She said they would review the footage right now. She was a judge. She knew the law. She knew what was required before an arrest could legally be made.
Officer Patterson realized he couldn't refuse a judge. He turned to the school administrator and told her to pull the security footage from lunch period. The administrator went immediately to the security office. Within 10 minutes, they were all standing in front of a monitor watching the 4K footage. The video showed the classroom at lunchtime.
It showed Zara's backpack hanging on the back of her chair. Then it showed Emily entering the classroom when no one else was there. It showed Emily looking around to make sure no one was watching. It showed Emily opening Zara's backpack. It showed Emily placing the iPhone in the main pocket.
It showed Emily reaching into the smaller inside pocket and carefully hiding the wireless earbuds deep inside where they couldn't be easily found. It showed Emily arranging the backpack to look exactly as it had been. It showed Emily leaving the classroom. Every movement was captured in crystal clear 4K video. There was no question.
There was no doubt. Emily had planted the items in Zara's backpack. Emily had framed Zara for theft. Officer Patterson's face went pale. He understood what he had done.
He had arrested an innocent girl based on his daughter's lies. He had made an assumption of guilt without conducting any investigation. He had allowed his relationship with to cloud his judgment as a police officer. Judge Mitchell said nothing. She simply looked at him and waited.
Officer Patterson slowly removed the handcuffs from Zara's wrists. The metal clicked open. Zara rubbed her wrists where the cuffs had left marks. Then Officer Patterson walked toward the principal's office. When he found Emily sitting there, still believing her plan had succeeded, his chest tightened with the weight of what he had to do.
He said Emily's name. He said she was under arrest for framing another student, filing a false report, and conspiracy to commit fraud. He pulled out his handcuffs. Emily's face went white. She stood up and asked what he was doing.
She asked if he was serious. Officer Patterson placed the handcuffs on his own daughter's wrists in front of the principal and two teachers. The metal clicked shut. The news spread through Lincoln High within hours. Emily had been arrested.
The girl who had accused Zara had actually planted the items herself. The cop had arrested his own daughter. Three weeks later, Zara won the student body president election with 73% of the vote. She became the first black student body president in Lincoln High history.