That sentence changed him.
Theodore turned toward Elaine Foster.
“Get every complaint Avery filed.”
Dr. Wexler, standing near the doorway, interrupted.
“Those are confidential student records.”
Renee looked at her.
“I am her mother.”
Patricia stopped.
Renee continued.
“And I am requesting them.”
Chapter 6: The Carrington Problem
Grant Whitmore arrived thirty minutes later.
He entered angry.
Not apologetic.
That mattered immediately.
His wife Melissa followed, pale and visibly shaken, while Daniel Pruitt walked behind them carrying two phones.
Grant went directly to Dr. Wexler.
“What is going on?”
Patricia asked him to lower his voice.
“My daughter has been surrounded by security people.”
Theodore stood across the room.
Grant noticed him.
The anger shifted into calculation.
“Theodore.”
“Grant.”
They knew each other.
Not well.
Enough.
Grant approached.
“I assume you’re here because Avery is your granddaughter.”
Theodore nodded.
“Brooke is being accused of something absurd.”
Renee stood.
“Your daughter locked mine in a storage room.”
Grant looked at her.
He did not know who she was.
That showed.
“And you are?”
“Avery’s mother.”
Grant’s tone changed minimally.
“I understand the girls had an argument.”
Renee stared at him.
“No.”
Grant continued.
“Teenagers do stupid things.”
“Yes.”
“Sometimes parents make them larger.”
Renee’s expression became almost calm.
“Your daughter barricaded mine behind a metal door.”
“She says Avery entered voluntarily.”
“There is video.”
Grant glanced toward Patricia.
“Video of what?”
Patricia did not answer quickly enough.
Grant realized.
He turned toward Brooke.
“Is there video?”
Brooke started crying.
That was her first real fear.
Melissa moved to her daughter.
“Brooke?”
“I didn’t mean for her to get hurt.”
Grant closed his eyes.
There it was.
Not denial.
Qualification.
Renee heard it too.
“You didn’t mean for her to get hurt.”
Brooke wiped her face.
“It was a joke.”
Renee’s voice remained low.
“How long was she supposed to stay inside?”
Brooke said nothing.
“How long?”
“Until practice ended.”
Theodore looked toward the gym clock.
Practice had another forty-five minutes.
Nobody spoke.