“Keep recording.”
Madeline’s face tightened.
“You going to complain to Foster again?”
Naomi nodded toward the scissors. “I want you to explain that later.”
Madeline grabbed the front of Naomi’s blazer near the collar.
“Stop acting tough.”
Naomi pulled backward.
“Let go of me.”
Madeline did not.
Then the black SUV entered the visitor lane.
Security officer Thomas Alvarez stepped out first.
Adrian Brooks emerged from the rear carrying his leather portfolio.
He saw Naomi.
Stopped.
Then began walking.
Claire noticed him before Madeline.
“Madeline.”
She ignored her.
“Madeline.”
“What?”
She turned.
Adrian was already close.
Everyone became quiet.
Naomi remained exactly where she was.
Adrian reached the shelter, looked at the severed tie on the pavement, then at the scissors, then at Madeline’s fingers gripping the fabric near Naomi’s collar. His voice remained level when he said, “Take your hand off her.”
Madeline released Naomi immediately.
Calm made Adrian more intimidating than shouting would have.
Madeline looked toward campus security and assumed he was some administrator, board member, or parent who happened to have arrived at the worst possible moment. “It was a joke,” she said.
Adrian did not look at her.
He looked at Naomi.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Did she cut your tie?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her to stop?”
“Three times.”
Adrian nodded.
Then Dean Malcolm Foster and board chair Susan Harcourt appeared from the administration walkway after Thomas Alvarez radioed what was happening. Madeline’s expression changed the moment she recognized Harcourt. The board chair looked from Adrian to Naomi.
“Mr. Brooks?”
Adrian pointed toward his daughter.
“This is Naomi.”