Chapter 7: The Person Who Was Helping Him
The voice echoed through the archive room.
Everyone froze.
Jordan felt a chill move through him.
He knew that voice.
Not because it belonged to someone frightening.
Because it belonged to someone he trusted.
“Thomas?””
The advisor slowly turned toward the intercom.
His face had lost all color.
“No.””
Jordan stared at him.
“You know who that is.””
Thomas didn’t answer.
That silence was enough.
Maya stepped closer to the control panel beside the door.
“Someone activated the emergency lockdown.””
Daniel looked around nervously.
“Can you open it?””
“I’m trying.””
She connected her tablet to the system.
The screen flashed.
ACCESS DENIED.
Someone had overridden her.
Jordan looked at Thomas.
“You knew this would happen.””
Thomas shook his head.
“Not exactly.””
“Not exactly?””
Jordan’s voice rose.
“I’ve spent weeks thinking I failed because I wasn’t good enough. I thought I lost everything because someone was better than me.””
He held up the folder.
“Now I find out someone changed my records, someone erased evidence, and you’ve known more than you told me.””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Jordan laughed bitterly.
“By keeping me in the dark?””
Before Thomas could respond, the intercom crackled again.
“You always trusted the wrong people, Jordan.””
The voice was calm.
Almost disappointed.
Maya looked at the speaker.
“Who is that?””
Thomas finally answered.
“Dr. Victor Hale.””
Everyone looked at him.
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Victor?””
Jordan frowned.
“Who is he?””
Thomas swallowed.
“He was the former head of the scholarship committee.””
Maya checked the database.
A profile appeared.
Dr. Victor Hale.
Former Academic Director.
Resigned six months earlier.
“Why did he resign?”” Maya asked.
Thomas didn’t respond immediately.
Then he said:
“Because he was removed.””
Jordan looked at him.
“Removed for what?””
Thomas stared at the floor.
“Financial misconduct.””
The room became silent.
The voice returned.
“Interesting how quickly people judge.””
Dr. Hale’s words came through the speaker.
“Everyone believes they know the story.””
Jordan stepped toward the intercom.
“Why did you change my scholarship file?””
A pause.
Then a quiet laugh.
“You still think this is about your scholarship.””
Jordan frowned.
“What does that mean?””
The lights flickered.
A hidden monitor on the wall turned on.
A video appeared.
It showed a meeting room.
Six months earlier.
Dr. Hale was sitting across from Principal Bennett.
The recording was old, but the audio was clear.
Principal Bennett looked nervous.
“We can’t keep doing this.””
Dr. Hale leaned back.
“You mean you can’t keep benefiting from it.””
Jordan watched silently.
The video continued.
Dr. Hale placed several documents on the table.
“The scholarship funds have been redirected for years.””
Maya covered her mouth.
Daniel looked shocked.
“Impossible.””
Thomas stared at the screen.
The recording continued.
Principal Bennett whispered:
“If anyone finds out…”
Dr. Hale interrupted.
“They won’t.””
The screen went black.
Everyone stood frozen.
Jordan looked at Principal Bennett.
“You knew.””
The principal didn’t answer.
“You knew about the stolen funds.””
Principal Bennett’s face tightened.
“I knew there were irregularities.””
“That's not an answer.””
The principal looked away.
Jordan felt something break inside.
Not because he was surprised.
Because he had spent years believing institutions protected students like him.
Now he realized some people protected themselves first.
Maya finally forced the archive door system.
The lock clicked.
But before anyone moved, Thomas grabbed the folder from Jordan’s hand.
Everyone reacted.
“What are you doing?””
Thomas looked at the papers.
“I need to see something.””
Jordan stepped forward.
“Give it back.””
Thomas opened the final page.
His expression changed.
“What?””
Maya looked over his shoulder.
Then she went silent.
Jordan grabbed the document.
It was a copy of a private agreement.
Between Crestwood Academy.
A scholarship foundation.
And a third party.
The signature at the bottom was recent.
Not six months old.
Not years old.
Three weeks ago.
Jordan looked at the name.
May you like
His hands went cold.
Because the person who signed the agreement was someone standing beside him.
