Chapter 10 - THE DEAL
Coach Bell grabbed Jake before he could move.
Kelly backed toward the altar.
Voss looked almost bored.
“This has gone much farther than necessary.”
Kelly laughed.
“You murdered a kid.”
Voss’s face hardened.
“That was an accident.”
“Adam Cooper didn’t accidentally fall.”
“He attacked Dr. Pike.”
“You pushed him.”
Voss glanced at Jake.
“You hear how people rewrite history?”
Jake said nothing.
Bell tightened his grip.
Voss walked closer.
“Where is the drive?”
Kelly smiled.
“You’ll never find it.”
Voss slapped her.
Jake lunged.
Bell twisted his arm behind his back.
“Easy.”
Jake shouted, “Get your hands off her!”
Voss looked at him.
“You’re brave because you’re young.”
He reached into his coat and pulled out Jake’s phone.
Jake froze.
He hadn’t even felt Bell take it.
Voss held it up.
“This little thing caused a lot of trouble.”
“You’re already done.”
“Am I?”
“Police have copies.”
Voss smiled.
“Some police officers have been receiving checks from our foundation for years.”
Jake remembered Ruiz.
His stomach tightened.
Voss continued.
“Parents donate. Teachers cooperate. Students stay quiet. Everybody benefits.”
“Except the kids you threaten.”
Voss shrugged.
“Life threatens people every day.”
“You’re sick.”
“No. I’m practical.”
Kelly spat blood onto the floor.
“You were practical nineteen years ago too.”
Voss looked at her.
“That boy was going to destroy everything.”
“So you killed him.”
“He slipped.”
“You shoved him.”
Voss’s jaw tightened.
And Jake realized something.
Voss was talking.
Confessing.
Jake slowly moved his right hand toward the inside pocket of his jacket.
Bell caught it.
“What are you doing?”
He pulled out a second phone.
Jake smiled.
“My old phone.”
The screen showed RECORDING.
Bell’s face changed.
Voss rushed forward.
Jake threw the phone toward Kelly.
She caught it.
Bell went after her.
Kelly ran behind the altar.
Jake kicked Bell behind the knee.
Bell crashed down.
Voss grabbed Jake by the shirt.
“You stupid little—”
The front doors exploded inward.
“POLICE!”
Officer Ruiz entered with two officers.
Guns drawn.
Bell raised his hands.
Voss stared at Ruiz.
Then smiled.
“Dana.”
Ruiz pointed her weapon at him.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Voss didn’t move.
“Your father would be disappointed.”
Ruiz’s face went tight.
“He already is.”
Voss laughed.
“He took the money.”
“I know.”
“So did half your department.”
The other two officers exchanged a glance.
Ruiz noticed.
So did Jake.
Voss noticed too.
His smile widened.
Officer Barnes slowly lowered his gun.
Not at Voss.
At Ruiz.
“Dana,” he said quietly.
“Put the weapon down.”
Ruiz stared at him.
“You’re kidding.”
Barnes shook his head.
“I wish I was.”
Jake felt the entire room tilt.
There weren’t just corrupt teachers.
May you like
There were corrupt cops.
And they had just locked the church doors.
