Chapter 6 - FIRE IN THE BASEMENT
The hallway outside filled with smoke.
Elliot pulled his shirt over his mouth.
“Get the drives.”
The forensics specialist began loading portable hard drives into evidence cases.
Dana called 911.
The fire alarm screamed overhead.
Crowe shouted,
“We need to evacuate!”
Elliot grabbed one of the evidence cases.
“Then move.”
They reached the staircase.
Smoke poured downward.
The facilities manager pointed toward a side corridor.
“Emergency exit.”
They ran.
Outside, students were being moved across the lawn.
Fire trucks arrived minutes later.
Black smoke rose from the auditorium wing.
Elliot looked around.
Caroline was gone.
So was Peyton.
Dana came beside him.
“Coincidence?”
“No.”
The fire department contained the blaze quickly.
The source was electrical.
At least, that was the first explanation.
Then the fire marshal found gasoline residue.
Arson.
Security footage from the parking lot showed a maintenance employee entering the auditorium basement twelve minutes before the fire.
His name was Dennis Rourke.
He disappeared before police could question him.
That afternoon, Elliot sat with Lila in his study.
She stared at the Hudson River through the windows.
“Is Maya safe?”
“Yes.”
“Am I?”
Elliot hesitated.
Lila looked at him.
He hated that she had learned to recognize lies.
“I’m going to make sure you are.”
“That’s not the same answer.”
He sat beside her.
“No.”
She nodded slowly.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Elliot did.
“Someone tried to destroy evidence today.”
Lila’s face tightened.
“Because of me?”
“Because they’re afraid.”
“Of what?”
“You.”
She looked confused.
“You told the truth.”
Elliot took her hand.
“People who survive by controlling stories are terrified of someone who refuses to stay quiet.”
Lila looked down.
“I stayed quiet for months.”
“You’re twelve.”
Her eyes filled.
“I should’ve told you.”
“And I should’ve noticed.”
They sat silently.
Then Lila reached into her backpack.
“I have something.”
She pulled out a small USB drive.
Elliot stared.
“What is that?”
“Maya told me to copy files.”
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
His heart pounded.
“You went into that room?”
Lila nodded.
“Peyton forgot to lock the door.”
“Lila—”
“I knew nobody believed us.”
She handed him the drive.
“So I copied stuff.”
Elliot called Dana immediately.
Two hours later, they opened the drive on an isolated computer.
It contained emails.
Videos.
Student records.
Board notes.
And financial spreadsheets.
Dana stared at one sheet.
“This goes way beyond bullying.”
The Ashbury Hall Educational Foundation had paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to consulting companies.
Several companies were fake.
One belonged to Crowe’s brother.
Another was registered to Caroline’s cousin.
Scholarship donations had been diverted.
Money intended for low-income students was being used to fund private travel, political events, and personal expenses.
Elliot leaned back.
“They were stealing scholarship money.”
Dana nodded.
“And kids like Lila and Maya were liabilities.”
One email explained everything.
Caroline to Crowe.
WE CANNOT ALLOW SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS TO BECOME PUBLIC RELATIONS PROBLEMS.
THEY SHOULD FEEL FORTUNATE TO BE HERE.
IF A FAMILY BECOMES DIFFICULT, FIND GROUNDS FOR WITHDRAWAL.
Elliot read the message twice.
Then Dana opened another folder.
“Elliot.”
Her voice changed.
“What?”
“This one is about Sarah.”
He froze.
His late wife.
The folder had been created seven years earlier.
Before Lila had ever attended Ashbury Hall.
Elliot clicked it.
And the first document made his blood run cold.
May you like
SARAH REED — INCIDENT REPORT.
His wife had been connected to Ashbury Hall before her death.
