Chapter 8 - THE THREAT
Elliot doubled security immediately.
Lila hated it.
“I can’t even walk outside.”
“You received a threat.”
“Because I told the truth.”
“Yes.”
“Then hiding feels like losing.”
Elliot looked at her.
She sounded exactly like Sarah.
That frightened him and made him proud at the same time.
Meanwhile, the story exploded publicly.
A parent had leaked footage from the cafeteria.
Within hours, news outlets were reporting that billionaire Elliot Mercer’s daughter had attended Ashbury Hall under an alias and allegedly suffered months of abuse.
Caroline went on television.
She wore navy blue.
Calm.
Maternal.
“We are deeply concerned about all students involved.”
Elliot watched from his office.
Caroline continued.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Mercer appears to be using his wealth and influence to attack a respected educational institution because of a conflict involving children.”
Dana shut off the television.
“She’s making you the bully.”
“Of course.”
“It may work.”
Elliot looked at her.
“Then we don’t fight with speeches.”
“What do we fight with?”
“Evidence.”
They released nothing immediately.
Instead, Dana contacted other former scholarship families.
Seven came forward.
Then eleven.
Then twenty-three.
Stories matched.
Humiliation.
Food withheld.
False discipline reports.
Pressure to withdraw.
Parents offered settlements.
One boy had attempted suicide after months of abuse.
Another girl developed an eating disorder after classmates repeatedly threw away her lunch.
Elliot listened to every family.
He stopped thinking about revenge.
This was bigger than Lila.
Then police found Dennis Rourke.
The maintenance worker who had entered the basement before the fire.
He was hiding in a motel in New Jersey.
Under questioning, he admitted Crowe paid him twenty thousand dollars to start the fire.
Crowe was arrested.
Caroline immediately released a statement saying she had no knowledge of his actions.
Crowe remained silent for twelve hours.
Then he requested a lawyer.
And a deal.
He offered investigators everything.
Emails.
Payments.
Internal recordings.
Board secrets.
But he wanted protection.
Elliot learned this from Dana late that night.
“He’s turning on Caroline.”
“Good.”
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Crowe says Sarah Reed was discussed at a board meeting three days before her death.”
Elliot stopped moving.
“What was said?”
“He claims Caroline called Sarah dangerous.”
Elliot’s face hardened.
“And?”
“Someone suggested scaring her.”
“Who?”
“Crowe says he doesn’t remember.”
Elliot didn’t believe that.
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A distorted voice said,
“Drop the case.”
Elliot said nothing.
“You already lost your wife.”
His grip tightened.
“Don’t lose your daughter.”
The call ended.
Elliot immediately contacted security.
Then he ran upstairs.
Lila’s bedroom was empty.
Her window was open.
And on her pillow sat her phone.
Elliot’s entire body went cold.
“Lila?”
No answer.
May you like
He ran to the window.
Outside, the security alarm began screaming.
