Chapter 4Never Too Late to Make Someone Pay

"I'll remember your kindness," Winona said.

I stood up and put some distance between us. "Ms. Lambert, please watch yourself."

Winona's hand froze, her smile fading. "Mr. Fuller, you're really not going to help me out?"

I didn't reply.

A smile crept across her face. "Sue only got the spot because she knows how to behave, right? If she can come into your office, why can't I?"

"Get out." I stared straight at her.

Winona's expression dropped. She looked at the door, then at me. "You're really not worried? It's just us in here, and the door is locked. If I walk out crying and say you did something to me, who do you think people are going to believe?"

She smiled again.

That smug look I knew so well had returned.

Lena had done this before. And now, Winona was doing it again. They'd make themselves look like the victim, and people would take their side and deal with the rest.

I didn't bother explaining or arguing. I pointed at the door again. "Get out."

Winona stared at me for a few seconds before undoing the button on her blouse. It hit the floor and rolled under the desk. Then, she dug her nails into her wrist, leaving red marks on her skin. She smiled at me. "Jeremy Fuller, you'll regret this."

It was the first time she hadn't called me "Mr. Fuller".

She stormed out and slammed the door behind her. Her hurried footsteps faded down the hall.

The office was quiet again. Winona's perfume still lingered in the air, and the button she'd dropped was still on the floor.

I plugged the recorder into my computer and exported the audio and video. Then, I copied the files to a black USB drive and backed them up to two Google Drive accounts.

Finally, I opened the safe. Dad's teacher ID card was lying next to the old newspaper. I put the USB drive inside and locked it up.

At 3:17 am, a trending story popped up on my phone. The headline said, "High School Principal Used Award as Leverage."

I clicked into it and saw that Winona had posted a long statement. She claimed I'd locked the door and threatened her. She said I'd used the award to pressure her and that she'd had to fight her way out of my office.

Winona also posted three photos of her torn collar, red wrist, and tear-streaked face.

The comments went crazy.

"Investigate Jeremy Fuller now!"

"I remember his dad was the teacher who harassed Lena back then. What kind of family is this?"

"How can a monster like this be a principal?"

"Like father, like son. Both of them should rot in hell!"

I paused.

The knife from 38 years ago had been sharpened again, and this time, it was pointed at both me and my late father.

I locked my phone and looked over at the safe. "Dad, not this time. I'm not letting them get away with it."

…

The entrance to the school was packed the next day. Reporters were out with their cameras, influencers had selfie sticks in the air, and some were already live-streaming and shouting my name.

"Jeremy, get out here!"

"Justice for Ms. Lambert!"

"You and your dad shouldn't be teachers!"

The security guards couldn't hold them back as the crowd kept pushing the barricades farther into the school grounds.

I entered through the underground parking garage. Two young teachers were waiting outside when the elevator doors opened. They saw me, their faces changed, and they quickly looked down and stepped aside.

A male teacher carrying a stack of lesson plans was halfway down the hall when he spotted me. He turned around and slipped into the stairwell.

The door to the teachers' office was partly open. I could hear Winona crying inside.

"I don't want to live anymore. I just wanted to teach. Why did he do this to me?"

Caden sounded furious. "How are we supposed to work with someone like him here?"

Dave let out a sigh. "I've already got the petition ready. We're asking the school district to step in right away. Want to sign? Here."