Chapter 9 - The School Call
Mark handed the phone to Officer Ruiz without replying.
"Do not engage," she told him. "Screenshot it. Save everything."
Noah read Mark's face.
"Was that her?"
"I don't know."
"It was."
"Maybe."
"Dad, you always say maybe when you're scared."
Mark looked at him.
"Okay. I'm scared."
Noah seemed almost relieved by the truth.
The next morning, Mark and Ruiz met with Noah's principal, Dr. Franklin, and his sixth-grade teacher, Ms. Greene.
Ms. Greene slid copies of the incident reports across the desk.
"I submitted the first one after Noah came to class with a bruise on his upper arm. He said he fell against a cabinet."
Noah sat beside Mark, silent.
"The second time," she continued, "he said he couldn't sleep because his mother made him stand in the kitchen for hours as punishment. I reported it."
Mark's fingers curled against his knee.
"Why wasn't I called?"
Dr. Franklin looked embarrassed. "The contact record shows your wife returned every call. She said you traveled constantly and had authorized her to speak for both parents."
"I never authorized that."
Ms. Greene pulled out one more sheet.
"This is the one that bothers me most."
It was an email supposedly from Mark.
I appreciate your concern, but Noah has a history of exaggeration. Please do not encourage attention-seeking behavior.
Mark read it twice.
"I didn't write this."
Noah's eyes filled with tears.
"She showed me that email."
Mark turned. "What?"
"She said you sent it because you were tired of me lying."
Mark's face crumpled.
He took Noah's hand.
"I never wrote it. I swear to you."
Noah stared at him for a long time.
Then he nodded once.
After the meeting, Ms. Greene stopped Mark in the hallway.
"There's someone else you should talk to."
"Who?"
"Mr. Alvarez. He lives across from you. Last spring he came to school and asked whether Noah was okay."
Mark knew the neighbor only well enough to wave.
"Why would he ask that?"
"He said his doorbell camera had picked up something at your house. Your wife threatened to sue him if he showed anyone."
An hour later, Miguel Alvarez opened his front door before Mark could knock.
"I was wondering when you'd come."
He led Mark and Ruiz into a small office lined with computer monitors.
"I kept the files," Miguel said. "Because after she threatened me, I figured I'd better."
He opened a video dated four months earlier.
The Carter driveway appeared on-screen at 2:13 a.m.
Linda's car backed in.
Calvin Shaw got out of the passenger side.
Together they opened the rear door.
June stumbled out wearing a robe.
Noah appeared in the upstairs window.
May you like
Then Linda looked directly at Miguel's camera.
And smiled.
