Chapter 13 - David’s Mistake
David wanted Brennan prosecuted immediately.
Rachel told him prosecutors moved on evidence, not parental fury.
He hated that.
Then he made a mistake.
A reporter approached him outside a district meeting.
“Colonel Morgan, do you believe Principal Ward and Mrs. Brennan ran a cheating conspiracy?”
David answered:
“I believe they exploited children to protect money and reputations.”
The quote spread everywhere.
Rachel called within minutes.
“That was unhelpful.”
“It’s true.”
“Parts of it are supported. Parts are legal conclusions still under investigation.”
David clenched his jaw.
“So I’m supposed to say nothing?”
“You are supposed to remember your daughter may be a witness.”
David went silent.
His anger could damage Hailey’s case.
The realization humbled him.
That evening he apologized to her.
“I made your situation about what I wanted to say.”
Hailey shrugged.
“You were mad.”
“That explains it. It doesn’t excuse it.”
Hailey looked at him.
“That sounds familiar.”
“Unfortunately.”
He reduced interviews.
Let Rachel speak.
Stopped reading comment sections.
Hailey noticed his restraint.
It helped her practice her own.
At school, some students baited her.
“Your dad gonna shut down the school?”
“Are you suing everybody?”
“Did you fake the video?”
Hailey wanted to scream.
Instead she reported harassment.
Boring.
Procedural.
Effective.
The school disciplined repeat offenders.
Life slowly became less cinematic.
That was good.
Then prosecutors announced charges against Martin Keane related to unlawful distribution of secure assessment material and falsification of business records connected to contracted services.
Mrs. Brennan was charged separately under applicable state statutes with misdemeanor battery involving Hailey and offenses related to test-security violations.
Principal Ward had not yet been criminally charged.
David was furious.
Rachel explained.
“Employment wrongdoing, unethical conduct and bad leadership do not automatically equal a provable crime.”
“But her emails—”
“May lead to charges later. Prosecutors are still reviewing.”
Hailey surprised everyone.
“That’s fair.”
David looked at her.
She shrugged.
“You keep telling me not to decide facts because I’m angry.”
Rachel smiled.
“I like her.”
May you like
David did not.
Not at that moment.
