Chapter 5: The Folder
Campus security arrived in less than three minutes.
Three officers crossed the courtyard while graduates and families slowly moved away, sensing that something had changed.
Aaliyah stood beside her father.
Marcus hadn't let her out of his sight.
Dana stood on her other side.
Brianna and Tasha were behind them.
The officer in charge introduced himself as Lieutenant Harris.
“Mr. Carter, what happened?””
Marcus handed him the phone.
“Someone photographed my daughter without her knowledge and sent threats to this student.””
Harris read the messages.
“When was this taken?””
“About twenty minutes ago,” Dana said.
Harris looked around.
“Any idea where?””
“No,” Marcus said.
“Could be from a public location.””
Marcus nodded.
“I know.””
Harris handed the phone back.
“We'll check the surrounding cameras.””
Aaliyah looked toward the library.
“There's one more thing.””
Harris turned.
“What?””
“My adviser may be involved.””
She explained what Brianna had told them.
Harris listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he asked, “Professor Reed?””
“Yes.””
“Where is his office?””
“Social Sciences Building. Third floor.””
Harris spoke into his radio.
“Unit two, check the third-floor offices. Ask Reed to remain available.””
Marcus looked at Aaliyah.
“You don't have to go anywhere.””
She shook her head.
“I need the folder.””
Harris frowned.
“What folder?””
Brianna answered.
“The one Reed gave me.””
Harris looked at her.
“Where is it?””
“My apartment.””
“We can send an officer with you.””
Marcus immediately said, “I'm coming.””
Harris nodded.
“Fine.””
Aaliyah looked at Brianna.
“You're coming too.””
Brianna's eyes widened.
“Me?””
“You're the one who knows where it is.””
Tasha raised her hand slightly.
“I should come.””
Aaliyah looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because I was involved.””
Aaliyah studied her.
Tasha looked down.
“I laughed. I encouraged her. I knew about the complaint.””
“You knew?””
Tasha nodded.
“I didn't know about the forged signature.””
Aaliyah's expression softened slightly.
“Then you should tell the truth.””
Tasha nodded.
They left campus in two cars.
Marcus drove.
Aaliyah sat beside him.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
The silence between them felt different from the silence at graduation.
This one carried weight.
Finally Aaliyah said, “Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“Were you really going to tell me about the interviews?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
Marcus smiled faintly.
“After your graduation dinner.””
She looked at him.
“You had a whole plan?””
“I had reservations.””
“At that restaurant?””
“Yes.””
“You said you couldn't afford it.””
“I said you couldn't afford it.””
Aaliyah laughed softly.
“You're impossible.””
“I know.””
She looked out the window.
Then her smile faded.
“Why didn't you tell me the company was involved with my scholarship?””
Marcus tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“Because it wasn't.””
“What?””
“I didn't fund your scholarship.””
She turned.
“What?””
“The foundation did.””
“But I thought—”
“I donated to the foundation years before you applied.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't want you wondering whether you earned it.””
Aaliyah stared at him.
“Dad…”
He glanced at her.
“You earned it.””
Her eyes filled.
She reached across the center console and squeezed his hand.
“Thank you.””
He squeezed back.
Then his phone rang.
Dana.
Marcus answered.
“What's wrong?””
Dana's voice came through the speaker.
“They found Professor Reed.””
“Where?””
“In his office.””
“And?””
“He says he doesn't know anything about the complaint.””
Marcus frowned.
“Did he explain the folder?””
“What folder?”” Dana asked.
Marcus looked at Aaliyah.
“Never mind.””
They arrived at Brianna's apartment building.
The security officer met them outside.
Brianna unlocked the door.
The apartment was small and cluttered with graduation decorations.
A cap sat on the couch.
A half-eaten cake was on the counter.
A banner reading *WE DID IT!* hung crookedly above the television.
Aaliyah stared at it.
“We really thought today would be different.””
Brianna looked at her.
“I know.””
They entered.
“Where's the folder?”” Marcus asked.
Brianna pointed toward the bedroom.
“Desk.””
Harris followed them.
Brianna opened a drawer.
Empty.
She opened another.
Nothing.
Her breathing quickened.
“It was here.””
Marcus looked around.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
“When did you last see it?””
“This morning.””
“Who had access?””
“My roommate.””
“Where is she?””
“Visiting her parents.””
Harris checked the desk.
“Could it be somewhere else?””
Brianna shook her head.
“No.””
Aaliyah walked toward the bedroom window.
Something caught her eye.
The window was slightly open.
She touched the sill.
Fresh dirt.
A tiny scrape on the white paint.
“Dad.””
Marcus came over.
“What?””
She pointed.
He examined it.
Then Harris crouched beside him.
“Someone may have entered through here.””
Brianna's face went pale.
“But we're on the fourth floor.””
Harris looked down.
“There’s a fire escape.””
Aaliyah's stomach turned.
The folder wasn't missing by accident.
Someone had taken it.
Marcus stood.
“Everyone stays inside.””
Aaliyah's phone buzzed.
She looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
*You're looking in the wrong place.*
Another message appeared.
*The folder was never in Brianna's apartment.*
Aaliyah's blood ran cold.
Then a third message arrived.
*Ask your father what happened six months ago.*
She slowly looked at Marcus.
He saw her expression.
“What?””
She turned the phone toward him.
Marcus read the message.
His face changed.
Not fear.
Recognition.
Aaliyah noticed.
“You know.””
Marcus said nothing.
“Dad.””
“I don't know what they mean.””
“You recognized it.””
“I recognized the accusation.””
“No.””
She stepped closer.
“You're lying.””
Marcus looked away.
“I'm not.””
“Dad, six months ago something happened.””
He remained silent.
Aaliyah's voice became softer.
“What happened?””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Before he could answer, Harris shouted from the living room.
“Mr. Carter!””
They rushed out.
Harris was standing beside the television.
There was a small envelope taped beneath it.
No name.
No address.
Just a handwritten message:
*FOR AALIYAH.*
She opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Aaliyah recognized the place immediately.
Her father's office.
Six months earlier.
Marcus was standing behind his desk.
Across from him was Professor Reed.
And on the desk between them was a stack of documents.
One of them was the exact complaint Aaliyah was holding.
On the back of the photograph, someone had written:
*Ask your father who paid him to bury it.*
Aaliyah slowly turned toward Marcus.
His face had lost all color.
“Dad?””
He stared at the photograph.
May you like
Then he whispered,
“That picture shouldn't exist.””