Chapter 3 - THE MONEY MEANT FOR STUDENTS
Jasmine had begun investigating Unity Scholars after her friend Kayla received a rejection letter.
Kayla’s grades were excellent. Her family income met every requirement. The school told her the fund had received too many applications.
At the same time, new weight-room equipment arrived for the football program.
The stadium received luxury seating.
The varsity team traveled to an expensive training camp in Florida.
All three expenses were described as private booster donations.
Jasmine found a public board report stating that Unity Scholars had financed “shared student development facilities.”
No scholarship applicant had been told that money was being redirected.
She asked Principal Ward for the detailed ledger.
Elaine praised her curiosity and suggested she write about the football team’s community service instead.
Jasmine submitted a formal records request through the school newspaper adviser.
The adviser was told the files were confidential.
Two days later, Jasmine found an envelope beneath the newspaper-room door.
Inside were copies of payment records and a note:
LOOK AT WALKER ATHLETIC CONSTRUCTION.
The source used the name North17.
Jasmine verified each transfer through public documents before drafting her article.
She did not know that her father’s state investigation was examining the same accounts.
Marcus had deliberately kept the inquiry from her.
Now, sitting across from him in Lena’s temporary office, Jasmine learned that Unity Scholars was one of six funds under review.
“You knew?” she asked.
“I knew there were irregularities.”
“And you didn’t tell me.”
“The investigation was confidential.”
“I could have been more careful.”
“You should never have been placed in danger because you wrote a student article.”
“That is not an answer.”
Marcus remained silent for a moment.
“I thought separating you from my work protected you.”
“It meant I didn’t know Trent’s dad had already been subpoenaed.”
Marcus accepted that.
Jasmine’s article had reached the same truth through student-level evidence. Victor Walker may have assumed Marcus used his daughter to gather information.
The timing made the suspicion plausible.
Jasmine insisted she had never seen her father’s files.
Lena believed her.
Victor would not need to.
He needed only to convince others that the investigation was corrupt.
At 3:00 p.m., Victor arrived at school with an attorney.
He was a broad-shouldered man in an expensive coat, accustomed to being welcomed through side entrances. The principal met him privately before Lena stopped the meeting.
“You cannot discuss the students’ statements,” Lena said.
“My son was assaulted.”
“Your son initiated the confrontation.”
“A tray of food is not justification for being kicked.”
“It may be relevant that another student stole Jasmine’s backpack during the incident.”
Victor looked toward Trent.
The boy stared at the floor.
“What backpack?”
Lena noticed the answer came too quickly.
Victor demanded that Jasmine be charged with assault and removed from the newspaper.
He also claimed her article contained stolen financial information.
Jasmine stepped into the hallway.
“The records show your company received scholarship money.”
Victor smiled without warmth.
“You do not understand district accounting.”
“I understand students were told no money remained.”
“You are sixteen.”
“And the numbers still add up.”
Marcus approached from the far end but stopped before joining them. His recusal prevented him from confronting Victor directly.
Victor saw him.
“You sent your daughter after my family.”
Marcus’s expression remained controlled.
“My daughter conducted her own reporting.”
“You expect anyone to believe that?”
Jasmine answered.
“My father did not even tell me you were being investigated.”
Victor’s eyes shifted toward her.
He believed that part.
It made him more frightened, not less.
If Jasmine independently found the same transfers, the records were easier to verify than he had hoped.
Lena obtained the school’s internal email archive.
One message from Principal Ward to Victor had been sent the previous evening.
Jasmine still has a copy. Trent says she carries it in her backpack.
Victor replied:
Then tomorrow needs to end with the bag in our hands and the girl discredited.
Another email was missing between them.
The server log showed it had been deleted at 11:51 a.m.
Minutes later, Jasmine’s suspension form was created.
Lena turned toward Elaine.
“You knew the confrontation was planned.”
Elaine’s face went pale.
Victor’s attorney immediately ended the interview.
As he led his client away, Trent remained seated.
He looked at Jasmine.
For the first time since the cafeteria, his arrogance had vanished.
“I didn’t know they were going to steal the whole bag,” he whispered.
Victor stopped at the doorway.
“Trent.”
The warning in his voice was unmistakable.
May you like
Trent closed his mouth.
👉 Trent had just admitted the assault was coordinated, but fear of his own father still kept him from revealing the complete plan.
