Chapter 5 - The Price of Silence
Claire lost her job the following morning.
The official reason was restructuring.
Her access card stopped working before she received the dismissal notice.
A security guard escorted her from the building while her coworkers watched through the glass walls.
When Willa returned home, she found her mother sitting at the kitchen table beside a cardboard box containing a coffee mug, two framed photographs, and a small green plant.
Claire did not blame her.
That made the guilt worse.
“I should have stopped,” Willa whispered.
“No.”
“They did this because of me.”
“They did this because they believed they could frighten you through me.”
Claire reached across the table.
“Do not confuse the weapon with the person holding it.”
Willa sat down.
“They sent me a picture of you.”
Claire’s expression sharpened.
“What picture?”
Willa showed her the message.
Her mother read it twice.
Then she stood and locked the apartment door.
“Have they contacted you before?”
“No.”
“Have you seen anyone following you?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire walked to the window and pulled the curtain aside.
A dark sedan was parked across the street.
Its engine was running.
Willa’s heart began to race.
Claire took a photograph of the license plate.
The sedan drove away.
That evening, Willa received a visit from Victoria.
She arrived alone, though a black car waited outside the apartment building.
Victoria’s white coat looked painfully expensive against the cracked hallway walls.
Claire refused to let her enter.
Victoria smiled.
“I only need a minute.”
“You have thirty seconds,” Claire said.
Victoria looked at Willa.
“Withdraw your appeal.”
“There is no formal appeal yet.”
“Then stop trying to create one.”
“You know I won.”
Victoria’s smile vanished.
“You think this is about a medal?”
“What is it about?”
“My future.”
Willa laughed once in disbelief.
“You destroyed my result to protect your future.”
“My university offer depends on that championship.”
“You came second. That is not failure.”
“It is in my family.”
For the first time, Victoria looked less arrogant than afraid.
“My father already announced that I won. The sponsors have published advertisements. The foundation has promised money based on my national ranking.”
“That is not my responsibility.”
“You do not understand what happens when people like my father are embarrassed.”
Willa studied her.
“Did you remove the timing chip?”
“No.”
“Did you know Coach Mercer changed the result?”
Victoria looked toward Claire.
“I knew he would fix the problem.”
“The problem was me winning.”
“The problem was the result becoming inconvenient.”
Claire stepped forward.
“You should leave.”
Victoria ignored her.
She reached into her bag and placed an envelope on the table.
Inside was a check large enough to cover Claire’s lost salary for two years.
Willa tore it in half.
Victoria stared at the pieces.
“You will regret that.”
“No,” Willa said. “You will regret thinking everyone can be purchased.”
Victoria moved toward the door, then stopped.
“You think Coach Mercer is the person you should fear.”
She looked back.
“He isn’t.”
“Then who is?”
Victoria’s eyes flickered with uncertainty.
“My mother believes scandals are infections. She removes them before they spread.”
After she left, Claire picked up one torn half of the check.
A handwritten number appeared on the back.
Not a telephone number.
A locker combination.
May you like
Beneath it, Victoria had written three words.
ASK ABOUT ROOM 214.
