Aiden’s Science Bridge Was Destroyed and Mason’s Shoe Seemed to Prove He Did It — Then the Classroom Camera Showed Who Planted the Evidence
Chapter 3 — Why Chloe Was So Afraid
Principal Harris brought Chloe to the classroom.
Her mother was contacted.
At first, Chloe denied everything.
Then Ms. Carter turned the tablet around.
Chloe saw herself on the screen.
The ladder.
The falling bridge.
The clay.
Her face went pale.
“I didn’t mean to break it.”
Aiden stared at her.
“But you meant to blame Mason.”
Chloe looked down.
“I panicked.”
Mason folded his arms.
“You picked up clay and rubbed it on the bridge.”
Chloe said nothing.
“That’s not an accident.”
Ms. Carter nodded.
“He’s right.”
The ladder strike had been accidental.
Everything afterward had been deliberate.
Principal Harris asked:
“Why not simply tell Ms. Carter what happened?”
Chloe began crying.
Because the engineering showcase was not the only event taking place that afternoon.
The district superintendent was visiting.
Chloe had been selected to lead the student welcome presentation.
She was also applying to become the youngest student representative on Riverton’s Youth Advisory Council.
The principal had written her recommendation.
“I thought if everyone found out I destroyed a project because I set up the banner without permission…”
Her voice broke.
“They’d take everything away.”
Aiden looked toward his bridge.
“So Mason losing everything was better?”
Chloe’s face crumpled.
“No.”
But that was what she had chosen.
She saw Mason’s clay.
Knew he had been working nearby.
And decided that suspicion could move from her to him.
Principal Harris looked disappointed.
“Being afraid of consequences explains your decision.”
Then:
“It does not excuse it.”
Chloe nodded.
But Ms. Carter was still studying the recording.
Something bothered her.
She rewound to the exact moment the bridge hit the floor.
Then paused.
“Aiden.”
“What?”
She zoomed in.
“Something came out of your bridge when it broke.”
