One of the patrol officers asked, “Can you confirm you had exactly five hundred dollars in cash this morning?”
“That’s irrelevant!” she protested.
“In a theft report, the amount must be verified,” the officer replied.
She had no proof.
The principal cleared his throat. “Patricia… perhaps we should reconsider.”
“He’s undermined me all year!” she burst out. “He challenges my authority.”
Carlos stepped forward.
“He refused to name classmates who posted comments online. That’s not a crime.”
The colonel looked at Daniel. “Did you touch her purse?”
“No, sir.”
“Any previous conflicts?”
Daniel hesitated, then nodded slightly.
Nathan faced the teacher again.
“Did you tell the father that bringing cash could prevent police involvement?”
She faltered. “I only wanted to avoid a scene.”
“The scene began when you accused a child publicly without evidence.”
One officer closed his notebook.
“At this time, there is no evidence linking Daniel Rivera to theft,” he stated formally. “However, there are serious concerns about the public search of a minor.”
The words landed hard.
Ms. Hill sank into her chair.
The principal inhaled deeply. “Pending further review, you are relieved of duties.”