Chapter 777

"I've told you, Paul didn't do it!"

Mrs. Cornell grew frantic, repeatedly insisting her child was timid and well-behaved, afraid of frogs and mice, and would never act out.

"If guarantees meant anything," I said, "I could also vouch that Ian has never hurt his classmates."

"Ian—"

"Mr. Lloyd never bought him firecrackers. What about your son? With security cameras everywhere and mobile payments being so common, it's easy to track where you've been and what you've bought." I took out my phone. "The police are better at investigating these things than we are."

"You're calling the police?" Mrs. Cornell's face paled further. "That's wasting public resources over nothing!"

"Are you trying to stop us because you're guilty?" Jasmine's mom rubbed her daughter's back. "As a parent, I need a proper explanation for why this keeps happening in class."

"Mrs—" The principal looked at me, unsure how to address me.

"I'm Jen Middleton, Mr. Lloyd's assistant."

“Jasmine’s mother, Ms. Middleton, p