She photographed the paper from multiple angles, then sealed it carefully in an envelope. This anonymous threat would join the growing pile of evidence, showing exactly how desperate Grayson and his supporters had become. Marcus's office smelled like coffee and old books. Papers covered every surface. File cabinets lined the walls.
Aaliyah sat across from his desk while Nia paced near the window. "Show me what you found," Marcus said. Aaliyah handed him the anonymous document. The highlighted section glowed under his desk lamp. Marcus read it twice, his jaw tightening with each word.
This is targeted intimidation, he said. Someone wants you to know they're building a case against your martial arts background. Can they actually use that against me? Aaliyah asked. They'll try.
Marcus set the paper down carefully. But this feels desperate, like they know their original story is falling apart. He turned to his computer and began typing. I've been thinking about something all night. Grayson's behavior toward you wasn't random.
The systematic harassment, the public humiliation, the way he cornered you with witnesses, it felt practiced. What do you mean? Nia stopped pacing. I mean, I think he's done this before. Marcus clicked through several screens.
As a university employee, I have access to internal conduct records. Nothing confidential, just basic logs of complaints and outcomes. The search results filled his screen. Marcus scrolled down, his eyes scanning dates and case numbers. Then he stopped.
Here, he said, Grayson Vale mentioned in a complaint from 2 years ago. Case closed before formal hearing. Aaliyah leaned forward. What was the complaint about? Marcus clicked on the file.
His face went pale as he read. A scholarship student named Maria Santos reported that Grayson and three friends cornered her outside the library. They mocked her accent, told her she didn't belong at Hartwell, and when she tried to leave, they blocked her path while other students watched. "That sounds exactly like what he did to me." Aaliyah said, "It gets worse." Marcus scrolled down. Maria says they followed her for weeks afterward, made comments in class, spread rumors about her grades.
When she finally complained, she was told the incident was, "He said," she said, without clear evidence of misconduct. Nia sat down hard in the chair beside Aaliyah. "What happened to her?" "Case withdrawn." Maria requested to drop the complaint 3 weeks after filing it. Marcus's voice was grim, but look at who signed off on closing the file. He pointed to a name at the bottom of the screen.
Dr. Patricia Weston, associate dean of student conduct, the same administrator currently handling Aaliyah's disciplinary case. She buried it, Aaliyah said. Let me check something else. Marcus opened another search window. This time he looked for any mention of Victor Vale in university correspondence.