Chapter 8 - Thomas Hale Tries Blaming Carter
Thomas Hale returned with an attorney.
He denied stealing money.
He blamed Ms. Carter.
He said she created BrightPath invoices and used his credentials.
Digital logs contradicted him.
Several approvals originated from Thomas’s home computer.
Bank records linked Marcus Wynn’s company to a private investment account benefiting Thomas.
Then investigators found text messages.
Thomas had told Ms. Carter to isolate Lucas.
He instructed her to recover Sophie’s photograph.
But there was no message ordering her to threaten Sophie with scissors.
When asked about that, Ms. Carter broke down.
“That was me.”
Thomas had pressured her.
He had involved her in fraud.
He had told her she would lose her pension if the scheme surfaced.
But he had not forced scissors into her hand.
Ms. Carter admitted she panicked when Sophie hid the phone near her braid.
She thought cutting the braid would make the phone fall out.
She convinced herself she was only cutting hair.
Sophie was screaming.
Ms. Carter continued.
Intent did not erase terror.
Daniel needed that distinction.
A larger conspiracy did not make every harmful act part of a mastermind’s script.
People still made individual choices inside pressure.
Ms. Carter had.
May you like
So had Thomas.
So had Principal Brooks when she stopped asking questions because Thomas made administration easier.
