“Are there security cameras in the hallway?” the colonel asked the principal.
“Yes.”
A laptop was brought in. The footage began playing.
10:12 — Daniel enters with the attendance sheet.
10:13 — he leaves less than a minute later. Hands visible. Empty.
10:35 — the janitor enters with cleaning supplies.
10:50 — Ms. Hill returns.
Nathan leaned back.
“Less than sixty seconds,” he said. “Enough time to locate a wallet, remove five bills, conceal them, and leave unnoticed? Possible. But unlikely.”
Silence settled differently now.
“Rewind one minute before the student enters,” the colonel instructed.
The screen showed Ms. Hill hurrying out of the classroom. Her purse sat on a chair beside her desk. The zipper was partially open.
“Pause,” Nathan said. “Was the bag secured when you left?”
“Of course,” she replied too quickly.
“The footage suggests otherwise.”
Whispers rippled among the students.
The video continued. The janitor entered, moving the chair to mop underneath. For a few seconds, the purse left the camera’s direct view.
“We’ll need hallway footage as well,” Nathan said. “Complete timeline.”
Ms. Hill’s face drained of color.