Chapter 36
“Does anyone else have access to this locker?” I asked.
“Well, yeah,” Stephanie said. “Megan. But she wouldn’t take it.”
“Why does Megan have access?” I asked, trying to hide my annoyance.
“Because her locker is on the other side of the school with the losers. Totally not cool.”
“When was the last time you saw the laptop?”
“I put it in my locker before lunch. I didn’t have time to grab it before Chemistry.”
“Does Megan know about any of this?”
“Well, yeah,” she said, like it was a stupid question. “She’s my best friend. She’s not going to tell anyone.”
I stifled my displeasure and surveyed the area. A security camera nearby probably captured the perp.
We escorted Stephanie back to the administration office. I told Dolores about the incident, and she pulled up security footage on the computer.
"When did this happen?" she asked.
"Sometime after lunch,” I said.
She scrubbed through the footage until she came across the incident. She waved us behind the counter to look at the screen. Plain as day, Megan opened the locker and took the laptop.
"That fucking bitch!" Stephanie exclaimed.
Dolores gave her the side eye.
"Sorry," she said in a meek voice. Stephanie pulled her phone from her purse and dialed Megan. To no one's surprise, she didn't pick up. Stephanie left a voicemail. With extreme venom in her voice, she said, "Megan, where's my fucking laptop! Call me back. Now!”
It wasn’t the first time Dolores had heard that kind of language, but it definitely set her off balance. You think she’d be used to it by now with this crowd.
"Where can we find Megan?" I asked.
"She's got journalism right now with Mr. Halford," Stephanie said.
We left the office and set out to find Megan. Her journalism class was in room #212.
We gathered outside the door and peered through the window.
"Which one is she?" I asked.
Stephanie pointed Megan Altman out.
She was an attractive blonde with long, straight hair pulled back into a ponytail.
I knocked before entering. Jack stayed in the hall with Stephanie.
"Sorry to interrupt,” I said, flashing my badge. I pointed at Megan. “I need to speak with Miss Altman for a second.”
There were oohs and ahs and gasps.
Megan's eyes rounded, and she pointed to herself and mouthed the word “Me?”
I nodded.
All the other students stared at her.
She looked at Mr. Halford and he nodded.
After a hesitation, she pushed away from the desk, stood up, and excused herself. She walked across the classroom to the door and stepped into the hall. Megan cringed as soon as she saw Stephanie. She knew damn good and well what this was about.
Stephanie started to go off on her. I put a hand up to stop her. Steph looked like she was about to explode. She clenched her jaw, and the veins in her neck bulged. It was a massive betrayal. That was more important to her than the computer.
"Where's the laptop?" I asked.
Megan shrugged innocently. "What laptop?"
"The one you took from my fucking locker, bitch!" Stephanie snapped.
I gave Stephanie a look to cool it.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Megan said.
"We've seen the security footage. Turn around and place your hands behind your back. You're under arrest for theft.”
Her face went long and her eyes bulged. Waterworks brimmed. "You're arresting me!?"
"Yes. Now do as you're told, or I'm going to add resisting to the charge.”
That turned on the faucet. Tears flowed down her cheeks, and she broke down into sobs as she complied. I pulled out my handcuffs and ratcheted them around her wrists.
We escorted her down the hall, away from the classroom.
Megan sobbed and sniffled. I don't think she had ever been in this situation before.
"Where's the laptop?” I asked again.
In staccato bursts between sobs, she said, "I've never… stolen… anything before… in my life.”
With an exasperated breath, I asked one more time, "Where is the laptop?”