15. Emergency School Board Mtg #2
Fitz has bodyguards who did not interfere with his altercation because he ordered them not to and they listened because he has training unequaled by the adults at the school much less the other children.
But what I’m saying is true for the other parents.
"I trusted you with Fitz." I indicate áine. "And she trusted you with Sadie."
"I'm very sorry your daughter experienced—"
áine stands so abruptly her chair tips backward and her glare is scarier than Wraith’s right now.
"You don't get to say you're sorry. My daughter has trauma related to what happened to her last week that she will have to deal with for the rest of her life because you thought the old boy's network was more important than my child. You’re sorry isn’t worth crap. "
áine is tough in a way few people are and I can't help admiring her. She and Wraith were attacked on their way home after getting coffee only a couple of days ago and here she is, standing up for her daughter, showing no signs of what that attack and the aftermath must have cost her.
When Wraith interrogated the surviving attackers, he learned that it was a hit disguised as a mugging.
Worse. So much worse, he learned that after killing áine, the gangbangers had orders to kidnap Sadie to be sold to a buyer that Demon, the leader of the Hollow Point Kings, had already made arrangements with.
Demon has a partner in his disgusting business dealings. No one knows his name but he's a rich businessman.
Kenneth Shaughnessy. We're sure of it, but are scrambling to find proof because my father doesn't want to believe his own flesh and blood could be involved in human trafficking.
Wraith has increased security on áine and her daughters. No one is getting near them, but the knowledge of how easily even our children can be targeted makes my heart hurt.
"I—" Mark tries to say.
But Aine’s not having it. "My daughter matters. The fact I’m not a million-dollar donor doesn’t make her less important than the boys who hurt her." The words echo through the room. "She mattered before Kara Fitzgerald walked into your office."
"Every child at that school should matter," I say in support of her. "But the number of complaints ignored or swept under the rug proves you do not agree."
The board chair removes his glasses and rubs both eyes before looking at the soon to be unemployed principal. "I thought better of you, Mark."
"I can explain." I let the principal try to do just that.
But I sent the board members copies of my investigative findings, including the misallocation of funds in the budget. They ask pointed questions for which he has no glib answers.
Not that he doesn't try, but for every spurious argument he tries to make, there is a documented fact in opposition. Which board members and parents alike point out.
Mick shifts in his chair, and I know he's done with the back-and-forth. He gave Mark Bentley an ultimatum the principal chose to ignore. My husband wouldn't balk at killing the man.
In fact, he'd prefer a more permanent and less time-consuming solution, but I convinced him to let me handle it. He is, but his patience is wearing thin.
I stand and everyone stops talking. "I promised my son I would fix this." I look down at áine. "I promised Sadie too." Then I turn toward the board. "So I'm done asking."
With a nervous glance at my husband, the chair sits a little straighter.
"I expect action," I inform him.
Mark shakes his head. "This investigation should have been conducted internally."
"It was."
He frowns.
"What?"
"It was." I point toward JoAnn. "She investigated. Teachers investigated. Parents investigated. They were all ignored. By you."
His mouth tightens. "I reject that characterization."
"I know." I let all the disdain I feel for the administrator show in my expression. "You've rejected responsibility every step of the way."
He stands too, his own expression an attempt at righteous indignation. "I have devoted twenty-three years to education."
"You'll have to devote the next twenty-three to something else," I say implacably.
His face reddens. "I will not resign because one wealthy parent dislikes my decisions."
"Why not? You ignored requests for help from numerous students because a few wealthy parents wanted you to."
The board chair clears his throat. "Perhaps we should move into an executive session—"
"No." I cut the air with my hand in a gesture of repudiation. "No more closed doors." I look around the room. "Children suffered because adults kept protecting each other." I meet each board member's eyes one by one. "Protect the children instead."
The chair folds his hands together on the table. "Mrs. Fitzgerald...are you asking for disciplinary action?"
"No," I correct him. "I'm demanding accountability." I point toward Mark. "He should resign."
"I won't," he says immediately.
Such a foolish, foolish man.
I ignore him and fix my gaze on the board. "In that case, I expect you to remove him."
I don't threaten a withdrawal of financial support. I don't mention my father's influence in the diocese. I have no intention of mentioning what Mick will do if they refuse to act to protect his son and a little girl my husband gave his word to too.
I don't need to. While many of the parents in this room are unaware of how far reaching our influence is, the board members are not.
The chair exchanges a long look with the other members. One by one, they nod.
The chair stands. "Principal Bentley." His voice is heavy. "Effective immediately, you are placed on administrative leave pending termination proceedings."
Bentley's face goes slack. "You can't—"
"If you read school board policy," the chair says with no little irony. "You'll find that we can."
Another board member speaks. "And we will."
The chair looks toward JoAnn. "Ms. Young, Until a permanent replacement is selected, the board requests that you serve as interim principal."
JoAnn blinks and then looks at me.
This cannot come as a total shock to her. She had to realize Mick telling Mark to resign wasn't a waste of hot air.
She blinks again and then nods. "On the condition that I am allowed to take immediate action to rectify the mistakes of my predecessor."
The motion passes unanimously.
Over the meeting entirely, Mick stands and pulls me from the room. When we're in the car, he slides his hand into mine.
Our fingers lock together.
"You did good, mo chuisle."
"I finished what our son started."
"I still think you should let me kill him."
"It's enough he'll never work in education again." I'll make sure of that too.
If Wraith and the tech genius on his crew hasn't already.