There were already police cars in the parking lot, Rachel noticed when she looked out the window.
“We’re on lock in,” the principal said wiping the back of his hand over his brow. “Right now we’re on secure alert. We’re to keep everyone in the school, and no one comes in. This is a precaution, but due to his case file, they want to keep the campus secure.”
Rachel stepped into the room further. “Did his caseworker at the detention center say anything about his possible motive?”
“Just that White didn’t feel as if he was being listened to. He was being medicated for schizophrenia, but there is reason to believe that he wasn’t taking his medication.”
Rachel gripped the back of the closest chair to steady herself from another wave of sickness.
“Ms. Diaz, they’ll be coming to talk to you. You know him best.”
Rachel nodded and listened to the protocol that was being set in place.
Craig sat in his classroom and watching the thirty people taking their final exam. End of semester not only brought great joy, but great tension.
There was the eighteen-year-old in the front row chewing on her pencil and he wondered if she was going to chew right through it. The mother of four, who was looking to educate herself before going back into the workforce, going back and forth from her notes to the test. The guy who had his skateboard upside down under his feet had fallen asleep. And then there was the young man in the back of the room who had breezed through the test in fifteen minutes, but sat with his arms crossed just watching everyone else finish.
When his phone lit up on his desk, which he’d silenced the tone and the buzz, he looked down to see a text from Rachel.
Giving the room another scan, he slid his finger over the screen to read the message.
The school is in secure mode. We are locked in. Student escaped detention center. This is just precaution. Just wanted you to know. And, we love you.
Craig let out a quiet breath. It wasn’t the first time they’d been on lockdown, and sadly it was all common place, but it still always got his heart going. But as he read it again, he couldn’t help but smile at her newest sign off. We love you.
Trying not to draw attention to himself, he returned her text.
Be careful. Keep me updated. I love you both.
Rachel pulled up all of her electronic files on Miguel White on her computer, and retrieved the physical file as well. She hoped he would just turn himself in and not get hurt, or hurt anyone. He was a good kid with a great dose of problems.
The sickness that had been swimming in her stomach continued, and Rachel reached for her bottle of water, taking a sip and hoped that it would ease.
An hour later when a representative from the police department walked into her office, Rachel turned over everything she had on Miguel White, and explained what she knew about him.
It wasn’t long after that that those in the office were told that he’d been found at his home and they had lifted the secure status on the school.
The day, though still fueled with a buzz of anxiety, went back to planning mode for graduation.
Before lunch, Rachel checked her phone and realized she’d been so preoccupied, she hadn’t noticed the influx of text messages that had poured in.
Her mother had texted. Are you safe? The news says you’re locked down.
Her brother’s text read nearly the same.
Catherine had texted shortly after they had called the original meeting. That boy you’ve worked with escaped his detention center. I hear they sent security your way. Stay safe, my friend. Don’t forget, you help people all the time, and some of them just need more help than one person can give. I love ya!
Rachel chuckled when she’d read that one. Wasn’t it Catherine that always told her how proud she was of her trying to save the world, but then reminding her that it was a bigger job and she couldn’t do it alone?
Craig had texted again. I’m on summer vacation. Well, for a week before summer session planning starts. Are you doing okay?
Rachel responded to his text first. They’ve lifted the lockdown. He was found at his parents’ house.
She could hear the sounds of students heading through the halls to lunch, and the cars moved through the parking lot outside her window.
She looked back at her phone as the next text came through. I love you. I’ll meet you at home.
Rachel realized that she was smiling, and it happened every time he texted or called. She was glad that she’d talked to him at the funeral and things had turned out the way they had. Though, never could Rachel have imagined that between February and the end of May, her life could completely change.
She pressed her hands to her belly. “He loves us, sweetheart,” she whispered just as she heard the screams from the hallway and saw the flash that blew out the windows of the main office, just outside her open door.
Her first instinct was to run to the door and shut and lock it, but then as more shots were fired. She knew she needed to get out of sight. Just as she dropped to her knees to climb under her desk, she heard the door to her office slam closed and lock. A moment later, standing behind her desk looking down at her was Miguel White holding a gun in his hand, covered in blood, and crying.