The principal cleared his throat.

“Carmen… perhaps we should handle this carefully.”

“That boy has challenged me since September!” she burst out. “He undermines my authority!”

Miguel stepped forward.

“He refused to tell you who posted comments in the class chat. That’s not a crime.”

The statement echoed through the room.

The colonel turned to Alejandro.

“Did you touch the bag?”

“No, sir,” the boy replied steadily.

“Have you had prior issues with the teacher?”

Alejandro hesitated, then nodded.

A heavy sigh rippled across the classroom.

Javier faced Carmen again.

“Did you suggest to the father that bringing cash would avoid involving the police?”

She faltered.

“I only wanted to avoid a scene…”

“The scene was created by accusing someone without evidence,” he said.

One of the officers closed his notebook.

“At this time, there is no proof connecting Alejandro García to any theft,” he stated formally. “However, there are concerns about the public search of a minor in front of classmates.”

The words landed hard.

Carmen sank into her chair. Her certainty had vanished.

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