Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“I’m scared, Dane,” she whispers, but her boyfriend is too busy worrying about himself to comfort her.
“I have rights. I’m not giving you my phone,” he tells Officer Walters. “I’m not doing anything until my father’s lawyer arrives.”
His father’s lawyer. It’s all he keeps talking about, but I’ve yet to see actual proof this man exists.
Officer Walters scrolls around through Nadine’s phone, unfazed by Dane’s refusal. It only takes a few moments before his mouth turns down in a frown as he stares at the screen, nodding to Dean Kandinsky and Ty Winslow. Evidently, Ty’s version of the events has been confirmed.
“Nadine, did you have the approval of both parties to post this explicit footage on the internet?” Officer Walters asks, and Nadine stutters over her words.
“I don’t… I didn’t… I didn’t mean to do it! Dane told me to film it and post it, and I don’t know…that’s just what I did.”
“I didn’t tell you to post shit,” Dane refutes, turning on his accomplice without a second thought. “You’re such a liar, Nadine.”
Officer Walters continues to look through her phone, and when he finds something else, he lets out a sigh. “Looks like the other students’ claims of harassment toward Scottie Bardeaux are correct. We’ll have to verify that this is her phone number, but it appears that Nadine was utilizing an app that scrambles her number and sends on a ten-minute delay to send harassing text messages as well.”
“Dane was sending those messages!” Nadine cries. “He’s the one who downloaded that app to my phone!”
Dane rolls his eyes. “She’s lying, Officer. You heard her before. She’s just scared to face the consequences of her actions. I had nothing to do with those text messages.”
Officer Walters hums. “What about the ones with Ms. Jones where you two discuss a premeditated plan to bait Scottie Bardeaux’s mother into coming to the university?”
Dean Kandinsky runs a hand down his face while he lets out a deep, exasperated exhale of air from his lungs.
“So what—we sent Scottie some text messages,” Dane scoffs. “It’s not our fault her mom is a drunk and had sex with Randy Evans in the middle of a party.”
“By law, the text messages are a form of harassment,” Officer Walters states. “And the posting of the explicit video footage to the internet and sharing it across every platform available without either party’s permission is a cybercrime.”
“Randy Evans won’t give a shit we posted that,” Dane says as Nadine cries into her hands, sobs making her body buck.
“I think we can all agree that you did not have permission from Stephanie Bardeaux,” Officer Walters states.
“I take cybercrimes and harassment very seriously on campus,” Dean Kandinsky says, his eyes fixated on both Dane and Nadine. “I’m appalled at both of your actions. It’s clear that your goal was to do everything in your power to bully another student, and that type of vile behavior is not welcome on campus.”
“Are you expelling us?” Nadine asks, her voice so small it might as well be a mouse.
“Yes,” Dean Kandinsky states firmly. “I’m expelling both of you. But if you ask me, that’s the least of your worries. These are serious crimes you’ve committed, Ms. Jones, and the legal system will do with those what it sees fit.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Dane shouts. “What about Finn? He’s the one who assaulted me! That’s the whole reason we’re here!”
“Finn Hayes faces his own set of circumstances, none of which are any of your business at this juncture as far as the university is concerned. Officer Marks and Walters will inform you of your legal rights on the matter, but for now, you’re dismissed.”
Officer Walters pulls Dane to his feet and escorts him and Nadine out of the room. Dane shouts about his father and his father’s lawyer, but when the door shuts behind him, the sound muffles almost entirely.
Officer Marks gestures for Dean Kandinsky and Ty to step over to talk to him, and I listen intently, trying to catch all that I can of their hushed conversation.
“We were unable to reach Scottie Bardeaux, but we did get ahold of Stephanie Bardeaux. She lives upstate but is currently staying at a hotel nearby,” Officer Marks updates. “She’s coming in to give a statement and discuss the situation. It sounds like she’s going to want to press charges against Nadine Jones and Dane Matthews. She was unaware of the explicit video that was posted of her, was very upset to find out about it, and is adamant she did not give permission.”
“Let me know what happens once you talk to her,” Dean Kandinsky states. Officer Marks tells them something else, but this time, it’s too quiet for me to make out.
As Officer Marks steps outside, both the dean and Ty take a seat across from me.