Chapter 3 - THE MESSAGE AT 2:14
Elias returned home expecting questions.
His father was waiting.
Daniel Reed sat at the kitchen table in work clothes.
“You're blue.”
Elias looked down.
Some paint remained on his shoes.
“Long story.”
Daniel listened.
All of it.
No interruption.
When Elias finished, Daniel asked:
“Do you want me to call the school?”
“They already know.”
“Do you want me to?”
Elias thought.
“No.”
Daniel nodded.
That answer mattered.
Elias's previous school had taught him what happened when adults took over too fast.
His father once stormed into an administrator's office after bullying.
The result?
Everyone called Elias “Daddy's lawsuit.”
He transferred months later.
Daniel had learned.
“Then what do you need?”
“Food.”
Daniel smiled.
“That I can do.”
During dinner Elias's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED QUIET.
His appetite vanished.
Daniel noticed.
“What?”
Elias showed him.
“Have you received others?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Five.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you'd call the school.”
“Fair.”
Then:
“Can we preserve them?”
Elias nodded.
They took screenshots and did not respond.
One earlier message:
WESTBRIDGE DOESN'T NEED ANOTHER CHARITY CASE.
Another:
YOUR DAD CAN'T BUY YOU A VOICE.
Daniel read twice.
“Buy?”
He laughed bitterly.
Daniel worked as an elevator technician.
They lived comfortably.
Not wealthy.
Who thought he had money?
Then the oldest message:
ASK YOUR FATHER WHY HARRISON OWES HIM.
Daniel went still.
Elias noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“No.”
Elias set down fork.
“What?”
Daniel looked toward the window.
“I know Harrison.”
Elias froze.
“What?”
“From years ago.”
“How?”
Daniel sighed.
“We sang together.”
Elias stared.
His father never sang now.
Not even birthdays.
“When?”
“College.”
“Mr. Harrison?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Didn't seem important.”
It was.
“Does he owe you something?”
Daniel's face changed.
“No.”
Then:
“Not exactly.”
Elias stood.
“Dad.”
Twenty-three years earlier, Daniel Reed and Andrew Harrison had been vocal-performance students at the same conservatory.
Daniel was considered exceptional.
Then he lost part of his hearing after an illness.
His professional singing plans ended.
Harrison stayed.
Became teacher.
They lost touch.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Nothing.”
“Did Harrison know I was your son during auditions?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“I never called him.”
But someone knew the connection.
And had turned it into an accusation.
Elias whispered:
“So they're going to say I got center because you know him.”
Daniel looked angry.
“That would be false.”
“Doesn't matter.”
Elias remembered his old school.
Rumors didn't need truth.
Just enough shape.
Then his phone buzzed again.
This time a photograph.
Daniel and Mr. Harrison.
Age twenty.
Onstage together.
Caption:
BLIND AUDITION? SURE.
Elias stared.
Someone had found a photograph older than he was.
This wasn't just Chloe being angry in a hallway.
Someone was building a story.
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And whoever it was knew exactly which truth to twist.
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