Chapter 8 - THE ANONYMOUS NUMBER
School IT could not trace the threatening texts directly.
But police school-resource liaison helped preserve information because some messages implied continued harassment.
No hacking fantasies.
No instant location.
Carrier process.
Time.
Elias hated waiting.
Then a clue arrived from the content.
One message used phrase:
charity voice
Daniel recognized it.
“What?”
He looked disturbed.
“Victoria used to say that.”
Elias stared.
“You knew Chloe's mom?”
Daniel sighed.
“At conservatory.”
Of course.
Victoria Mercer had studied arts administration at the same school.
She dated Andrew Harrison briefly.
And disliked Daniel.
Why?
Daniel received a scholarship Victoria wanted awarded to someone else in her program.
She once mocked him as:
the charity tenor.
Elias stared.
“Why is everyone from your college suddenly ruining my life?”
Daniel laughed painfully.
“Small arts world.”
But if Victoria remembered Daniel, she could have recognized Elias's surname immediately.
Maybe she saw transfer list.
Maybe Chloe mentioned him.
Then research.
Old resentment.
Was she sending texts?
No evidence.
But the phrase suggested connection.
Daniel called Mr. Harrison.
Not privately.
Through Dr. Foster.
Transparency.
Harrison looked stunned when told.
“Victoria used that phrase?”
“Yes.”
He remembered too.
Now school had potential adult involvement.
District legal counsel took over.
Victoria denied all harassment.
Her attorney warned against defamation.
Fair.
Then carrier records returned.
The anonymous number was purchased through a prepaid service.
Payment source unavailable without more process.
But activation Wi-Fi?
A public coffee shop near Mercer law offices.
Weak.
Not enough.
Then one message had accidentally included a cloud-preview link to the old photograph.
Metadata showed it had been uploaded from an account named:
VMercerArchive
Not definitive ownership.
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But suddenly the adult shadow had shape.
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