Chapter 5
Thursday morning I drove early to office, entered 7:31 to show compliance. Mrs. Chen already there, coffee steaming, cardigan on chair. She was 58, worked intake ten years, gray hair pinned, soft spoken. She smiled small.
"You were here late," she said.
"Finished scans," I said.
She nodded, did not ask why. I noticed her desk drawer cracked open, file corner sticking out. Labeled CORRECTIVE REVIEWS - CONFIDENTIAL. Not my business. Yet Wednesday evening Mr. Russo words stuck: Subject responsive, pattern.
At 10:00 Mr. Russo left for county meeting. Said be back after lunch, keep phones covered. Door clicked behind him. Warm light filled office, wooden floor shone.
Mrs. Chen went to restroom. Drawer stayed open inch. My chest tightened. Knew snooping broke rule. Also knew need to understand system. Reason: lesson felt personal punishment yesterday, needed proof otherwise.
Stood, stepped to her desk, pulled drawer gentle. Inside: two manila folders, names blacked with marker but one edge revealed - Elena Hayes, 10/14, 11/02. My own sheets. Beneath: another folder, name half visible: Alvarez, Sophia - 03/22. Earlier date. Handwriting same: Lesson: punctuality + respect. Outcome: Subject responsive after kneeling instruction. Follow-up: lockup duty assigned.
Breath stopped. Kneeling instruction not invented yesterday. Precedent existed. Sophia Alvarez. I remembered name — temp who trained me January, left February abrupt, said found better job. Brown hair, same white blouse dress code.
Heard toilet flush. Closed drawer quick, returned to desk, heart hammered. Mrs. Chen returned, glanced at drawer, closed it fully, did not look at me. But her hand lingered on handle second longer.
At lunch she ate at desk, offered half sandwich. "You eat enough?" she asked.
"I'm fine," I said, evasive lie. Then quiet call-out, "Did Sophia leave on good terms?"
Mrs. Chen paused, chewed slow. Looked toward Russo office, empty. Lowered voice.
"Sophia was good worker," she said. "She cried once in back room. Same floor." Short sentence, then silence.
Plea rose: "Was it same lesson?"
Mrs. Chen shook head quick. "Don't ask me that, hon. I need this job."
That confirmed more than any file. System, not personal failure. Pattern documented, repeated. My shame shifted to anger, cold.
Afternoon I filed intake, hands steady now. Mr. Russo returned 2:15, praised Mrs. Chen coverage, did not praise me. At 4:00 I asked to leave early for appointment — Thursday lunch with sister moved to diner. He frowned.
"Binders still need cross-check," he said.
"I'll finish tomorrow early," I said.
May you like
He stared, then nodded once. "Don't make habit."
Drove to diner across highway. Sister waited booth, same eyes as mine. Ready to seek ally.
