Jack knew something was wrong before Danny finished explaining it.They were standing near the cafeteria entrance when Danny approached him with Malcolm and Amy close behind. The lunch period had barely begun, but none of them looked interested in finding a table.“What happened?” Jack asked.“Someone told the administration that we were questioning students about their statements,” Malcolm replied.Jack glanced at Amy.“That's what we've been doing.”“Apparently, the way it was reported made it sound like we were trying to influence their accounts,” Danny said. “The coordinator wants to speak to us.”Amy's expression hardened.“We spoke to students who volunteered information. We didn't tell anyone what to say.”“I know,” Malcolm said. “But whoever reported it didn't include that distinction.”Jack looked toward the administrative corridor.“Do we know who made the report?”“No,” Danny answered. “And we shouldn't start guessing.”Jack gave him a brief look.“You've been listening to

The first sign that something had changed at Ravenwood appeared on a notice board.Jack noticed it shortly after arriving at school the next morning. Someone had pinned a fresh security directive beneath the administration's latest announcement. Unlike the earlier notices, which explained the temporary restrictions, this one introduced a new procedure for reporting suspicious activity around the restricted corridors.Students were instructed to report unauthorized access immediately. Anyone who had witnessed an incident but had not yet submitted a statement was encouraged to contact the emergency coordinator.At the bottom, a sentence had been printed in bold.ALL REPORTS MUST BE MADE THROUGH AUTHORIZED STAFF. STUDENTS SHOULD NOT CONDUCT INDEPENDENT INQUIRIES.Jack read it twice.The instruction was reasonable on its face. After the problems caused by conflicting accounts, the administration had every reason to discourage students from questioning one another.Still, the timing caught

Jack arrived at Ravenwood High expecting another ordinary day of restrictions, unanswered questions, and students pretending not to watch one another.Instead, he found Malcolm waiting beside the entrance with a notebook in his hand.“You need to see something,” Malcolm said.Jack glanced at the notebook.“What happened?”“I don't know yet. That's why I want you to look at it.”Amy joined them before Malcolm could explain further. She had been reviewing the school's published notices and had found a detail that neither boy had noticed.“Let's hear what you have first,” she said.Malcolm opened the notebook.“Yesterday, the administration circulated its updated access procedure. It says the east wing was restricted after an unauthorized-access concern. The notice doesn't give a precise time, but it refers to the security report that prompted the additional restrictions.”“And?” Jack asked.“I found the earlier movement schedule. It shows that the service corridor was supposed to be use