Chapter 310
Why would John Cameron’s son suddenly try to cause problems for my best friend?
John deserved to be in prison for what he did. Yet, it was likely Josh Cameron felt like he was avenging his father in some twisted way.
“How cowardly to go after your friend’s homeless shelter,” Victor said.
“Being a pathetic bully must run in their family,” I said.
Victor took my hand. “It’s a good thing John is still in prison.”
“But he isn’t in prison, Mr. Klein,” the cop said. John Cameron disappeared from prison two weeks ago. We discovered he bought off his guards, and they let him stroll out the door.”
“Why wasn’t I told about this?” Victor demanded. “John Cameron had a grudge against my fiancée and myself. We should have been notified immediately when he escaped.”
“I hope the guards have been punished,” Mayor Pratt said. “Some people will do anything for money.”
“I’m afraid they disappeared with him,” the detective said. “We know they left the country by private jet bound for Virople.”
My stomach squirmed. Were John and his henchmen in the same country as Alex and Cassidy? They could be in danger.
And it was another massive coincidence that Virople was involved again. Was John Cameron involved with the faction working to take over The Association?
It was more than likely. A hostile, insidious takeover was his M.O.
Alex and Cassidy needed to know about this. I went to the kitchen and pulled Benson aside.
After I told him everything I just learned, Benson went outside and relayed the information to Alex through prearranged instructions. He returned to me in a few minutes.
“Your father said to tell you to be careful until he returns on Sunday,” Benson whispered. “He and Miss Grant have much to tell you and Mr. Klein.”
I then returned to the dining hall. I was grateful Victor wouldn’t be going to The Association Complex until after Alex and Cassidy returned, and he knew everything.
I sensed dark forces gathering that could ruin our lives. Things at The Association would only get worse until the faction was trapped and arrested.
But I put on a smile and socialized with the other guests. It had been a difficult and emotional evening. I was glad things turned out well for Amy in the end.
We stayed at the opening until the other guests began to leave. Then Victor and I went to his apartment to enjoy the rest of our evening.
While Victor spent time with his dad the next afternoon, I spent most of Saturday doing research for my report.
Heather gave me another interview. It was an excellent follow-up to the first one. She was enjoying her classes at the city college. But even there, it was difficult for a Beta to enroll in the more advanced courses.
Her dream of being a lawyer was in peril.
“How long did you plan on going to college to study law?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Since I was a kid. I watched a lawyer show on TV one day and liked how they kept innocent people out of jail. It made me want to do it too.”
“Did your high school guidance counselor think you could get into a good university?” I asked. “Did she help you prepare?”
I knew the answer because I had the same guidance counselor, but I wanted the answer in Heather’s words.
Heather laughed bitterly. “No, she tried to talk me out of applying to any college. She said I’d be better off trying to be an office assistant.”
“So it wasn’t just me. The fix to keep non-Alphas from getting a good education starts in high school,” I mumbled. “I thought my guidance counselor just didn’t like me. This corruption goes deeper than I thought.”
Heather gave me the phone numbers of other Betas who wanted to add their voices to hers.
I spoke to Heather’s cousins, Kimberly and Jane. And then I called her best friend, Allison, and her boyfriend, Michael. They all earned excellent grades and had similar stories to Heather’s.
The proof was mounting up.
Due to our current laws and prejudice and corruption, being born anything other than pure Alpha negatively affects your ability to obtain a good education.
Each of these Betas also gave me the names and email addresses of all their Beta and Omega friends.
I compiled a questionnaire and sent it to each of the names on the list. Their replies would give me an excellent cross-section of non-Alphas and how they were treated by guidance counselors and the college admissions system.
Next, I went directly to the source. I called Mary Shipe, the guidance counselor at my old high school. I recorded the call so I could listen to it again later.
She sounded happy to hear from me at first and congratulated me on my admission to Frampton U.
“I’m proud of you, Daisy,” Miss Shipe said. “Are you pre-law like you always wanted?”
“Yes,” I lied. She may suspect my motive for calling her if she knew I switched to journalism.
“I’m happy you are achieving your dreams,” she said. “But why are you calling me today?”
I had a story ready. “You know how hard it is for me to make friends. I was hoping my best friend Amy would apply to Frampton next semester. What do you think of her chances?”
“Amy Gray?” she said. Her tone told me what I wanted to know. “I heard she discovered she’s a hybrid, and her biological father is wealthy.”
“Yes, that’s true,” I said. “And she received better grades and test scores than me. It’s lonely without her on campus.”
“I’m sorry, Daisy,” Miss Shipe’s voice was firm. “Amy isn’t Frampton University material. You were fortunate to be accepted.”
“That’s true. Did you hear Heather Woodward, my class valedictorian, was rejected by Frampton and every other Ivy League school?” I asked.
She sighed. “Again, I’m not surprised. Heather was smart, but she could be ….”
It was apparent the guidance counselor was having trouble making up an excuse as to why Heather would be rejected.
“I’m sorry, but I must go now,” she said. “I have a great deal to do today. Best of luck, Daisy.”
I decided to try to surprise her. “Miss Shipe, who told you to discourage non-Alphas from applying to the best universities?”
“The government educational system taught me not to encourage a student to reach for more than they are capable of doing,” she said. “They send a reminder memo at the beginning of each year.”
“How do you judge what students are capable of?” I asked.
“I …I,” she stammered. “The Department of Education tells us non-Alpha students are not college material. They should be steered into joining the workforce before or after high school graduation.”
There it was … the truth. And it was hideous and precisely what I expected. Non-Alphas were expected to forego a good education and join the workforce as soon as possible.
Miss Shipe now sensed my mission. “Daisy, please, I’m a Beta. I’m lucky to have gotten a degree at the city college. My sister dropped out of high school, and she works twelve-hour days in a laundry to afford a one-room apartment,”
“I understand why you do it,” I said. “But it’s still wrong.”
“Complain about it to your fiancé,” she said. “He can change the rules if he wants. But please leave me out of this.” And she hung up.
Miss Shipe was right. I needed to put together my findings and present them to the public. Then I would go to Victor.
I began outlining my report.
It had to begin with information that would grab my reader’s attention and end in a call to action that would compel them to contact their government officials and spread the word.
I finished for the day a few minutes before I expected Victor to return. I got a glass of iced tea from the fridge and waited for him in the living room.
I folded my legs underneath me on the couch and sipped my tea.
I was looking forward to the next day when Alex and Cassidy were expected to return from their trip.
I’ll be able to tell Victor the truth about the passageways at last.
Panic flashed through me, and I stood before rushing to the window that looked out over this end of the city.
I desperately wanted to stop keeping this secret from him. Yet, it was possible Victor would become angry with me for keeping the secret from him.
But even so, he had to hear the truth from me tomorrow. The time had come to tell him what I’d been hiding from him. Hopefully, he will understand my reasoning.
