But when he looked at Cody, he didn't look like a dangerous man.
He looked like an older brother who had just discovered someone had hurt his family.
Jackson walked toward him.
“Come here.”
Cody didn't move.
“You're not supposed to wear your cut here,” Cody whispered.
Jackson smiled faintly.
“Rules changed today.”
Then his eyes moved toward Trent and Weston.
The smile disappeared.
“Which one's Trent?”
Cody swallowed.
“The blond one.”
“And Weston?”
“The big one.”
Jackson nodded.
Then he started walking.
The Principal Steps In
Jackson had taken only a few steps when Principal Wallace rushed between him and the boys.
“You are trespassing on school property.”
Jackson stopped.
Wallace raised his walkie-talkie.
“You need to leave immediately.”
Jackson looked down at him.
“What's your name?”
“Principal Gregory Wallace.”
“Gregory.”
“Yes.”
“You know my brother?”
Wallace's expression shifted.
“I know the student.”
“Good.”
Jackson leaned closer.
“Then you know he's been beaten.”
Wallace swallowed.
“We are investigating.”
“No.”
Jackson's voice remained calm.
“You're hiding it.”
“We have procedures.”
“My brother has bruises shaped like boot prints.”
Wallace's face went pale.
Jackson stepped closer.
“You knew.”
“I didn't.”
“You knew enough to protect Trent.”
Wallace didn't answer.
Jackson's eyes hardened.
“Move.”
“I'll call the police.”
“Call them.”
Wallace hesitated.
Jackson pointed toward Trent.
“But while you're calling, I'm going to have a conversation with those two boys.”
Wallace stepped aside.
Not because he agreed.
Because he was afraid.
Jackson continued walking.
Trent's confidence had disappeared.
“You're Trent.”
Trent tried to stand tall.
“Yeah.”
“Do you know who I am?”
“No.”
Jackson smiled.
“You know my brother.”
Trent looked away.
Jackson stopped inches from him.
“You've been hurting Cody.”
“It was a joke.”
“A joke?”
Jackson's voice became dangerously quiet.
“You call breaking someone's ribs a joke?”
Trent's face went white.
Then Jackson did something unexpected.
He pulled out his phone.
“Let's call your father.”
The Phone Call
Jackson found the number.
He pressed call.
Two rings.
“Bill Harris.”
Trent's eyes widened.
“Dad?”
Jackson put the phone on speaker.
“Bill.”
Silence.
Then:
“Brick?”
The wealthy developer's voice suddenly became nervous.
“Hey, man. What's going on?”
“I'm standing next to your son.”
Another silence.
“What?”
“Your son has been beating my brother.”
Bill's voice changed immediately.
“Wait.”
Jackson continued.
“Your son and Weston Cole have been extorting him. Taking his money. Locking him in rooms. Beating him.”
“Brick, I swear I didn't know.”
“I believe you.”
Trent looked confused.
Jackson continued.
“But you are going to fix it.”
“How?”
“Your son is going to confess.”
“Absolutely.”
“He's going to tell Principal Wallace everything.”
“Yes.”
“And he's going to accept the consequences.”
“Yes.”
Jackson looked directly at Trent.