Chapter 56- THE WHOLE KIT AND CABOODLE
Grace could hardly believe her ears. Two former employees? Harassment charges?
Clearly, their hunch had been spot-on all along. Mr. Lafoe had overstepped the lines on multiple occasions... and not just where Erin Colbert was concerned. Evan spoke her name again while the commercials continued to roll.
"Are you okay?" He sidled over to her as best as he could on the sofa. He reached behind her neck and touched her gently with one hand. Grace tried to remain as calm as possible in her state of utter disbelief.
"Uh, yeah. It's just... I, uh, well I didn't know about the others. How did all of this come about the exact same time that I planted the note?" she stammered.
Bailey wasted no time and cut right in.
"Duh! The others came forward when Erin's name was mentioned. I am sure the cops have had a chat with the little twit by now and these two "former employees" decided to step up to home plate for their chance to bat. Fucking creep. Can you imagine how many people are still shaking in their shoes, terrified of coming forward with any incriminating evidence to add to either case? Coach Lafoe and Coach Fullman were friends. I wouldn't be surprised if they were tag-teaming in the locker room or the teacher's lounge after hours. The thought in itself is so revolting ."
She contorted her face in disgust and Grace suddenly lost her appetite envisioning both of the coaches engaging in extramarital affairs that she wasn't already aware of.
"How many people were involved on the whole?" she wondered. "Ten? Twenty? More?"
She leaned into Evan as the news returned.
The next segment briefly covered the major highlights of Tim Lafoe's indiscretions with the mention of "one minor student" and two other teachers who transferred to other high schools in the West Palm Beach area.
One of them was a fellow teacher- the other a former coach. The strangest coincidence of all was that she was a track coach at FHS. Evan seemed to know exactly who was being referenced. The news anchor did not release any names because the investigation was still being conducted.
Grace knew it would only be a matter of time before the entire town of Fairview was turned upside down like an alternate universe of sorts.
Nothing seemed real. It was as if anything could be disclosed and deemed "the truth".
But what was the truth anymore?
Evan finally spoke up. "I think that Coach Lockhart was transferred out the year before last. There were some rumors circulating the school. People said that her husband found out she was having an affair. Naturally, people tossed Lafoe's name around. But then she moved, got a divorce and a new job. People talked a little less. Then, it was as if Coach Lockhart had never even taught at the school. Or coached track. She just vanished. I seriously don't think they had enough evidence at the time to give Lafoe the boot. Looks like we have a real game-changer now." He let out a soft whistle.
"So, who's the other person then? They said there were TWO former employees, not one. Another coach? A teacher? Administrator? Who in the hell knows?" Bailey stood in front of the television indignantly, her hand placed on one hip.
She waited, as if the current weather report would suddenly switch back to the top story, but it was over in a matter of five minutes flat.
"I don't know." Grace responded. "But why come forward now? I mean, if some kind of harrying occurred then, and there were two different cases, Lafoe would have been fired on the spot." She couldn't put the missing pieces together in this abstract, infinite puzzle.
YOU ARE READING
"The Cut"
Teen FictionGrace Hannity is a senior at FHS who has tried her best to fit in with a popular, powerful clique of Fairview, just outside of West Palm Beach. Her good friend, Bailey, has been best friends with the most beautiful girl in the school, Carson Pierce...