"I'm assuming you don't want the police showing up at your door?"
Claire's threat hit its mark instantly.
Gavin never expected a freshman to actually bring the cops into this.
"Fine, fine, I'm heading over now!"
He had been in the middle of cramming for assignments. He had partied so hard with his girlfriend over the break that he had completely forgotten about his homework.
Now, being rushed out to meet Claire and the others, he looked intensely annoyed.
But she had threatened to call the police.
He had no choice but to show up.
When Gavin arrived outside the library, radiating irritation, he was met by a whole group of girls.
He froze, completely thrown off.
"Are... all of you the ones who got scammed?"
Did this many people really fall for it?
Were they completely brainless?
"Only the two of them were scammed. The rest of us are just here for Lex."
Gavin scratched his head and proactively started explaining himself to Lex and the other girl.
"I swear I didn't scam you. I wasn't even in Cabinda over the break. I was traveling with my girlfriend."
"Check my Facebook. I posted photos from our trip."
To prove his innocence, Gavin opened the app on his phone and showed them his feed.
"My account got hijacked. It wasn't my fault. I admit, I didn't notice it in time, which led to your losses."
"But I'm just a broke college kid too. The trip wiped out all my savings, and now I have to pick up extra shifts myself just to afford food."
"So, while I really feel bad for you, there's absolutely no way I can cover your money."
"You need to figure out how to contact the boss of that job and see if they can give you the recruiter's real info."
"Go after the fake recruiter."
"If that doesn't work, just cut your losses this time and learn from your mistake, okay?"
Having said his piece, Gavin turned to leave. He was in a rush.
"There's no need to make it that complicated," Claire interrupted him. "I know how to track down exactly who posted that job."
"We can also start with the boss and trace exactly whose account the money was wired to."
Huh?
Gavin stopped in his tracks, staring at Claire with heavy suspicion.
"You can really find that?"
"Just wait a second. I need to make a call."
Claire dialed Tilda's number.
"Tilda, am I catching you at a bad time at work?"
"I need a favor."
"A friend of mine got scammed on a job. The employer said they paid the middleman, but the middleman..."
Claire laid out the situation perfectly in just a few sentences.
She also forwarded the union group's details over to Tilda.
"Wow, you really have connections in high places, don't you?"
Gavin looked at Claire in a completely new light.
No wonder she had been so
age and so quick to threaten
the cops. She actual
knew people.
In that case, they'd get to the bottom of this fast, right?
"Just a friend."
Tilda got back to her with the results almost immediately.
"Found it. The IP address where that job listing was posted traces back to..."
As Claire listened to the address Tilda read out, her gaze toward Gavin shifted dangerously.
Because the location was none other than Gavin's very own dorm building. "Well, Gavin, it looks like you haven't been entirely truthful."
Claire fixed her eyes on him.
This guy looked like an honest,
ent, but he was
pocketing money
other pet
had
broker their Backs to eam? Content,
Gavin started to panic, nervously wiping a hand across his face.
"I swear I didn't post that! Look at my phone if you don't believe me!"
"Then what exactly happened?"
"If you didn't post it, why did the
signal come directly from your dorm room and your computer?" Claire demanded, scrutinizing his every move.
Her stare was incredibly intense, making it hard for Gavin to even breathe.