"Our investigation didn't make a mistake. Are you refusing to confess because you want us to lay all the evidence out on the table?"
The officer stared the student down.
He was supposed to be a top scholar at The Cabinda University. How could he be this stupid?
"Think very carefully, Quinton. Is ruining your entire future worth a few hundred dollars?"
"We've already contacted your counselor!"
That was what finally broke Quinton's resolve.
He hadn't expected them to be so ruthless.
Why did they need to involve his counselor? Were they going to give him a major disciplinary strike or expel him completely?
"I'll confess!"
Quinton quickly weighed the pros and cons.
He spilled everything before his counselor even arrived.
"I didn't actually want to steal the money. I wasn't trying to keep it."
"I just wanted to hold onto it for one extra day. I was going to sell my stocks when the market opened and pay them back."
"How was I supposed to know they'd freak out and track down Gavin so fast?"
"I originally just wanted to do a good deed and skim a little commission off the top."
"Officers, please believe me, I'm really not that kind of person..."
What kind of person, exactly?
The officers exchanged exasperated looks.
This kid had been fiercely denying everything two minutes ago, and now he was crying his eyes out. It was honestly pathetic.
They decided to let his counselor handle the lecture.
When Mr. Landry arrived, Quinton put on a spectacular performance, crying, apologizing, and promising to pay Lex double as soon as he liquidated his portfolio.
Mr. Landry saw right through the lies immediately.
But what could he do?
He had to cover for the student.
The alternative was letting a university student go to jail for fraud.
He was also silently frustrated with the freshmen they should have come to a faculty member first!
The school could have mediated the conflict. Why did they have to escalate it to the police?
The police could certainly solve the issue, but a criminal record would permanently destroy a student's reputation.
Quinton was a junior, about to start interviewing for internships. If he got a record, who would hire him?
He had been Quinton's counselor for years and knew the kid decently well.
He wasn't exactly an upstanding citizen, but he wasn't a malicious criminal either.
Mr. Landry simply couldn't bear to watch him get saddled with a permanent criminal record.
Claire and her friends were also at the station, though they hadn't informed their own counselor yet.
Upon arrival, Mr. Landry severely reprimanded Quinton before turning his attention to the freshmen.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Quinton's counselor, Mr. Landry."
"Hello, Mr. Landry," Claire and the others replied, maintaining their respect for faculty.
Mr. Landry pushed his glasses up his nose. I've been briefed on the situation and Quinton has explained everything. He had a momentary lapse in judgment." fo FindNovel.net
"He never intended to keep the cash permanently; he just recklessly diverted it into the stock market."
"I know he is entirely at fault here."
"But he understands the severity of his actions. Could you find it in your hearts to give him a second chance?"
"Let's settle this privately. He will return the money, and we can put this ugly ordeal behind us."
"Does the university not penalize students for behavior like this?"
Claire asked, completely immel
the emotional manipulation.
She stared directly at Mr. Landry, making it clear she had no intention of letting this
slide.
Mr. Landry immediately realized this
ет
girl looked vaguely at
she was not going to be easily
dismissed
"Of course we do. He will receive a formal disciplinary mark on his record."
Claire shot Quinton a frosty look. "Is that the kind of mark that stays in his permanent file and can't be removed?"
What a vicious woman!
Quinton glared at Claire.
This wasn't the broke girl he scammed; this was the meddling roommate sticking
her nose where it didn't belong.
What a busybody bitch!
"It goes on his file, but if he demonstrates excellent behavior moving forward, it can potentially be expunged."
The counselor wasn't lying.