My So-Called Bollywood Life(54)

Winnie took a minute to catch her breath before pounding a fist against Reece’s door. She heard the muffled sound of voices inside, and then Reece said, “Come in.”

She opened the door. Mr. Reece sat behind his desk, his hair mussed and his tweed jacket removed and hanging behind his chair. He didn’t look like the guy she normally sparred with on a regular basis. Raj was sitting in one of the two chairs facing the desk. He had his elbows propped on his spread knees and hung his head. When she walked in, he didn’t even bother looking at her.

    “Ms. Mehta. Close the door, please,” Mr. Reece said. He had called her Winnie at the fund-raiser dance, but now he was back to calling her by her formal name. She obliged and slipped into the empty chair, moving as far away from Raj as she could.

“What’s going on? Mr. Reece?”

“Congratulations on a successful fund-raiser for your film festival. However, there appears to be a problem. The fund-raiser proceeds were taken. You’re not in trouble, but we need your help.”

“Okay…”

“After the film festival I asked Jenny Dickens about the fund-raiser money. She stated that there had been a last-minute change, authorized by you, and she gave the cash box to Dev Khanna. I spoke to Dev this morning, and he claimed he didn’t have it—”

“That’s because he never took it,” Winnie rushed in. She leaned forward against the desk. “I never authorized anything. Mr. Reece, he was with me the entire time.”

Mr. Reece’s voice was slow and soothing. “We completely understand that you believe Dev is innocent. I’ve known Dev for years, and he’s always been an excellent student, but the funds were found in a plastic bag in his locker.”

    “What?”

Mr. Reece sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry, but it’s school protocol to check the student’s personal belongings if there is a concern about theft or activity that violates school policy, and when Dev opened his locker this morning, the bag was in plain sight.”

“Dev’s locker is broken. He’s been trying to get the school to fix it forever. His whole hall knows about it. Facilities has multiple requests that he logged for repairs. Anyone could have put it there!”

She looked down at Raj, who was still sitting in the same position as when she had walked in. “Raj, you knew that Jenny was slated for the last shift, too.”

Even though Raj’s words were mumbled, each one hit her like an ice pick. “Jenny told me she gave the money to Dev, and I believe her. I was with her that night, and she didn’t have it with her.”

Winnie sank in her seat. “Are you seriously covering for her? How could you?”

“I told you he was bad news,” Raj said, looking down at his hands.

“No, Jenny is bad news. She’s threatened me before. You know that. You’re just jealous because Dev—”

“I’m sorry, Winnie.”

Holy baby Shah Rukh Khan.

Instead of screaming like she desperately wanted to, she turned to Mr. Reece and said, “Dev’s locker is broken. That scum-sucking, soulless demon from the bowels of hell must’ve gotten in and planted the evidence. She deserves to go down for theft, bullying, and being a stalker. I’m going to talk to the dean about it and lodge a complaint. You’re such a rules guy, right, Mr. Reece? I bet you’d appreciate that.”

    “Winnie,” Raj said with a sigh. “Leave Jenny alone.”

Winnie pointed a finger at him and, in her best impression of Shatrughan Sinha, yelled, “Khamosh! Quiet. I can’t believe you’ve forgotten so fast how terrible she was to you after you broke up with her.”

“Okay, you two,” Mr. Reece said. “Winnie, Dev has been excused for the day, but the suspension is probationary until we get to the bottom of this. Because we understand his locker was broken, we’re not going to expel him yet.”

“Not ever, Mr. Reece. He didn’t do it!” Winnie’s palms were white with red crescent nail marks from squeezing her fists so tight. She wasn’t going to let Dev get expelled. No way was that happening when she knew Jenny and Raj were behind it.

“The reason I’m telling you this is because I’ve spoken with Dean Elgeway and he’s promised that he’ll let me lead the investigation quietly. Parents, of course, will have to be contacted. I’m asking you and Raj to be mature and handle this like adults. Unfortunately, because the evidence is clear at this point, Dev won’t be able to show his feature at the film festival unless Jenny or a third party comes forward. If he’s found innocent before the festival, then he can be readmitted to the lineup.”

    Winnie felt the burning in her throat of fresh tears. “Mr. Reece, he needs this film-festival credit for his creative portfolio. He’s counting on this festival to feature his movie, especially with Gurinder Chadha being there. It’s the chance of a lifetime for him. What if his name isn’t cleared in time?”

Mr. Reece shook his head.

“It’s a plant, Mr. Reece! You have to see that!” She slammed her hands down at the edge of his desk.

“Winnie, I’m sorry, but there is nothing I can do. That’s my final word on the matter. I have to follow school rules even though I sympathize with your position.”