Jackson's gaze moved past him.
"We aren't."
He looked toward Trent's truck.
Trent was no longer throwing the football.
Weston stood rigid beside him.
Jackson looked at Cody.
"Which one's which?"
Cody whispered, "Jax."
"I asked their names."
"You're not going to touch them?"
"No."
Cody studied him.
Then slowly raised a finger.
"Blond guy holding the football. Trent."
Jackson followed the gesture.
"And Weston?"
"Big one."
Jackson nodded.
He began walking.
Cody grabbed the back of his vest.
Jackson stopped.
"Please."
Jackson turned.
"I gave you my word."
Cody released him.
Jackson continued.
Twenty feet.
Fifteen.
Ten.
Students moved backward.
Trent tried to keep his expression neutral.
Weston failed completely.
His face had gone pale.
Then a voice cut across the courtyard.
"Sir!"
Principal Gregory Wallace emerged from the front entrance.
His face was red.
A walkie-talkie was clutched in his hand.
"Sir, stop immediately."
Jackson continued another two steps.
"I said stop."
Jackson stopped.
Wallace positioned himself between Jackson and the students.
"This is school property."
Jackson looked at him.
"I noticed."
"You drove a motorcycle into a pedestrian courtyard."
"Also noticed."
Wallace's face reddened further.
"You need to leave."
Jackson glanced toward Cody.
"No."
"This is not optional."
"Neither is what I'm here for."
"I don't care what personal grievance you believe you have. You cannot storm onto a school campus dressed like..."
Wallace stopped.
Jackson raised an eyebrow.
"Like what, Greg?"
Wallace stiffened.
"You know my name?"
"Everybody knows everybody when money's involved."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Jackson took one step forward.
Wallace held his ground, but barely.
"My little brother has been getting beaten inside your school for six weeks."
Wallace's eyes flicked toward Cody.
"I have received no formal report."
Jackson smiled without humor.
"That's the sentence you're going with?"
"If an incident isn't reported, administration cannot..."
"Marcus Lee."
Wallace froze.
Brian noticed.
Jackson did too.
"Remember him?"
Wallace's mouth tightened.
"I don't discuss former students with unauthorized individuals."
"Broken nose. Bathroom. Last year."
"This conversation is over."
"No, Greg."
Jackson's voice dropped.
"This conversation is finally starting."
Students had begun recording.
Dozens of phones were raised.
Wallace noticed.
His expression changed.
Jackson continued.
"My brother says Trent Harris and Weston Cole have been locking him in your boiler room, taking money from him, and beating him when he can't pay."
"Those are extremely serious allegations."
"Correct."
"They require investigation."
"Correct again."
"We cannot simply accept one student's version of events."
Jackson stepped aside.
He pointed toward Brian.
"Football coach saw the injuries."
Wallace looked at Brian.
"Brian?"
Brian crossed his arms.
"He's right."
Wallace's face changed.
"How serious?"
"Bad enough that I'm recommending an emergency medical examination and law enforcement report."
Cody looked at Brian in alarm.
Brian met his eyes.
"Evidence, Cody. Not revenge."
Jackson heard that.