Chapter 7: The Uncle Who Wasn't There

The school issued temporary restrictions before the meeting ended.

Greer and I were told not to contact each other directly.

Students were warned that harassment related to medical rumors could result in discipline.

Most importantly, the school agreed in writing to preserve the security footage.

That was more protection than I had received during my entire previous life.

But Greer's biggest problem wasn't the school.

It was her own lie.

Her story depended on an uncle who had supposedly been a patient at the hospital.

I already knew that wasn't true.

I also knew I couldn't obtain someone else's medical records.

So I didn't try.

I searched public information instead.

Greer's uncle, Patrick Pierce, owned three car dealerships and loved publicity.

His social media accounts were public.

Three days before my surgery, he had posted:

“Not how I planned to spend vacation week.”

The photograph showed him in a hospital bed.

The location tag was visible.

St. Vincent Medical Center.

Across town.

I stared at the screen.

Last time, I had found that post weeks after my reputation was already destroyed.

Now it was still online.

I saved screenshots.

Then I found another.

Patrick standing outside St. Vincent with flowers.

Caption:

“Finally discharged.”

Timestamp: the same afternoon Greer claimed she had visited him at my hospital.

I didn't post it immediately.

I sent the links to Principal Warren.

Subject:

“Relevant public information regarding yesterday's meeting.”

Then I waited.

By lunch, someone else discovered it.

I had underestimated how curious teenagers became once they smelled a lie.

A forum account posted both screenshots.

Title:

“Wasn't Greer's uncle at ST. VINCENT?”

The comments detonated.

“BRO.”

“She literally said she was visiting him at the other hospital.”

“The timestamps are the same day!”

“So who's the uncle?”

“And why did she fake the visitor form?”

Greer didn't come to lunch.

Her friends sat together whispering.

One of them, Talia Moore, kept staring at me.

In my previous life, Talia had been one of Greer's loudest defenders.

She had reposted the abortion rumor and added:

“Always the quiet ones.”

Now she looked nervous.

After lunch, she caught me near the library.

“Imogen.”

I stopped.

“What?”

She glanced around.

“Can I ask you something?”

“You just did.”

Her mouth tightened.

“Do you actually know why Greer was at the hospital?”

I studied her.

“Why?”

“Because she's acting weird.”

“She was already acting weird when she photographed me.”

“That's not what I mean.”

Talia lowered her voice.

“She told us her uncle was there before she posted the explanation. But yesterday she told Sienna not to mention the man who picked her up.”

My pulse changed.

“What man?”

Talia immediately regretted speaking.

“Forget it.”

She started walking away.

“Talia.”

She stopped.

I didn't threaten her.

I didn't need to.

“If Greer dragged you into a lie, decide how long you want to be responsible for it.”

She looked over her shoulder.

Then left.

That afternoon, Principal Warren emailed me.

The school had confirmed that Greer's explanation about visiting Patrick Pierce was inconsistent with the public information I provided.

They were requesting clarification from her family.

I read the message twice.

Then my phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

A photograph loaded.

It showed me walking home from school.

Taken from behind.

Under it was one sentence.

“You should've listened.”

My skin went cold.

This hadn't happened this early last time.

I zoomed in.

The picture had been taken less than ten minutes ago.

Someone was following me.

I didn't turn around.

I kept walking toward the crowded pharmacy at the corner.

Then I called my mother.

After that, I called the police.