They Said She Was Strong So They Never Had To Choose Her novel · Chapter 8 of 24
Chapter 8: Accused
I read Kenzie's email standing up.
"I'm heartbroken to say this. Greer Pennock was my closest friend. She had access to all my photos through a shared folder. When she moved away, she cut off my access and kept everything. I believe she has submitted my work as her own."
It was clever.
Every word about the folder was true.
She'd just turned it around.
"Sit down, Pennock," my advisor said.
I sat.
"Is it yours?"
"Yes."
"Can you prove it?"
"Yes."
The director raised one eyebrow.
"Go on."
I opened my laptop on the edge of the desk.
"These are the raw files from that night. Two hundred twelve frames, in order."
I let them play.
The lookout in the dark. Rain streaking the lens. Black.
Then, around frame one-forty, the clouds pulling apart.
Stars. A meteor. Another.
The camera clock in the corner of every frame said August twelfth, 1:31 a.m.
"She'll have the one finished image," I said. "Maybe a few more I posted to the folder. Nobody has the whole sequence but me."
The director leaned closer to the screen.
He watched all of it twice.
"Where's frame one-ninety?"
I clicked to it.
It was half a frame. My own hand, blurred, reaching for the camera as the rain came back.
"There's a ring on that hand," the director said.
"My grandmother's. I wear it on my thumb."
I held up my left hand.
The same plain silver band, on my thumb.
My advisor looked at the director.
The director sat back.
"I believe you, Miss Pennock."
My lungs started working again.
"But I can't rule on it."
"Why not?"
"Because the prize has rules, and the rules say a disputed entry is heard with both parties present. She's a finalist. The ceremony is in ten days. She'll be here."
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