I dropped my son off like I always did—until his teacher pulled me aside and whispered, “Don’t leave yet.” My stomach sank when I heard my baby screaming from a locked room.

She paused—just long enough.

“The cameras,” she said carefully, “aren’t operational today.”

Behind her, Ms. Carter’s eyes widened.

That told me everything.

Because one thing I’ve learned: people with nothing to hide don’t hesitate.

I pulled out my phone. “Alright,” I said. “Then I’ll call licensing. And the police.”

“There’s no reason to escalate this,” Mrs. Lang snapped.

“Then show me the footage.”

Her voice dropped. “We can talk about this in private.”

“There is nothing private about what you did to my child.”

I set Miles on the lobby couch, keeping my hand firmly on his shoulder so he knew I wasn’t leaving.

Then I turned to Ms. Carter. “Did you hear him screaming?”

She nodded once. “Yes.”

“Has this happened before?”

Her mouth trembled before she answered. “Yes.”