She just glared at me. I guess she wasn’t feeling my presentation.
“Another question: How many of you store your passwords? You know how your computer says ‘do you want to remember this password.’ Any of you do that?”
More people raised their hands.
“Did you know that’s like leaving the key in the front door of your house?”
I spouted off a whole lot of other statistics and stuff I’d learned in my quest to track down my hacker. I had every ear in the class. Everyone was paying attention to my presentation, even Mrs. Williams. This was one homework assignment I hadn’t minded doing. Of course Alvin had helped me out with a lot of it, but I’d done a whole lot of research on my own. Then, it had all come together so perfectly.
“And if you don’t think a cybercrime can happen to you, let me show you how it can.” I clicked some more buttons on the computer. “This is my email account.” I pointed to the screen. “Don’t worry, I’m going to change it after this presentation.” I laughed. “But someone actually remotely accessed my computer. That means, they weren’t in my house when they hacked into my computer system and basically took it over.”
“That doesn’t even make sense,” one of my classmates said. “Nobody can do that.”
“That’s what I used to think . . . until someone did it to me.” I looked at Jayla again, and although she was trying to act all non-fazed, I could see the tension in her face.
“At first, I was a little upset, thinking there was nothing I could do,” I continued. “I mean, how can you catch a cyber criminal? But I was wrong.”
I pushed a button to go to another screen. It showed a blurry picture of a girl behind bars.
“Is . . . is that . . .” One of my classmates peered at the screen, then back at Jayla. “Is that her?”
“Of course it’s not me,” Jayla snapped, more shaken than she wanted to let on.
I just smiled and kept talking. “Cyber crime is a felony, and you can go to jail.” I spoke slowly and looked directly at Jayla. She diverted her eyes down, like something on her desk was really interesting her. I bet she wished she’d never transferred to Miami High now.
“People are always playing around online,” one of my classmates said. “What if we just say it was a prank?”
“Well, lots of people try to use that defense, but it never stands up in court,” I replied.
“Someone could always say it wasn’t him,” someone else said.
“They can say what they want, but just like each of us has a unique fingerprint”—I held up my perfectly manicured index finger—“the cyber world has unique digital footprints. So anything you send can be traced.”
I changed the screen to show a long number. “You see this number? It’s called an IP address. This is the footprint of my hacker.”
Several people gasped. “That’s right. I know who hacked me, pretending to be me as she sent out horrible emails in my name, harassed me, and tried to get me fired from my job.”
“Who?” someone yelled.
I hit another button, and Jayla’s picture popped up.
“It is her!” the guy yelled.
“Are you crazy?” Jayla said.
“Nope, but you must be,” I coolly replied.
“You are on some kind of drugs!” Jayla snapped.
“We know you hacked into my account.”
Even Mrs. Williams must’ve been caught up in the drama, because she was looking back and forth between us like it was a tennis match.
“Yeah, that’s the song you’ve been singing for weeks,” Jayla said.
“And I don’t have to sing it anymore. We have proof. Your IP address has been traced, Dumbo. And just so you know, I have turned it over to the police.”
That made her nervous. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Okay, keep denying it, but we have proof. So that’s all that matters.”
“Why would I do something like that?”
“Hmmmm, let’s see, maybe because your sister, Ariel, wanted to replace me on Rumor Central, and you were going to help her. Maybe both of you just wanted me out of the way. I don’t know. You claimed to be a fan, but it was all some kind of scam. But now, the scam’s on you.”
Jayla glared at me. “You think you’re so high and mighty. Yeah, I was a fan. I was a fan till I got to know you and learned how you treated my sister. Nobody messes with my family like that!” she blurted out.
Mrs. Williams must’ve snapped out of her shock, because she jumped up and finally said, “Okay, that’s enough!”
Jayla grabbed her purse and headed to the door. “I’m outta here.”
“Ummm, not so fast,” the police officer who met her at the door said.
Jayla’s mouth dropped open as she backed up in shock.
“Jayla Cooper?” he asked.
She didn’t say a word, but I answered. “That’s her.”
“You are under arrest.”
“Arrest, for what?” she cried.
“Identity theft, unauthorized use of a computer.”
Jayla tried to push past the cop. “I didn’t do anything.”
The officer pulled her hands behind her back. “You have the right to remain silent. . . .”
I heard her cursing and crying as they pulled her out into the hallway. My dad had had to pull some strings to get an officer on the case so quickly, but with the evidence Shay got and that Alvin had compiled, the police were able to tie Jayla to all the hacking in my email account and the hijacking of my info. I had finally told my dad, and he had had his security people do a scan of our computers. Turns out Jayla had logged into my family’s bank account. I don’t know if she was just being nosey or had actually planned to steal something. She hadn’t been able to take anything, because my dad has all kinds of security measures, but that added a wire fraud charge. After that, my dad was all too happy to call in favors to get his cop friend on the case ASAP. My dad had gotten the money laundering charges against him dismissed, but he said the article in the Enquirer had been “bad for business,” so he definitely wasn’t happy to know that it had come about because Jayla had hacked into our computers.
I gathered my things as my classmates kept buzzing. “Mrs. Williams, is it okay if I leave? I need to go handle some business.”
She nodded, but followed me outside into the hall. “Miss Morgan, great presentation. But really, did you have to be so dramatic? Couldn’t you just have turned the girl in?”
“Now, Mrs. Williams, you know how I roll. When Maya Morgan does something, she does it up big.” I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was sure this whole story was going viral at that very moment.
She smiled and shook her head. “Guess I do know that.”
“But the bigger question is, do I get an A?”
She nodded. “Of course you do. I think we all were more than informed. I’ll even be changing my password as soon as class is over.”
It was my turn to smile. A good grade AND Jayla was out of my hair? Oh yeah, today was a good day.
Chapter 41
It felt so good to be back. I had called Tamara to tell her about Jayla’s arrest, and she told me the investigation had wrapped up, too, because they concluded Jayla was behind the Daysia story, so I could come back to work. So instead of going home, I made a beeline to the station.
I was in my office when I heard Ariel’s voice, obviously talking to someone on the phone. “I told you, girl, it’s a new diva in town.” Ariel stopped in the doorway when she noticed me sitting at my desk. She froze with her phone still to her ear. “Ummm, hey, Lisa, let me call you back.” She hung up the phone.
“H-hey, Maya. What’s going on?” she said, slowly walking into the room.
I leaned back in my chair. “What does it look like?”
“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in school?”
“I left early,” I said. “Why?”
“No, I was just wondering, you know, why you were her
e.”
“I work here.”
The look on her face was priceless.
“Oh, what, you weren’t expecting me to come back?” I asked.
“No, of c-course I was,” she stammered. “I just didn’t—”
“I told you it was just temporary.”
“I know, but well, I thought you know with Daysia . . .”
I slammed my hand down on the desk. “You thought that you would give me the bogus story on Daysia, and you knew I wouldn’t follow through and check it, and you used it to your advantage. Yeah, that’s my fault, and I paid for that.” I stood and slowly walked from behind my desk. “But I’ve learned a valuable lesson, a few actually. Number one, always verify things myself. And number two, be careful whom you trust. So, now I know.”
Ariel shifted uncomfortably. “So, ah . . . um . . . welcome back.” She looked around the room. “So, does that mean . . .”
“What, that you won’t be doing the show tonight?”
She stared at me blankly.
“No, you won’t be doing my show. Not tonight, tomorrow, or ever again.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You set me up. You think I’m gonna let you keep working here? I’ve already talked to Tamara.” It gave me great pleasure to utter my next words. “You’re fired.”
“Are you kidding me? I didn’t have anything to do with any of this. I’m just as shocked as you that the story was bogus,” she said defiantly.
“Tell that to someone else,” I said. “You and your sister have been working together from day one.”
She had the nerve to look confused. I guess this chick was gonna play her deception to the end. “S-sister, what sister? What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play me, Ariel. Your sister, Jayla.” I looked her up and down. “Now that I think about it, she was at the mall when I did the personal appearance. Was she there with you? Did you guys pay that creep to attack me in the restroom? Was this all some elaborate scheme?”
“You are truly crazy,” she said. “Her name is Jayla Cooper. I’m Edwards.”
“So you have different last names. Your mama got around.”
She flinched, but stood her ground. “I didn’t know Jayla before working here. You are being your usual dramatic self.”
I leaned back against the wall and folded my arms across my chest. “Oh, then I guess you don’t care that Jayla was arrested a couple of hours ago and is now down at Miami PD waiting to be booked on felony identity theft, computer hacking and wire fraud charges.”
If there was ever any doubt, it was all erased by the look of horror on her face.
“What?” Ariel exclaimed.
“Yeah, your little sister was arrested. And if I have my way, you’ll be next!”
“Oh, my, God, what did you do?” she cried, turning and racing from my office.
“Just showed you what happens when you mess with Maya Morgan,” I called out after her.
I turned the music up on my iPhone and started singing as I got ready for my comeback show.
Chapter 42
Life could be so funny sometimes. That’s all I could think as I sat at the high table in the corner of the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Hotel. Our winter dance was going strong, and although this was no longer my scene, I had decided to show up just to get out of the house—and not to mention the extra credit points that I desperately needed. Because attendance had been so down at all these parties, the teachers had taken to giving us extra credit if we attended and stayed at least an hour. And since Mr. Patton, my calculus teacher, was watching me, I had forty-five minutes to go.
But it was all good. Of course I was getting my shine as always, with everyone coming up and talking to me about Jayla. I didn’t know where she would be graduating from, but it definitely wouldn’t be Miami High. If I had my way, it could be the state pen, but they said at most, she’d face some misdemeanor fraud charges. But the most important thing was I’d gotten her out of my life. And I knew the Internet wasn’t going anywhere, but you’d better believe I was going to be a whole lot more protective and careful when I was online. Jayla had tried to ruin my life, and she’d almost succeeded, but good thing she didn’t know me like that.
I also wanted to see how far that skank, Ariel, was going to get in this business. It would be interesting to see where she landed. But after I got through blackballing her, hopefully she’d land in the gutter. Yeah, I knew I should take the high road and leave her alone. But . . . NOT!
“Maya, you heard what I said?”
I had been so lost in my thoughts; I had forgotten Bryce was standing in front of me, giving me some whack apology.
“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” I asked.
He shifted. “I was just saying you’re looking real good.”
I wanted to laugh. But I just took a sip of my drink. “I know.”
He smiled his half smile. “Well, I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”
“It’s all good,” I said, stopping him. “It just showed me you don’t really know me.”
“Come on, Maya,” he said. “It’s not like that. I said I’m sorry.” He hesitated. “I really miss you. I was hoping we could pick up where we left off.”
I could only shake my head. “Nah, I’m straight. Let’s just leave it alone.”
He looked dejected. “Can we at least be friends?”
“I don’t need any new friends, Bryce.”
He blew a frustrated breath. “So how long are you going to have an attitude?” he asked.
“I’m not mad at you. You do you, and I’ll do me.” I really didn’t have an attitude with Bryce. He’d turned on me. Twice. He wouldn’t get another chance.
“Seriously, Maya?”
Our conversation was interrupted by loud, piercing screams. Both Bryce and I looked in the direction where the screams were coming from. We didn’t know what all the commotion was, but the girls were going crazy.
I noticed Darrell first, as he pushed his way through the crowd. I almost fell out of my seat when J. Love walked up to my table.
“What’s up, ma?” he said, then turned and noticed Bryce. “Excuse me, man. Can I holla at my girl in private real quick?”
Bryce looked at him, then at me, then at Darrell, before stomping off without saying a word.
I crossed my legs but stayed quiet.
“Dang, you’re looking good,” J. Love said.
“I know.” Could these dudes really not come up with any better lines?
Darrell was trying to keep the girls at bay, but J. Love didn’t seem fazed. All his attention was on me.
“And to what does Miami High owe the honor of the great J. Love passing through its winter party?” I asked.
He laughed. “Oh, trust and believe, I’m here for one reason, and one reason only.”
“And what would that be?”
“I had some real important business to handle.”
“Don’t you always?”
I couldn’t help it. Him, I had a serious attitude with. I understood his being mad because of what he thought I did, but to not even give me a chance to be heard? That was foul. He had treated me like some chicken-head groupie, and I wasn’t going to forget that so quickly.
“Well, look here. I saw the news article about everything that happened to you. Sorry I didn’t believe you.”
I shrugged but didn’t reply.
“Can we go somewhere and talk?”
“We’re talking now.”
He looked around the hotel. “Yeah, but this ain’t really my crowd.”
I held my hand out and pointed in the direction he came from. “Well, the door is that way.”
“Come on, Maya. I know I was a little hard on you, but I thought you had sold me out.”
“I told you I didn’t.” I mean, I know I told Kennedi, but that didn’t count.
“Yeah, but you know, I didn’t know you like that, and I just didn’t—”
“You’
re right. You didn’t know me, and you refused to hear me. You said it yourself, we had a connection, yet you refused to hear anything I had to say. But it’s all good.” I looked him up and down. “I understand you superstars gotta play it safe.”
He stepped closer to me and rubbed my thigh. “Come on, baby. You’re a star, too, and you know we look good together.”
“Yeah, until the next time something happens to make you doubt me and you can’t even bother to hear my side.”
“I apologized for that.” He actually looked like he was getting a little frustrated. “And you know I don’t do this. I don’t chase after no girl.”
I cut my eyes at him. “Did I ask you to come here? No, I didn’t. So feel free to use the exit at any time.”
He stopped and laughed. “Girl, you’re some kind of firecracker. Come on; let’s get out of here. Let me go make it up to you.”
He reached for my arm, which I jerked out of his way. “Yeah, sorry, I’m not going to be able to do that. I don’t want to leave my date.”
“What, ol’ boy who just left? Your kinda sorta man?”
“Oh no.” I shrugged nonchalantly. “Bryce is history.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I have a date, and I’m not about to leave him and go run off, not even with the great J. Love.” I motioned to all the girls behind him, looking like they were about to pass out. “I’m sure you can have your pick of any girl in this room, so I’m sure you’ll be okay.” I stood. “So, if you’ll excuse me, here’s my date.”
J. Love’s mouth dropped open as the tall, lanky guy stepped up to me. “You have got to be kidding me?”
“Hello,” Alvin said, pushing his glasses up on his nose.
“Come on, Maya. Are you for real?” J. Love asked.
I just stood there, smiling. Alvin had cleaned up well. With the exception of that tweed blazer and those Coke bifocals, he didn’t look half bad. After all he’d done to help me, I figured the least I could do was invite him to the dance as a way of saying thanks. And he’d shown up like a real gentleman, complete with a town car and roses. He had come in to meet my dad. Of course, my mom had been horrified, but at least she wasn’t rude. I’m sure she was going to be waiting at home to hear all about how I hooked up with Alvin. But it wasn’t even like that. I was still Maya Morgan, after all. I just wanted to give ol’ Alvin a bright spot in his life by going out with him.
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