Chapter 8 - JAKE BREAKS FIRST
Jake was not wealthy.
That mattered.
His father repaired HVAC systems.
His mother worked nights at a pharmacy.
Jake attended Westbridge on athletic scholarship.
Why did he follow Ashley?
Status.
Access.
Parties.
Connections.
Approval.
Ashley treated him like he belonged near wealth.
He was terrified of losing that.
Then police informed him the street incident could affect scholarship discipline.
Ashley’s lawyer told him to maintain the same story.
Richard’s attorney was not Jake’s attorney.
Jake’s mother noticed.
She hired a public defender? For juvenile maybe counsel. Better: independent juvenile defense attorney through family.
Jake talked.
Ashley had texted him:
MY DAD NEEDS SOMETHING BACK FROM THE OLD LADY.
Then:
SHE’S TRYING TO DESTROY MY FAMILY.
Jake asked what.
Ashley:
PAPERS SHE STOLE.
Then:
JUST SCARE HER AND GET THE BAG.
Jake agreed.
Not innocent.
He shoved Margaret.
He knew it was wrong.
He thought:
grab bag.
run.
problem gone.
Then Emily appeared.
Jake said:
“Fight back.”
Why?
Because Ashley was recording.
If Emily hit him first, they planned to claim Emily and Margaret initiated the confrontation.
Then their attack could become “mutual fight.”
Police now had the phone.
Ashley had not deleted the video.
The recording began before Emily arrived.
It captured Jake shoving Margaret.
Ashley pulling the handbag.
May you like
Everything.
Their own setup became evidence.
