Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton Read Free Book Online Page A

there’s a story,” I said under my breath.
    I glanced toward the receptionists in the office. One was on the phone. I walked up to the other. “Hi, Ms. Preece?” I read the name off her nameplate. “I’m Piper Baird. New girl. I just interviewed the principal about the new security system at the school. He said I could talk to you next. Would that be all right?”
    She looked mildly unsure but didn’t object.
    I pulled out my notebook. “The principal told me the reasoning behind the change. What do you think? Will a new system solve the problems?” A good reporter acts like she knows more than she does.
    Ms. Preece nodded as I spoke. “I don’t know. Personally I feel a lot safer with the change, but I guess it’s always possible someone could hack the new system.”
    Hack? I tried to keep my face calm as I took notes. There it was. The answer to my real question.
    â€œI thought they caught the person,” I said, taking a chance.
    She shook her head. “No. In fact, I’m surprised the principal told you about it, although I will say I’m glad. The students deserve to know.”
    Right then, the Beast came out of an office next to the principal’s, and I scooped up my bag and mumbled something to the secretary that resembled Thank you for the help with my schedule. Then I ran back to the newsroom and made a few phone calls to the new security company and then the local police departments and eventually confirmed that there was a case of stalking at Chiswick Academy, which had prompted the installation of the new system.
    Finally, after weeks of slogging through fluff stories, I had a scoop.

6
    I turned to the nearest computer and began typing.
    SECURITY BREACH IN CHISWICK’S COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM CALLS INTO QUESTION SAFETY OF STUDENTS
    Chiswick Academy is updating its security system following an incident involving a hacker breaking through the firewalls and gaining access to the school’s private video feed.
    I looked over the lede, verifying each piece of information.Once I was satisfied, I wrote some more.
    The hacker has not been apprehended. According to sources close to the incident, the breach might have been an inside job. Possible motives include stalking, but the school administration is hesitant to talk about it.
    The principal maintains that he will continue to be vigilant about the safety of his students, and that there is more than enough in the budget to invest in a more secure system. Already employees in the head office feel safer.
    The police investigation into the matter is ongoing, and officers say they are following all leads.
    Voilà.
    It wasn’t the most complete story, but if Watergate had taught us anything, it was that reporting even the minimum of facts could get otherwise cautious people talking.
    With about twenty minutes of the school day left, the journalism room began to fill back up with reporters ready to write and edit their stories. I waved Jesse over.
    â€œHey, Piper. How did your story go?”
    I turned the monitor toward him. “Read this.”
    He spent a few minutes staring at the monitor and then sat back in his chair. “Whoa.”
    â€œRight?”
    â€œYou got this stuff confirmed?”
    I nodded. “From the receptionist, the company installing the new system, and the police PIO.”
    â€œAny clues as to the target of the alleged stalking?”
    I shook my head. “If it’s a student, their identity is protected because we’re all minors. And I don’t think I’ll get anything out of the principal until we run this and he starts to feel the heat from concerned parents.”
    He looked impressed. “Wow. You’ve only been here a few weeks and already you’re taking on the administration.”
    I smiled. “Just following the facts.”
    He blew out a breath. “All right. Give me something for the front page. Above the