All Chapters of The Apex Oracle: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Teaching without a license puts kids at risk. If my son doesn't get into college, I'll make sure you pay for it!"Three days before the SATs, Kendra Hodge took a screenshot of the parents pooling money to buy me fruit and used it as evidence.Then she brought more than a dozen families with her to formally report me for running an illegal tutoring business...."Alynna Dawson, quit hiding in there! You're giving us an answer today!"With that shout, the front door to my apartment flew open.Thirty-three high school seniors who had been hunched over practice tests looked up in alarm. Pens clattered to the floor.Kendra stood in the doorway with her hands planted on her hips. Behind her were several uniformed city officials."That's her!" Kendra pointed straight at me. "She's running an illegal tutoring program out of her apartment and brainwashing our kids!"The official in charge, Damon Pierce, stepped forward, his expression stern. He pulled out a formal complaint and slappe

Chapter 2

"You won't sign it?" Kendra shouted. "Then we'll protest outside the Department of Education Office!"We'll show up at your old workplace and make a scene! We'll make sure you never get a decent job again!"The crowd of parents outside raised their fists."That's right! Ruin her reputation!""She doesn't even have a teaching license. Who does she think she is, calling herself a teacher?""We're not leaving until she pays us back!"Damon pulled out another document."Ms. Dawson, since you've admitted that you don't have the required credentials, please sign this notice ordering you to cease operating an unauthorized tutoring program."I took a deep breath. Ignoring Kendra's triumphant expression, I picked up the pen on the desk."Fine. I'll sign." My voice was remarkably calm as I signed my name.Kendra and the other parents erupted in cheers."See? Was that so hard? You should've cooperated from the beginning.""Typical bookworm. One little scare and she folds."Damon watc

Chapter 3

There were only seventy-two hours left until the SATs, yet the homeowners' group chat for Willow Creek was practically celebrating.Kendra posted a screenshot of the $50,000 transfer she'd received from me the day before.[Everyone, this is what happens when the parents in our community band together and use their brains to defeat someone trying to take advantage of us! The only way to deal with a scammer like Alynna Dawson is to use the law against her!]A flood of thumbs-up emojis immediately followed.Whitney sent a voice message: "Thank God Kendra took the lead. Otherwise, we'd still be letting that woman fool us."Kendra replied with a smug emoji. Then she dropped a polished-looking business card into the chat.[Everyone, listen up. Don't get too attached to that little compensation payment you just received. I had to pull some strings with people high up at the state level just to get this former test developer to agree to help us.][His name is Dr. Francis Holt! If we put

Chapter 4

The bell rang to signal the end of the exam.The smug, celebratory mood in the Willow Creek parents' group chat abruptly vanished.I sat in my car across the street from the testing center, watching the first wave of students emerge with bloodless faces.The smile on Kendra's face froze.Her blond-haired son, Zeke, didn't complain about the heat like he normally did. Instead, he lowered his head, his eyes teary.Without saying a word, he crouched on the ground and began yanking at his hair."Zeke, what's wrong? Was the test so easy you finished early?" Kendra asked, forcing a smile.Zeke's head snapped up. "Easy, my ass! Everything changed! All of it!"It wasn't just Zeke. Every student who had attended the boot camp looked devastated.Whitney's son, Hayden, threw his arms around her and burst into tears right outside the testing center. His sobs were filled with despair and fear for his future.One of the top students who had tried to defend me before approached the parents,

Chapter 5

At nine thirty the next morning, more than thirty anxious-looking parents gathered outside the imposing headquarters of the City Department of Education.Kendra unfurled a white banner. Across it, in glaring red paint, were the words: "Top Student Colluded With Test Makers To Sabotage Our Children!"Several of the louder parents had brought megaphones, which repeatedly blasted accusations that I'd been illegally exploiting families for money.Kendra had somehow managed to bring in a handful of obscure local reporters and social media influencers. They stood around with cameras and selfie sticks as Kendra sobbed dramatically for the livestream."Everyone, that woman, Alynna Dawson, is a highly intelligent sociopath! She used my son as a guinea pig for her test-prep experiments!"And when her experiment failed, she abused her connections to change the SAT questions and cover up what she'd done!"Her story was riddled with holes. Nevertheless, with the livestream fueling the outrage

Chapter 6

Kendra thought I'd finally buckled under the pressure. Her smug expression grew even more triumphant."See, everyone? This proves that the good guys always win! As long as we stick together, scammers like her will eventually be forced to back down!"Whitney scrambled to her feet and brushed the dirt from her pants. "Then hurry up and take us inside to get the paperwork started! Hayden has to get into a top college!"Just then, the doors to the City Department of Education swung open.Two lines of heavily armed tactical officers jogged out in formation. They quickly forced the chaotic crowd apart, forming a wide path through the middle.Moments later, an understated black sedan pulled up at the foot of the steps.Dominick hurried out to meet it and personally escorted an older man from the car. He was Christian David, the deputy director of the state testing authority.Kendra's eyes widened at the sight. She immediately rushed forward, waving her complaint in the air."Sir, you

Chapter 7

The City Department of Education's main auditorium was packed with education officials from across the state and principals from its top high schools.Reporters from major media outlets had cameras set up throughout the room, flashes going off constantly.The sheer scale of the event left the parents too intimidated to make a sound. The tactical officers seated them in the public gallery at the very back.The ceremony officially began.As the deputy director of the state testing authority, Christian stepped up to the podium and cleared his throat."Today, we are here to honor an unsung hero whose contributions to education in our state have been immeasurable."His voice echoed through the vast auditorium. "She is not only the sole benefactor and controlling founder of Launch, the largest educational nonprofit foundation in the state, which provides financial assistance to thousands of disadvantaged students every year."For the past ten years, she has also anonymously advised on

Chapter 8

The room erupted."This is outrageous! She helped them, and this is how they repaid her?""Investigate them! Extortion like this cannot be tolerated!"The principals were furious, while reporters kept their cameras trained on the parents in the back row, flashes going off one after another.Dominick shot to his feet and slammed a hand on the table. "Unbelievable! You had the nerve to extort someone who's been formally recognized for her contributions to education in this state? You've crossed every legal and ethical line there is!"Kendra finally broke. She dropped to her knees on the cold floor and began wringing her hands. "Ms. Dawson! Apex Oracle! I was wrong! I didn't know who I was dealing with! Please, have mercy on me!"The other parents surged forward, their earlier arrogance gone as they pleaded over one another."Ms. Dawson, please forgive us! Please save our children!""If you'll just recreate the exams you tore up, we'll do anything you ask!"Their pleas tumbled ov

Chapter 9

That same afternoon, after Kendra was taken away, police moved quickly.They arrested Dr. Holt at a run-down motel in a neighboring state, where he'd been hiding after fleeing with the money.The moment the police statement went online, the story exploded across the internet. The so-called "elite test developer" turned out to be an unemployed high school dropout. He'd racked up debts with loan sharks from spending all his time gaming, which was why he'd jumped at the chance to partner with Kendra.The police statement laid out exactly what had happened.Kendra had preyed on the other parents' anxiety and acted as Holt's inside accomplice. She hadn't just been the first to pay in order to convince everyone else that the boot camp was legitimate. She and Holt had also secretly agreed to split the proceeds forty-sixty.In other words, a huge portion of the money the parents had desperately borrowed for their children's last-minute test prep had gone straight into Kendra's pocket.

Chapter 10

In the end, I didn't take an umbrella.I simply pulled on a black raincoat and walked slowly toward the iron gates, looking down at the parents gathered outside.I took out my phone and tapped the screen.The speakers mounted by the gate immediately began playing audio from the video they'd recorded in my living room and posted online that night."We'll never let a scammer like you anywhere near our kids again!""They'll do better without you!"I looked at Whitney, who was crying harder than anyone else."You think I came down here because I enjoy watching you kneel and beg? You're wrong. I came down here to make sure every last one of you understands exactly how deep a hole you've dug for yourselves."Then I turned toward Zeke, who had kept his head down the entire time. "Zeke, I have some good news for you too."The State Testing Authority released an announcement this afternoon. A student with the last name Hodge was caught attempting to cheat on the math exam by receiving

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