Page 120 of For Your Own Good

“In the back,” the man says. “I stock it for him, because he only drinksmilk out of glass bottles. Says those cartons and plastic ruin the taste.” He rolls his eyes, like he knows how ridiculous that sounds. Because it does.

It’s also weird, and not just in the “weird habit” kind of way. It’s weird because Belmont doesn’t have milk in glass bottles. Only in the little cartons. Including the ones that were poisoned.

THE CHEAPEST PLACEin town to drink, get free Wi-Fi, and not be bothered is called The Hole. And it’s there that Fallon sips her gin and tonic, which is awful, and ponders her lack of progress. She’s disappointed in herself. Not a new feeling.

She has to rally, has to figure out how to get under, over, or through the cracks in the doors that won’t open.

Teddy used to say that in class, back when she called him Mr.Crutcher. When they were reading something particularly difficult, like Russian literature, he would say, “Analyze each word, each sentence, and figure out what it means. Don’t just stare at the words. Do something.”

First, another gin and tonic. One had made her sleepy; the second gives her a little more energy. Plus, it tastes better now that she’s less sober.

Do something.

So far, Fallon hasn’t done anything except try to catch Teddy or Zach slipping. She finishes off her second drink, opens her laptop, and starts typing.

Three emails, all sent to different people. She only signs her real name to one of them.

This isn’t her first rodeo. Sometimes, you have to give a little nudge. Just a tiny one. Otherwise, someone might commit suicide.

But that wasn’t Fallon’s fault. The headmaster hanged himself in his office all on his own.

He was a tiny, meek little man. Not the kind anyone would suspect of having a gambling problem, but he did. Fallon was a sophomore when she came across that information.

She had been called to his office to discuss being a student liaison to the board of directors. They wanted one from each grade, and she was under consideration for hers. During their conversation, he was called away by Ms.Marsha, leaving her alone in the office for a moment. Just enough time for her to sneak a glance at his computer screen.

One of the many open tabs on his browser was an online poker site. Fallon snapped a picture with her phone, knowing that gambling had to be against the Belmont rules. It was only later, when she looked it up, that she realized online gambling was illegal.

Illegally gambling on school premises had to be grounds for dismissal.

Which meant she had some valuable information. And what good was information if you couldn’t use it?

When she approached him about it, he didn’t even argue. He knew what she could do to him. That was all Fallon needed.

Student representative to the board? Done. An extension on an assignment? Done. A higher spot on the nomination list for the summer seminar? Done.

It was so perfect. Or it was until the headmaster killed himself.

And until Teddy accused her of cheating.

It wasn’t cheating—not really. All she’d done was gather information and use it to her advantage.

She had done it with the headmaster just as she had done it to Teddy when she ruined his marriage.

It was her thing.

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ZACH’S PARENTS HAVEcalled a family dinner. As soon as he walked out of the liquor store, he’d received an appointment reminder from his dad. Between Courtney, Fallon, Crutcher’s milk, and his parents being... well, parents... Zach is getting tired. Not easy to manage all the people in his life.

“We want to talk about your current situation,” Dad says.

They’re in the dining room, all gathered at one end of the table, because it’s big enough for twelve. Dinner is salmon again, because Mom is convinced it’s a superfood. No milk, though. Never milk.

Zach swallows a bite and clears his throat. “My situation?”

“Titus tells us you’re doing quite well with your schooling,” Mom says.

“That’s good,” Zach says.