Page 129 of For Your Own Good

“Why couldn’t my dad just hire your tutor? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Zach doesn’t look up from his own work. They’ve been through this before. “Because Titus is a young guy, and your dad thinks he’ll hit on his little girl.” That’s why her tutor is an older, retired woman, who used to be a teacher.

“I’m not a littlegirl,” she says. “I’ve been to jail, you know.”

“Your dad didn’t buy that argument, I’m guessing,” he says.

“Nope.”

It’s about ten thirty, in between the morning and lunchtime rush, sothe coffee shop is empty. Other than the employees, they have the whole place to themselves. Still, they keep their voices low. Courtney doesn’t advertise she’s the one who was in jail. She even cut her hair and dyed it a darker brown. It looks weird to Zach, but he keeps his mouth shut.

He keeps his mouth shut about Fallon, too. No chance he’s going to tell Courtney about their conversation yesterday. But he keeps thinking about it. Wondering if Fallon will decide to believe him.

Courtney turns around in her seat to look at the TV screen. Again.

“Nothing’s happening,” Zach says. “They’re watching a talk show.”

“I know. Nothing’s ever happening.”

“The memorial is,” he says. “You going to go?”

“Have to, because of Mom.” Courtney doesn’t look happy about it.

“I’ll go with you. Even though I’m not aBelmontstudent.”

“Loser.” She smiles.

He’s about to call her a jailbird when a breaking-news banner appears on TV. Courtney hears the news theme and whips her head around to see.

Ms.Marsha appears on the screen. In a mug shot.

But she’s not alone. A second mug shot appears next to hers.

Joe.

The assistant to the headmaster and Belmont’s custodian have both been arrested.

IT’S ABOUT TIME.

Teddy watches the breaking news in the conference room, along with Winnie and some of the administrators. Someone hooked up their computer to the smartboard so they can see the report in all its HD glory.

Ms.Marsha looks a lot different when her hair isn’t done and she isn’t wearing lipstick. And Joe... Well, he looks exactly the same. Unhappy.

“My God,” Teddy says. “This is... It’s just unbelievable.”

“Butwhy?” Winnie says.

The bobblehead reporter is already on it.

“Marsha Fowler and Joseph Apple have both been employed by Belmont for over twenty years, and now both have been accused of murdering three people and poisoning half a dozen others, including students. If this is true, the only question is why? What would make them do this?”

Relief. Teddy has to stop himself from visibly relaxing in front of everyone. The FBI finally got it right, and it feels like a miracle.

“Reporters are already calling,” Winnie says.

“We have to send out an email to the faculty and staff,” he says. “Direct all inquiries to the headmaster’s office.” Teddy looks around the room, knowing that Ms.Marsha would have been the one to send that email. His eyes land on Daphne, Belmont’s registration and admissions secretary. She’s a young, somewhat awkward woman, the kind people feel a little sorry for. “Daphne,” he says. “Can you arrange this?”

Her eyes widen, but she nods. “Yes. I can.”