Page 140 of For Your Own Good

“Dead,” Missy said. “I know. Allison told me. She thought the email was crazy until she heard Fallon had died. That’s when she left town.”

He shook his head, trying to make sense of what Missy was saying.

“Frank,” she said. “Allison is scared Teddy might hurt her.”

What Missy said was so shocking, Frank didn’t move. Even after they hung up, he stayed right where he was, sitting in the living room. No TV, no radio, no sound at all except the thoughts in his head.

He knew Teddy was a liar, knew Teddy was a godless man who refused to pray or ask for forgiveness. But he had no idea Teddy was capable of hurting someone. And killing someone, or several people, seemed... unthinkable.

Frank prayed. He prayed for guidance, for help, for some kind of clarity. Any kind. All night, he stayed in his seat, not moving until the sun came up.

Something had to be done. And Frank was the one who had to do it.

This knowledge didn’t come to him by accident. He was meant to know it. Meant to do something about it. No one else was doing anything about Teddy Crutcher, so it was up to him.

Teddy is a monster. A monster who made Allison physically afraid of him. A monster who has lied multiple times and does not seek forgiveness.

A monster who is leading Belmont Academy.

It cannot stand.

This isBelmont, a school with a history of sending its students to the finest universities in the country. A school that has taught one vice president and countless leaders in business, philanthropy, even the church.

He takes a deep breath, quieting the fluttering of his heart.

This is right. This is just. This is how it must be.

“And now, without further delay,” Teddy says, “it’s time to unveil our path forward. Our motto, our creed, our rock. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the official Belmont Academy memorial.”

Frank watches Teddy grasp that velvet throw with one hand. Everyone applauds when it’s been removed. The rock does look lovely in the sunlight, the bronze glow shining like a beacon. As he looks at it, Frank thinks that it should be officially blessed at some point.

He turns his eyes to Teddy’s hand. He’s still clasping that velvet throw. When he finally drops it, he rubs his fingers against his palm, like there’s something on his hand.

There is.

Frank can see it. A light dusting of reddish brown powder on Teddy’s palm and fingers. The powder was invisible on the red throw.

Teddy is still talking, but he continues to scratch his hand. He must think it’s dirt, or maybe pollen, and he keeps rubbing it in, getting it all over his fingers.

That crushed rosary pea will be absorbed into Teddy’s skin.

The idea of using a plant came from the Mad Scientists—Ms.Marsha and Joe, apparently—and it wasn’t hard to find a plant that killed on contact. There are only a few, and the fact that one of them was called rosary pea felt like another sign: Frank was doing exactly what he was supposed to do.

So easy to research, so easy to get. The now-empty vial is in Frank’s pocket. All he’d had to do was offer to help set up and then sprinkle it across the velvet throw as he straightened it.

Now, it’s all over Teddy’s hand.

He may survive a day. Perhaps two. Hard to know, given that this is the first time Frank has ever poisoned someone. What he does know is that Teddy will die.

It’s a shame, yes. But it had to be done.

If there’s one thing being a minister has taught Frank, it’s that not everyone can be saved.

Epilogue

THE DORMS ATGranite Hill Prep are even nicer than Zach expected: huge rooms, two beds, two desks, one whole wall of bookshelves. It’s about seventy degrees in Vermont, and the windows are open, flooding the room with sunlight.

Not a bad place to be, even if they do have classes on Saturdays. That’s one big downside of a boarding school.