Page 58 of For Your Own Good

“You want me to change schools?” Zach says, unable to control himself. “Now?”

His parents exchange a look, and Mom takes over. “It’s just something we’re discussing. There is a very good school I’m looking at in Vermont.”

“Vermont?”

“Zach,” Dad says. “Belmont’s reputation has taken a huge hit. This trial is turning into a circus. And now, with this unfortunate event today...”

“We just want what’s best for you,” Mom says.

Zach stares down at his sautéed spinach. A month ago, a year ago, two years ago, he would’ve jumped at the chance to go to a boarding school in Vermont. To get out of this house, out of his cloudy room.

But not right now. Not with Courtney in jail and about to go on trial for murder. He can’t leave her.

“Do I have a say in this?” Zach says.

“Well,” Dad says, “if you hadn’t gotten an A-minus in English last semester, maybe you would have a say.”

ZACH GOES STRAIGHTup to his room to get away from his parents. He’s on the verge of saying something he’ll regret. In his dad’s eyes, a lack of self-restraint is a sign of immaturity.

A man who cannot control himself will never be successful.

As soon as he’s alone, he wants to throw something. Anything. Instead, he screams into his pillow.

That A-minus.

No matter how hard Zach had worked or how many hours he’d spent on his final essay, Crutcher still gave him an A-minus. And, given how much the teacher hated him, Zach had accepted it. At least it wasn’t a B-plus.

Besides, he’d had too much on his mind after Courtney was arrested. He’d also had too much to do. TheBugletook up an extraordinary amount of time.

None of that mattered to Dad, who still hadn’t let up about that grade.

At one time, Zach had planned to get on Crutcher’s good side. The idea had been put off and then abandoned. He’d never thought it would come back to bite him in the shape of Vermont.

Ignoring all of social media—especially the rumors about Mrs.B—Zach turns to Google.

Theodore Crutcher, Belmont Academy

Within minutes, he knows where Crutcher went to school, how long he has been teaching, where he lives, and how much he paid for his house. He also learns that Crutcher’s wedding anniversary is August 11 and his wife’s name is Allison.

Zach remembers the card he found in Crutcher’s desk, the one for the fertility doctor. He wonders if Allison ever got pregnant.

Allison Crutcher

A picture of her pops up on the screen, surprising Zach.

He knows her.

38

THE ONLY LIGHTin the room comes from Teddy’s laptop. It’s long past his usual bedtime, and he’s drinking coffee, not milk. All the students are online tonight, and they’re talking about Sonia’s death.

Using his Natasha profile, Teddy maneuvers around, checking in on every conversation. Usually, their talk is rather banal, even boring, but tonight they’re letting loose.

Mrs.B was getting pretty heavy, wouldn’t be surprised if she had a heart attack.

Drugs, has to be drugs. I bet half the teachers use them.

I saw her eating a cheeseburger last week. Her diet was shit.