Page 64 of For Your Own Good

Everyone, Teddy assumes, who had access to the refrigerator in the lounge. No doubt they’ve found the salad bowl right now. Teddy didn’t even try to get hold of that, and for good reason. He’d wanted them to find it.

“Do you remember seeing Sonia Benjamin the day she died?” Bates says.

“I saw her every day at some point, either in the lounge or the hallways. Sometimes the parking lot.”

“But on that day,” Bates says. He sighs as he speaks, like he’d rather be anywhere but here. “Do you remember seeing her? Talking to her?”

“I’m sure I said hello, at the very least. A lot of the teachers have been in the Porter Room recently—they’ve set up a TV in there, because of the upcoming trial—but I ate lunch at my desk. I’ve been trying to avoid the media coverage. It’s all a bit much.”

Bates nods. He has a bulbous nose and wears thick reading glasses. “So you didn’t see her eating lunch?”

“Oh, well, I’ve certainly seen her eat lunch many times. But that day, no. I ate alone,” Teddy says.

The detective writes that down. “Would you say you and Sonia were close?”

“We were colleagues, and we worked together a long time. But if you’re asking if we socialized outside of school, then no. Sonia and I were neverthatclose.”

“You’re Teacher of the Year, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“I bet people are jealous. Your coworkers, I mean.”

Teddy takes a deep breath. “It’s an honor to work at Belmont. This is one of the most competitive schools in the Northeast, not only for the students, but also the teachers. I think everyone is just happy to work here.”

Bates chuckles. His breath smells like coffee. “That’s interesting. I’ve never been in a place whereeveryoneis happy to work.”

“Well, I can’t speak for every single person here. But overall, yes,” Teddy says. “Teachers are very happy to work here.”

“Can you think of anyone who didn’t like Sonia?”

“Wait,” Teddy says, leaning forward in his chair. He’s been waiting for this question. “Are you thinking that someonekilledSonia? Right here at school?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you asked if anyone disliked her.”

“I did. I’m just gathering information.”

Sure he is. That’s why the parking lot is flanked with cops scouring for evidence. “I assume you are asking if anyone on the faculty disliked her?”

Bates shrugs. “Sure. Faculty, staff, students... anyone who didn’t like her.”

“There isn’t anyone who hated her. Not that I know of, anyway.” Teddy pauses, pretending to think. “Actually, I don’t think the school’s custodian liked her very much.”

“The custodian?”

“His name is Joe. Joseph Apple. He’s been with the school for at least twenty years... Getting older now, but still good at his job.”

Bates writes this down. “And he didn’t like Sonia?”

“Well, I don’t know howhefelt abouther, but I don’t thinkshelikedhimvery much.” Teddy shrugs a little, like he’s trying to decide how much to say. “Sonia was wealthy, as I’m sure you know. And people like Joe are just... the help. I’m not sure she treated him very well.”

“Gotcha,” Bates says, still writing. “And you don’t think Joe appreciated that.”

“As I said, I can’t speak for him.”

But since Joe saw him rooting through the dumpster out back, he’s the first one who comes to Teddy’s mind. Someone has to get blamed for this.