Page 65 of For Your Own Good

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BY THE TIMEZach checks his phone after third period, he feels a bit dazed. The rumors are all over the place, making it impossible to know what’s true and what isn’t. Except for the fact that Mrs.B was murdered.

Up until now, he didn’t think she was. Sure, everyone was talking about it, buttwomurders at Belmont? Not possible. Especially not Mrs.B, because no one hated her. She was harmless.

You still here?

It’s Lucas, sending him a text between classes.

Yeah, Zach says. I doubt my parents know what’s going on.

Come over after school.

Ever since the news got out about Sonia, some of the parents had picked up their kids, taking them out of school—now known online as Homicide High. Belmont’s new nickname is all over social media.

The news hasn’t stopped there, either. Now there’s some rumor about Mr.Maxwell’s wife showing up at the school, looking for her husband. She made some kind of scene near the office, and someone recorded it on their phone.

All Zach can see is a woman who looks hysterical. She keeps saying, “Frank left for work this morning, and so he has to be here,” and she doesn’t understand why they called the house looking for him.

Anyone seen Maxwell?Zach asks Lucas.

Nope.

Now, security guards are everywhere. Unlike this morning, when there were no adults around, a fleet of rent-a-cops is all over school. Zach passes by a tall, skinny one with a plastic badge on his way into English. He almost runs right into Crutcher.

He’s standing at the door, like he’s been waiting for Zach.

“Hi, Mr.Crutcher.”

“You’re almost late,” he says.

Zach is about to answer when the final bell rings. Now, heislate. Only because his teacher stopped him from walking in the door, but he keeps his mouth shut and sits down.

Throughout the class, he stares at the wedding ring on Crutcher’s finger. Maybe he should ask him how his wife is doing.

No. That would defeat the purpose.

But it’s fun to think about.

Yet again, Zach realizes his dad is right about something else.Life isn’t fair. Not by a long shot,he always says.

He’s right. If life were fair, Mrs.B would still be around and Crutcher wouldn’t.

FRANK SITS INchurch, but not his own. He left Belmont, drove right by Unity of Life, and kept going, looking for something. A feeling. Solace. Forgiveness. Escape.

Thirty miles out, he stopped at Touchpoint Ministry. A megachurch, the only one in the area, with a massive building built like an arena. Frank sits halfway up the stadium seating. The stage below is empty, as are most of the seats. On the wall behind the stage, a floor-to-ceiling screen displays biblical scenes. The picture changes every fifteen seconds.

It’s mesmerizing.

Frank recognizes every story. The Bible has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. At first, the pictures are a trip down memory lane. He thinks of his childhood church, a place of so many good memories. Social gatherings, bake sales, church plays. The services were just a prelude to the fun.

For a long time, he stays in that nostalgic place, when life was simpler and he hadn’t killed anyone.

Zacchaeus changes everything.

Frank recognizes him immediately. Zacchaeus was a corrupt tax collector, who cheated, lied, and stole. But the guilt caught up to him.

The picture shows him on the top of a sycamore tree, waiting for Jesus. Waiting to repent for his sins. Jesus did not disappoint.