Page 138 of For Your Own Good
They both watch him finish with the chairs and move on to the velvetthrow on the memorial rock. He straightens and smooths it, making sure it drapes evenly on all sides.
Courtney looks at Zach and shrugs.
“Weird,” she says.
“Yeah.”
Their conversation is interrupted by Winnie, who taps the microphone. A thump reverberates through the air. “If everyone could take their seats, we’re about to start.” She stops and then adds, “We’re right on time!”
?AS SOON ASthe event begins, Teddy straightens his jacket and gives the crowd a sad smile. Seems appropriate for the moment.
“Thank you all for coming today,” he says. “As you know, a number of tragedies have occurred at Belmont over the past few months. We designed this event, first and foremost, to honor those we’ve lost.” He pauses, looking out at the audience with the gravest expression he can manage. So many people. Far more than they anticipated, which only adds to the importance of this day, but the pressure doesn’t make him nervous. It makes him better. “We also want to look forward, to what’s next for Belmont. To survive, we must move on, and I appreciate all of you showing up to help us do that.”
Applause. Muted, yes, but that’s to be expected at a memorial. It’s not a rock concert.
He introduces the first speaker, Sonia’s husband. Dr.Benjamin rambles a bit, as grieving people tend to do, but it’s not too bad. Mr.Ross is next. He is the only one who will talk about Ingrid. Courtney declined the invitation.
Teddy steps back from each speaker but remains standing, giving him a view of the audience. Courtney cries while her father speaks, and Zach gives her a handkerchief. Teddy hopes it’s clean.
The wife of the former headmaster also declined to speak, which is a good thing. She’s in no condition for something like this. Originally, theplan had been to have Ms.Marsha speak in her place, but obviously, the plan changed. They couldn’t broadcast her in from a jail cell.
Instead, the headmaster is represented by Nari Tam, the history teacher. A bit of diversity never hurts.
She drones on, boring Teddy enough that his mind wanders. It continues to wander after she’s done and the first clergy member steps up to the podium. She’s a female minister from a nondenominational church, and she offers a prayer for those who would like to participate. All very respectful.
Teddy steps to the podium again to introduce the next part of the program—the victims who were poisoned but lived. Damien Harcourt walks up the stairs, and Teddy shakes his hand. His very wealthy parents are seated in the front row, though on the other side of the aisle from the grievers.
Teddy steps back again, grateful the sad time is almost over; that’s what he calls the first half of this event. It’s unpleasant but necessary. He’s anxious to get on with part two, the recovery: the unveiling of the rock memorial, followed by a tour through the school.
It’s been scrubbed and cleaned and has a brand-new kitchen with locks on every refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. Even the drink machines require key cards.
Yes, Belmont takes security seriously. Very seriously. That kitchen has to be the most expensive, most secure facility at any school in the country.
When Damien is done with a dramatic retelling of his not-so-near-death experience, Teddy announces that they will take a twenty-minute break before the second part begins.
It’s been nearly perfect so far. Nothing has gone wrong. Nothing has been out of place.
And certainly no FBI.
Oh, yes, he knows Zach talked to them. Those two agents, Pruitt and Roland, came to his house and peppered him with a bunch of questions— including about the milk he drinks. That’s how he knew.
He even asked them about it. “This information you have, by any chance did it come from a student named Zach Ward?”
“We can’t divulge our sources,” Roland said.
“Of course. I understand that. But I do suspect it came from him. Let me tell you about Zach Ward.” Teddy went on to tell them all about his young student. “He’s obsessed with me. Ever since last semester, when he received a grade on a paper he didn’t agree with, he’s been... rather angry, let’s say. His parents even came in and asked me to change the grade. Obviously, I said no.” Teddy shuddered when he thought about that. He wasn’t acting.
Well, maybe just a little.
“After that, Zach started engaging in some very disturbing behavior. He has followed me, and I bet you can check that on his GPS. Normally, students don’t scare me, even if they’re upset, because this is Belmont we’re talking about. But Zach... there’s something wrong with him. And, as I’m sure you’re aware, he was arrested for bribery.”
Teddy stopped then, shaking his head. “It’s a personal failure to me when any of our students strays so far from the right path. But what Zach has done is particularly painful, especially now that I’m headmaster. I feel like each Belmont student is my responsibility.”
The agents had thanked him—profuselythanked him—for his time.
Courtney had already been wrongly arrested for the crime. Did they really want to admit a second mistake had been made when they’d arrested Ms.Marsha and Joe?
Certainly not. Teddy gave them what they really wanted: a way out. They grabbed right on to it, wanting any excuse to avoid more bad press.
