Page 133 of For Your Own Good
Back on the TV, there’s a report about Belmont, the murders, the arrests, and the new headmaster. A picture of Crutcher appears, making Zach feel sick.
Crutcher’s going to get away with everything.
82
THE DAY IScool and sunny, too beautiful for a funeral. But Teddy isn’t complaining. The last thing he wants to do is stand outside in gloomy, rainy weather.
There was no question he had to attend. Not only was Fallon a former Belmont student; she was an employee when she died. No. Passed away. People say “passed away” when the cause is anything but murder or suicide. And Fallon’s death was just a tragic accident.
Even the police said it was. For a minute, reporters had jumped on the fact that she was teaching at Belmont when the school had closed. But once the detectives saw the water heater, and the owner of the building came forward and said the rest of the heaters would be replaced, the case closed with a hard slam. Sometimes, people just die. The bobblehead reporter, Lissa, even said so. That makes it true.
The service is held right at the grave site. Fallon’s parents are here, surprisingly, since they clearly didn’t support their daughter financially.They’re right in front, dressed in expensive black clothing. Mom crying, dad somber. All very appropriate.
A number of other Belmont teachers are also attending, along with former students who knew Fallon. Teddy recognizes several, and all appear to be doing much better than Fallon was. Or at least their parents haven’t cut them off.
Frank is here as well, standing right next to Teddy. He’s a bit miffed by that; people might think he’s gone and found God or something. But it’s hard to tell a man in a clergy collar to get away at a funeral.
The man who leads the service also wears the white collar. He’s old and distinguished-looking, with a deep baritone voice to tell a lot of mistruths about Fallon.
“Fallon Meredith Knight, beloved daughter of David and Olivia Knight, was the kind of woman who tried to help wherever and whomever she could. Just recently, she returned to Belmont Academy and volunteered to step in for one of the recent poisoning victims. Her love for the school, and its students, was deep enough that she put aside her own goals in order to help.”
Teddy clears his throat. An unintentional reaction. After all, this man has no idea that Fallon’s death never would’ve happened if she hadn’t sent that final email.
And if she hadn’t lived on the first floor of a former motel, it wouldn’t have been so easy. Too easy, really. The motel was cheaply built, no maintenance, no updates, and cheap windows. Almost as easy to get into as Belmont.
Plus the old water heater. Just a tiny leak made it run constantly, causing the buildup of that deadly gas in her small apartment.
Everything had fallen into place, almost like it was meant to be.
Teddy had a backup plan, of course. Another poison, a product used to kill rodents. The kind one might find a lot of in a run-down building like that. Luckily, he didn’t need to use it.
All that’s left is right here, right next to her coffin. A few final words, a few tears, and then it’s over.
Not that he’s proud of it. He can’t be. Fallon was, above all else, a Belmont student. One ofhisstudents. Teddy had a responsibility to help her and, no matter how hard he tried, he failed. This is what weighs on him now, at her funeral. Thinking about it makes his stomach hurt a little, like the worms are starting to wake up.
He reminds himself that, as much as he wants to, he can’t save everyone. Some people just refuse to be saved.
Fallon’s father is speaking now. He’s the chief financial officer of a bank, and he looks the part.
“My daughter had a good soul. A pure soul. Perhaps too pure for this world.” He pauses, looks up at the sky. “I remember when she was about five, we were out in the garden and she saw her first ladybug. It was alone, wandering around on the grass, and Fallon wanted to help him find his friends...”
Teddy tunes out, glancing around at the crowd and trying to calculate the net worth of everyone in attendance. The total would keep Belmont going for the next hundred years. He makes a mental reminder to send out another donation letter.
This keeps him occupied until the coffin is finally lowered into the ground, and the first shovel of dirt is thrown on top of it. Teddy immediately goes to Fallon’s parents, offering his condolences.
“Your daughter was a lovely young woman, and such a tremendous asset to Belmont,” he says. “I am so sorry for your loss.”
As he shakes Mr.Knight’s hand, someone catches his attention. He turns to look.
Zach Ward.
He’s dressed in a dark grey suit, looking much older than his seventeen years. Freshly cut hair, shiny shoes. Sort of like his father.
He’s looking right at Teddy.
ZACH HAD Afeeling Crutcher would show up. How could he not, being the headmaster and all.
Plus, he probably wants to gloat.
