Page 39 of The Teacher

“But I need Mr. Brown’s authorization before I show anyone the financial records, especially someone from outside the school.”

“Not just a little peek?” I ask. “How about you stay with me every step of the way.”

“I don’t know.”

“Think of it as quality time with me. I’d like to get to know you better.”

“I really don’t think I can.”

“You know what? I loved your pearl necklace at the fundraiser. Yesterday, when I was in town, I passed by the jewelry shop and saw this in the window display.” I take out a little box from my pocket. I open it up to reveal a shiny silver necklace. It cost me a heck of a lot of money, but I knew I’d need it for this moment. “I saw this in that display and immediately thought of you. I want you to have it.”

Miss Tweed blushes again and eyes the necklace greedily. “Oh, Mr. Deep, you’re too kind.”

“Try it on,” I say, enticingly taking the necklace out of the box. Flashing the silver. Miss Tweed eagerly leans her head forward so that I can wrap it around her neck. She really wants it. Perfect. “Wow, Miss Tweed. Fantastic. It really suits you.”

“You think?”

“I do.”

She pats my chest. I know she just wants to feel my muscular pecs, but I let her. Gotta give her something in return for what I’m asking. “Oh, go on then. I do accept bribes, especially when they come from handsome men. Just a quick peek at those financial records, okay?”

“Yes please, Miss Tweed.”

“Follow me.”

Yes. That worked. An expensive plan, but it worked.

Miss Tweed leads me down the hallway and into her office. I’ve not been in here before. She keeps it very secure. The door is locked, and the only keys are hers.

I don’t want to judge but her office is decorated badly. The place is a bit of a mess. Folders and documents everywhere. Tacky photos of meaningless inspirational quotes hang on the walls. The place reeks of her overpowering cheap perfume.

Miss Tweed goes to work gathering all the financial and tax documents. “So,” she says as she shifts through her mess. “How’s your appraisal of the school going? What do you think of the place?”

“I still need more time,” I reply. “It’s good so far, but I need some more information.”

“More than just the tax records?”

“I need more information from someone who knows everything about the school.”

“Oh?”

“You, Miss Tweed. I’m talking about you.”

She stops shuffling papers and blinks. “Me?”

“I would like to know your opinion, about what you think of the school,” I say. “What would you do or change if you were placed in charge?”

Miss Tweed smiles. She likes this question, I can tell. She likes to imagine being in charge. “Well, there are too many things I would change for a start,” she says. “But I’d first like to make some hiring and firing decisions.”

“Oh, really?”

She continues to gather the tax and financial documents as she talks. “As I told you the other night at the fundraiser, there’s a few people I’d like to let go first. That Miss Finn you spoke to. She’ll be first to go.”

“The English teacher?”

“Exactly.”

“Interesting.”