Page 73 of The Teacher

27

THREE HOURS EARLIER

SKIPPER

I arrive at Miss Tweed’s house early on purpose. I park my car across the road from her place and stare out the window. The sun is going to set soon. Before I get out of my vehicle, I type out a message to Sandy on my phone and send it to her.

Hey, Sandy. I’m getting there early. No rush.

I hope she actually follows what my message asks and doesn’t rush to get here. There’s a lot for me to do before she arrives.

I can’t have her around whilst I do what I have to do.

I open my car door, step up to Miss Tweed’s house, and ring her bell.

DING DONG.

It’s like she’s been waiting for me. She opens the door almost immediately after I ring. Seeing me standing at her doorway, the mathematics teacher gives me the biggest smile.

“Well, hello, Mr. Deep. Fancy you arriving so early.”

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

She gestures at me excitedly, ushering me inside. “Come in, come in, make yourself at home. You’re not the first to arrive.”

I follow her through the hallway and into her living room. Her place reminds me of her office. I’m not trying to judge, but her interior designing is very, very tacky. Not my style at all, but that’s just me.

There’s another guest here in the living room. I recognize her. It’s that Becky woman from the previous fundraiser, that one I couldn’t get to stop trying to flirt with me. The one with the fake tits and the fake face. She’s the only other person here, and she’s already on the wine. She clutches a glass like it’s as precious as a baby. This Becky woman flutters her eyelashes at me as I enter and immediately floats across the center of the living room towards me before I can duck away.

“Hello, Mr. Deep,” she coos as she reaches my side. Miss Tweed hangs by my other arm. Great, I’m alone and surrounded by two women who both seem ready to carry me off to bed right now.

How can I get out of this one?

“Ah, hello, ladies,” I mutter. Miss Tweed offers me a glass of wine, but I gently refuse. I’m not here to drink, or to fraternize with the dolled-up single mothers of the school. I’m here to work.

I need to get this done before Sandy arrives.

Becky struts even closer to me and rests her hand on my shoulder. Her big tits graze my sleeve. “You’re looking fine tonight, Mr. Deep,” she says. “I like your suit. It looks very expensive, and I like expensive things.”

Her fingers play with my suit collar, her long manicured fingernails slightly scratching my neck. It’s like she’s got her claws around me.

What have I done to get into this position?

I take a step back. “Miss Tweed,” I say. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“It’s upstairs, darling. First door.”

“Thanks.”

I need to make my exit. As I head to the stairs, I hear the doorbell ring. More guests. Good.

I head up to the next floor. I’m not really searching for the bathroom; I’m looking for her office. And when I see the door marked Office, I murmur softly to myself.

“Bingo.”

I’ve found it.

Checking over my shoulder for anyone following me up the stairs, I quickly open the office door and slide into the room, turning the light on as I quietly shut the door behind me. This place looks like it’s got what I need. Books line the shelves and there’s a row of filing cabinets stuffed full of documents. The room is a bit messy, just like her office at school, but I can work with that. All I need to do is find the financial records.