Page 36 of Forever Dead

“I can’t imagine one of her students hating her.”

“Maybe that’s exactly why they hated her.”

Arnold’s pen stopped.

Selena continued. “Think about someone who had a bad experience with her and then spent years hearing everyone else talk about how wonderful she was. Every reunion, every newspaper piece, every conversation in town. If they believed she hurt them, all that affection could make the resentment worse.”

“What kind of bad experience?”

“Expulsion recommendation. Failed class. Reported abuse at home. Accused them of cheating. Something she did because she thought it was right, but they never forgave her.”

Arnold wrote more slowly now.

“Or,” Selena said, “someone who resented the reputation itself.”

He glanced up. “Meaning?”

“A jealous colleague, perhaps. Another teacher who spent years in her shadow. Someone who thought Miss Marsh got credit they deserved.”

“You think somebody waited until she was seventy-nine to settle a workplace grudge?”

“I think we don’t know enough yet to rule out anything that fits the emotional violence at that scene.”

Arnold nodded. “Yeah.”

“Start with relationships. Family, neighbors, old colleagues, former students with documented problems. And check whether Eleanor had any disputes in the last year that never reached police.”

“We’re already looking at the neighbor, Deacon.”

"Good. Don't let him become the whole case just because he was weird about the house, though. Just because someone is callous doesn't mean they're a killer."

Arnold gave her a small smile. “Now you sound like Connor.”

“Don’t insult me.”

“You two are more alike than either of you wants to admit.”

Selena reached for the next file. “Probably.”

Arnold laughed and closed the notebook. “This is all great. I mean it.”

“I hope it helps.”

He stood and returned the chair to the table. Selena gathered the photographs into a neater stack but left them on the bed.

At the door, Arnold paused. “Tomorrow.”

“I’ll call you.”

“And Connor can’t know I brought this.”

“My lips are sealed.”

He headed toward an unmarked sedan parked near the far end of the lot. Selena remained in the doorway until he reached it.

A voice came from her left.

“You ready for this movie?”