The Body on Ortega Highway Read Online Free Page A

her
age.”
    “Kids are exposed to all kinds of
things on the internet and in movies.”
    “ How did Desiree get to and
from school?”
    “ Since we live close to the
high school, she walked there.”
    “By herself or with other kids from
the neighborhood?”
    “By herself.”
    “ Mrs. Beauchamp, I don’t want
to be preachy or anything, but it’s never a good idea for girls or
women to walk by themselves. Neither day; nor night. When I was
younger, I used to walk to school and guys were constantly pulling
over and asking me if I needed a ride. Even after I’d say ‘No’,
they’d still slowly circle the block, watching where I was
heading.”
    “That must have been
frightening.”
    “ It was. That’s why I’m
telling you, for your own safety, never walk alone.
Okay?”
    “ Okay. Thanks for the advice.
I never thought that it would be unsafe in the daytime, too. I’ve
never had that kind of trouble; but there’s always a first time, I
suppose.”
    “ Yes. There are self-defense
classes that I advise all women to take.”
    “Okay.”
    “ Mrs. Beauchamp? Can I borrow
some pictures of Desiree. I’ll make copies and give them
back.”
    “ That other detective who was
here took some. And he hasn’t given them back yet, like he
promised.”
    “I’ll see to it that they will be
returned by tomorrow. In the meantime, would you please lend me a
few recent pictures of her?”
    The mother shows Clarissa a picture from last year’s school
yearbook.
    “ Pretty girl,” Clarissa says,
and tries not to think about how very different the girl looked in
the crime scene photos. “Can I borrow this yearbook?”
    Mrs. Beauchamp says, “Okay,
but please give it back to me later.”
    “Of course I will.”
    Mrs. Beauchamp says, “I’ve
already given a list of Desiree’s friends to that other detective
who was here.”
    “Yes. I saw in his notes that he’d
interviewed them already.”
    “ Did they have any idea how
this happened to my daughter?”
    “ His notes don’t show any
evidence of that, but I promise I will catch that bastard who did
this to your pretty daughter. I guarantee you.”
    “Thank you.”
    “ You’re welcome,” Clarissa
says, standing up to leave. “And no more walking by yourself,
okay?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
     
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    When Clarissa gets back in
her car, she makes a call to Tustin High and tells the receptionist that she needs to talk to Desiree’s
English teacher right away. She gives her phone number and drives
over to Tustin High to talk to the librarian there. Clarissa used
to work in the school library, so being there brings back lots of
fond memories. She walks inside the library and searches for the
head librarian. A woman behind the desk greets her. Clarissa shows
her badge and tells her why she’s there. The librarian doesn’t
recognize Desiree when Clarissa shows her the picture from the
yearbook.
    Clarissa asks, “Are there any other
librarians or aides I could ask?”
    The librarian introduces her
to the rest of the library staff; but none of them recognize
Desiree. Clarissa’s feels like she’s hit a brick wall. She sits
down at one of the tables in the library and takes out her lap top
to Google the English teacher, Mr. Turknette. She discovers that
he’s a former priest who left the priesthood to get married five
years ago. He’s been teaching Sophomore English and Creative
Writing for five years at the high school. He finally returns her
call and agrees to meet in the library.
    A balding and slightly overweight
forty-year-old man enters the library. The librarian recognizes him
and says, “How are you, Mr. Turknette?”
    Clarissa stands up to greet
him. They sit down at a secluded table and she says in a quiet
voice, “I’d like to talk to you about one of your students, Desiree
Beauchamp.”
    “Yes. The poor girl who was
murdered.”
    Clarissa reaches into her
computer bag and pulls out “The Ballad of a Hooker.” He recognizes
it and