Tales of Aradia The Last Witch Volume by L.A. Jones Read Free Book Online Page A

disappearance. Many argue that if
Holloway's case had been declared a federal crime there was a
possibility that the investigation would not have been botched and
her body may have been found."
    "Didn't they arrest some guy for the crime?" Aradia
squinted to try to see the student who just spoke.
    Mr. Gillard nodded. "However, most of the evidence
the Aruba officials collected were substantial and it wasn't until
he was arrested for killing another girl at a casino when they
finally threw him in jail."
    "So wait," Rhonda argued, "you mean if this guy
hadn't killed another person he would have gotten away with
Natalee's murder?"
    Mr. Gillard sighed. "Yes."
     
    Aradia tried her best to act normal in spite of
feeling depressed about the latest information in her life. The
last thing she needed, or so she thought, was her best gal pal
being worried about her.
    "So what case should we pick?" Aradia asked Rhonda
cheerfully who, in turn, just shrugged nonchalantly.
    Their government class had been their first class of
the day and at Salem High the first class was always followed by a
twenty minute break. Mr. Gillard had allowed them to pick their own
partners by the end of class. It was a no-brainer that Aradia and
Rhonda would chose to be each other's partners. What hadn't been
was the unsolved case they would chose for their assignment. It was
no surprise Aradia wanted to get a head start on their assignment
and suggested they spend the break in the library. It was due in
two weeks and she was eager to improve her G.P.A. In fact, besides
her goal to find out more about her people, her other goal was to
pass her sophomore year with straight B's. Judging by the grades
she got in her freshman year even her parents would tell her that
such a goal seemed unrealistic. Nevertheless, Aradia decided to try
and for the last minute and a half she and Rhonda had sat in the
library researching topics. Aradia at the computer and Rhonda
looking through their textbook.
    Rhonda, however, with her 3.0 GPA didn't seem too
involved or concerned. She kept staring out the window of the
library at the gloomy weather gathering outside.
    Aradia reached over and tapped her friend on the
shoulder. "Hello? Earth to Rhonda! Come in Rhonda!"
    "Hmm?" Rhonda, with her chin in her hand, turned
slowly.
    Aradia rolled her eyes and turned to face her. Thank god for rolling chairs. "Okay what is it? You have
been acting all mopey since class ended? What's up with you Ron?
What's the matter?"
    At first, Rhonda didn't say anything but then she
sighed and said, "I am thinking about the Natalee Holloway
case."
    Aradia groaned and slapped her palm against her face.
"I don't think Mr. Gillard will allow us to chose the example he
gave for our assignment."
    Rhonda hastily shook her head. "No! No! That's not
it. That is not what I am talking about."
    Aradia raised her face and an eyebrow.
    Rhonda pressed her hands together and lowered her
head. She said, taking a deep breath and sighing, "don't you think
it's disgusting that a guy could kill a girl in cold blood and get
away with it?"
    Aradia shifted her gaze to the left. "It happens Ron.
You should know that. Hell! You would be surprised how often such a
thing occurs."
    "What do you mean?"
    Aradia inhaled and exhaled a breath through her nose.
"Need I remind you I am a D.A.'s daughter? I know for a fact that
over a hundred cases appear in every state that go unsolved for
years. Many of them involving young women like us. There are over a
dozen cases in the state of Massachusetts alone where young women
disappear never to be seen again which also means there are over a
dozen people who get away with murder. It's sick I know but it's
true."
    Rhonda just stared. After taking off her glasses and
massaging her temples she said, "but doesn't it upset you?"
    "Of course it does," Aradia stated, "but just because
I am not okay with something doesn't mean it will never
happen."
    "Yeah but don't you wish you could change that?"
Rhonda