Thanks for the beta Laeyeball.

LK

4

They stopped in the middle of nowhere and got out of the car. Sabrina nodded.

''We got to split up. One of us will take the car, and the rest on foot.''

Kelly sighed. ''How long will it take for us to reach the school on foot?''

The driver took off his hat, and tossed it in the back seat. ''Bout thirty minutes. Dya all ladies got boom stick with ya?''

''Excuse me?'' Kris scratched her head.

''Oh, ya know, guns and stuff.'' he chimed.

''Oh errr... yeah we do.''

Sabrina chuckled. ''Kris, hop in the car, me and Kelly will...''

''No way Duncan!'' Kelly protested. Sabrina rolled her eyes and shoved her away.

''Be careful Kris.'' Sabrina winked. ''Jill would kill us if anything went wrong.'' She grabbed Kelly's shirt and dragged her along, until they were nothing more than a couple of dots in the distance.

Kris got in the front seat again, and the smiling man started the proper greeting.

''So, I'm Johnny, my old man runs the place.'' he turned the music up again, as he drove slowly. ''He been worried about mass panic. Hazel's folk gave him a call, he knows who you three are, but trust me honey-cheeks, this won't leave the car. I shall be silent like a grave.'' he pantomimed a zipper on his mouth.

Really? Honey-cheeks? ''That's good Johnny. I'm Kris.''

''Glad to meet ya sweet cakes.''

Eeeew. ''Glad to meet you.''

In the meantime,Sabrina and Kelly were fighting each other all the way to the academy.

''Why the hell did you let Kris ride alone?!''

''Because she's blond and pretty.'' Sabrina muttered.

''What?!'' Kelly gasped.

''Just saying! She passed out from the heat earlier! That's why! Focus Kelly, focus!''

''Oh!'' For the first time Kelly laughed. The heat was making her grumpy and edgy.

Sabrina's eyebrows rose in a grin. ''So, we're about two miles away.'' she pointed at a small eerie outline in the horizon. ''It could be it, or just a Fata Morgana.''

''Uh?''

''Fata Morgana: Is a complex mirage seen right above the narrow line on the horizon. The phrase derives from Latin, for fairy, because it was believed that the illusion was fairy castles. This optical phenomenon occurs because rays of light are bent when they pass through air layers of different temperatures in a steep thermal inversion where an atmospheric duct has formed. A classic Fata Morgana illusion is the ship of the flying Dutchman-'' Sabrina paused and turned to Kelly, to see if she was following. ''I'm talking to myself, aren't I?''

Kelly silently nodded, without taking her eyes of Bri, who sighed and shoved her hands in her pockets. ''It's actually an illusion caused from the heat and other factors. Basically, your eyes go cuckoo 'cause of the sun.''

''Oh.''

Soon the sun went down, and at least they weren't directly struck by the rays. A few minutes later they passed under the ''Welcome to Harrison's School For Girls'' sign. Sabrina took the path to her left and Kelly to her right. shouldn't be seen together. Sabrina actually felt lucky she didn't have a large suitcase to carry, like Kelly had, but only a rucksack . Or maybe she wasthe most optimistic about how long their stay would be Either way, they had just arrived. She entered the school building, and a cleaning woman showed her the way to the offices. She briskly knocked on the Principals office.

''Enter.'' came the voice from inside.

''Aye aye captain...'' she muttered to herself as she pushed the door open. She was greeted by a gray haired man in his late fifties. After a brief greeting and handshake they sat down to discuss. From what she picked up, the man wasn't exactly happy about her presence , neither convinced from the fact that one of his students was well...dead.

''You see, we're a small community here, and believe me, none of my girls or staff would ever do something like this.''

''I believe you Mr Harrison, it is important though that we rule out the staff and students as suspects. It will be a long process.'' She sat down on an offered chair. ''I understand that the police are not really investigating?''

''No, of course, as I told you, the death was a horrible accident.'' He inhaled sharply. ''There is nothing to investigate.''

''Well, Hazel's parents think it might not have been an accident. Has there been a funeral?''

''No, the parents requested the body stays in the morgue until you are here.''

Sabrina locked her hands together nervously. ''And where exactly is the morgue?''

''Johnny can take you there early in the morning.'' He nodded at her confusion. ''My son.''

''Ah. That is okay then. Tell him, I will wait by the front gates tomorrow at six. Class starts at 8.30 right?''

''Indeed.''

She got up, and shook his hand again. ''My co-workers must already be in the building. I would like you to keep it like we're not linked in any way.''

''Of course. Have a good night.'' he said dismissively.

Sabrina offered him a forced smile and exited the room.