Read Online McKenzie’s Oregon Operation by Shari Barr - Free Book Online

probably a little too obvious.”
    He paused, then continued, “Let me check inside. I’ll see if anything is missing.”
    The girls followed him into the family room and waited on the couch. Mr. Carney went down the hallway and disappeared into a room.
    A few minutes later he returned. “Nothing seems to be missing. I have no cash to speak of in the cabin. Did you see this woman carrying anything out?”
    McKenzie met Alex’s gaze. “I don’t think so. Unless it was small and she hid it under her jacket.”
    â€œWell, I do know the resort staff came over sometime after I left last night. My Internet is running. Could you have just seen the computer repair lady?”
    â€œBut McKenzie saw her bend down, like she was putting something on the floor by the back door,” Alex reasoned. “Maybe she was putting the key back.”
    Mr. Carney smiled at the girls. “She probably accidently kicked the loons and bent over to shove them aside.”
    Hmm,
McKenzie thought with a frown.
That makes sense. But there could still be a clue here. And I don’t want to miss it.
    â€œI have an idea,” McKenzie announced. “Why don’t you call the resort office and ask them what time the computer techie came over? Then we’d know if it was the resort staff or someone else.”
    â€œOr Mrs. Franks,” Alex piped in, hopping to her feet.
    â€œTia Franks?” Mr. Carney asked. “Is that who you thought you saw last night?”
    McKenzie glanced at Alex, then turned back to her neighbor. “Well, it kind of looked like her, but her hair was different. Do you know her?”
    â€œEveryone around here knows Mel and Tia Franks. She would have no reason to break into my cabin, girls.” Mr. Carney smiled gently at them. “The Frankses are wealthy. They’ve done extensive research on sea lions and caves in the area. They’re very well known in their field. I have nothing that would be of value to them. Besides, I see nothing out of place in here.”
    McKenzie began to feel a little foolish. Had she just imagined that the woman looked a little like Mrs. Franks?
    â€œI’ll tell you what. I’ll go ahead and call the resort office to see if they keep a record of times their staff makes calls.” Mr. Carney picked up his phone on the end table and punched in a few numbers.
    He spoke to someone on the other end of the line for a few minutes and then hung up. “They don’t keep track of the time service calls are made. All they know is a young female staff member got the Internet running last evening sometime.”
    McKenzie was beginning to wish she had never seen the woman. She felt there was something suspicious, but she couldn’t prove it.
Why were there no lights on in the cabin when I saw her, not even on the sun porch? Because she didn’t want to be seen, that’s why!
    â€œI’m sorry we bothered you, Mr. C. Maybe I was mistaken,” McKenzie said. “She just acted so…funny, you know?”
    Mr. Carney put his arms around McKenzie’s and Alex’s shoulders. “Don’t worry about it, girls. Like I said earlier, I’m glad you’re looking out for me.” He paused. “Hey, I was going to loan you that book about caves before you leave. I haven’t finished it, but I’ll let you read about the local caves. Let me get it.”
    The girls waited as Mr. Carney headed to his bedroom. After a few minutes, he returned. “I can’t seem to find it. I thought I left it on the nightstand, but I’ll have to look around for it and bring it over later.”
    As the girls headed to the back door, McKenzie turned to her neighbor. “I’ve been wondering. If Mr. and Mrs. Franks are so rich, why are they staying at this resort? There are a lot fancier resorts than this one.”
    â€œThey come to this cabin every summer while they do work with the Sea Park