The Green Children: A Sycamore Moon Novel (Sycamore Moon Series Book 3) by Domino Finn Read Free Book Online Page A

that's never happened here? We run a very safe site."
    "You can't control everything. It's not your fault."
    The man nodded and leaned back in his chair, finally giving his full attention to Diego. "I'm Charlie Charles. Twice the name, twice the fun."
    Diego's eyes widened. "I can see that."
    "Twice the girth, too!" Charlie cracked into a boisterous laugh and Diego hoped the man was referring to his belly. "Sit down, sit down."
    Diego took a seat and decided to get through this quickly. He didn't feel like listening to bad jokes while an eight-year-old was lost.
    "I checked around the grounds," started Diego. "Everyone looked pretty normal. Was there anyone staying here who felt off to you?"
    The office manager chuckled. "We're in Sycamore, son. Nobody would be here if they weren't just a little bit different."
    Diego tilted his head and waited for a real answer.
    Charlie waved his hand dismissively. "The police interviewed everyone yesterday. Since you're working with them you should have that info." The man gave Diego a wink.
    "I'm more concerned with whether the police could have missed anything. Did they account for everybody?"
    Another chuckle. "There's not much place to hide. The cars and RVs are all parked by their lots. I know for a fact the deputies talked to every renter. I went site-to-site with them, giving them the names of each guest."
    "You have contact information for every single person on the grounds?"
    Charlie shook his head. "Just the renters. The ones paying me the money. We have a limit on the number of guests in each lot, but we don't make them register or anything. I trusted that follow-up to the police." The man's face darkened. "I wish there was more I could do for that girl. I have two daughters myself. Can't imagine what the mother is going through."
    Diego's thoughts fluttered to Julia. He'd spoken with her on the phone this morning but was hoping to avoid seeing her in person until there was better news. Perhaps it wasn't realistic, but the thought of seeing her smile again was all he thought about. First he had to free her from this terrible burden.
    "You are helping by cooperating, Charlie."
    "Well, I don't know what to tell you. I know a lot of the locals, the repeat customers, but it was so busy and my memory's not that great."
    "I saw quite a few empty lots out there."
    Charlie slapped his desk. "Something about a child abduction in broad daylight that'll kill business. Besides, it's Tuesday. Easter weekend is over and it's back to the grind. Not all of us outdoors folks are the types with nine to fives, but plenty of normal families come out. Trust me, it was a full house this weekend. Six cabins, ten hook-ups, and sixteen sites. All thirty-two lots were occupied. I even had to deny an RV entrance. Can't remember the last time that happened."
    Diego perked up. "When was this?"
    "On Easter Sunday, late at night. We're staffed twenty-four seven. I was there that night. Red came by looking for a plug-in, but I had to turn him away. We were full."
    "Red?"
    "He's a regular. An old man. I see him two or three times a year, maybe. He lives in his motor home hereabouts. Moves around as it suits him and visits the local campgrounds to resupply and use the facilities. Most of these guys do that. It's not a problem as long as they pay."
    "Do you have his name and address?"
    "Sure," said Charlie, "but it's a waste of time. Like I said, Red was in and out that night. I don't know where he ended up, but he was long gone before that girl went missing."
    "I'd still like the address."
    Charlie sighed and lifted his heavy frame from the chair. He plodded over and opened a file cabinet. "I didn't get his information that night on account of turning him away, but I'll have some paper on him somewhere." The office manager leafed through months of documents and chatted to pass the time. "The old man's a character. A little loopy, but likes to keep to himself. He'd probably be a true hermit if he could, but