Case File 13 #3 Read Online Free Page A

pretty sure it says, ‘Welcome. Plenty of spaces. This is the best camping. Set up a tent, relax, and have dinner.’”
    Mom’s mouth twitched. “Either that or ‘Your husband is an idiot and you’re all going to get killed in your sleep.’”
    â€œWell, if we’re going to die, let’s do it on a full stomach,” Dad said. “Who’s going to help me set up the camp stove?”
    Carter raced after him. “Anything that will get the food here faster. I could eat an entire pizza all by myself.”
    Nick chuckled as Carter continued to name every food he could think of. “I don’t think he’s completely clear on the concept of camping food.” When Dad did the planning, most everything they ate was add-water-and-mix. And the last time Nick checked, there was no such thing as dehydrated pizza.
    Angelo continued to study the sign under the illumination of the moonlight.
    â€œAny idea what it really says?” Nick asked.
    â€œNo,” Angelo answered. “But that’s an awful lot of exclamation points for a welcomemessage.”
    Nick sighed, hoping this wasn’t going to be another trip where something disastrous happened.
    Fortunately, things went more smoothly than he could have imagined. Dad got the stove going with no problem and even managed to light a fire. Mom took over the cooking while Dad and the boys set up a pair of tents, inflated the air mattresses, and dug a latrine behind a nearby tree. Dinner—chili, corn on the cob, and biscuits—was delicious. They even made s’mores for dessert while Dad told a story about a one-eyed miner who discovered his mine was actually home to a giant demon.
    â€œWho knew your dad was such a good storyteller?” Carter asked, licking marshmallow off his fingers.
    â€œI think camping brings it out in him,” Nick said. He looked up at the stars that filled the black velvet sky and had to admit things had worked out pretty well.
    Yawning, Mom got up and began putting away the food.
    â€œWait,” Carter said, reaching for the marshmallows. “I wasn’t done.”
    â€œAny more sugar and you’ll be up all night,” Mom said.
    â€œShe’s right,” Angelo agreed. “Remember that time you were sleeping over at my house and ate an entire bag of peanut butter cups right before you went to bed? You got up in the middle of the night, sleepwalked out the front door, and started shooting baskets at three o’clock in the morning.”
    Carter sulked. “I told you. It had nothing to do with the candy. I was dreaming I had to beat Godzilla in a game of HORSE or he was going to destroy New Jersey.”
    â€œThere are worse states he could pick,” Dad said.
    Mom just shook her head and rolled her eyes. “No more sweets and no more scary stories. I’m exhausted and the last thing I want to do is wake up in the middle of the night because one of you boys is having a nightmare.” She walked around the fire and stopped in front of Carter. “Let’s have it.”
    Carter looked up, his eyes wide and innocent. “What?”
    Mom waggled a finger. “You think I don’t know about your stash of sweets? Hand it over. I’ll give it back in the morning.”
    Carter looked at Nick and Angelo as if checking to see which of them had snitched.
    â€œYou might as well give in,” Nick said. “Moms have X-ray vision and a super sense of smell. She can tell if I’ve been wearing the same pair of socks for more than two days without even looking.”
    â€œFine.” Carter dug into his pants pocket and pulled out a bag of gummy worms.
    â€œKeep going,” Mom said, taking the candy.
    Carter frowned and checked his other pockets. One by one, a pair of Kit Kats, three Pixy Stix, a box of Junior Mints, and a package of mini doughnuts went from his pockets into Mom’s hands. “That’s it,” he