McKenzie’s Oregon Operation Read Online Free Page B

sunscreen across her face. “Maybe we could go out there and talk to him. Ask him questions and stuff.”
    McKenzie looked down the beach and saw the woman gathering towels and sand toys. “I think we’re too late.”
    The mother grabbed the little girl’s hand, and the boy tagged along behind, dragging the beach chair. Minutes later they disappeared in the crowd of sunbathers near the resort. The girls ran to the cold water for a few moments, then stretched out on their beach towels.
    McKenzie closed her eyes against the sun. Then she remembered she hadn’t told the Camp Club Girls about the boy’s story of the sea lion pups’ kidnapping. She dug her cell phone from her bag and texted a message. She sent it to Kate and Elizabeth, as well as Bailey Chang in Peoria, Illinois, and Sydney Lincoln in Washington DC.
    She propped herself up with her elbow and glanced at Alex. “Why don’t we get your camcorder and walk down to Sea Lion Harbor? We might as well get started on the video report.”
    The girls quickly gathered their towels and bags and headed to the beach house. After changing their clothes, they grabbed their cameras and stepped out the back door. They set off down the road behind the row of beach homes that led to the Sea Lion Harbor observation area.
    When they arrived at the overlook, McKenzie heard the sea lions before she saw them. Their barking was unlike anything she had ever heard. Even though she had heard them the night before with Aunt Becca, she was still shocked by the noise.
    â€œLook at them all,” McKenzie said, peering over the fence that overlooked the rocky ledge below. “There must be dozens of them. They’re so cute when they play, and they’re so noisy. Do you know what a group of sea lions is called?”
    â€œA cluster?” Alex asked.
    â€œNo, a herd,” McKenzie said. “When Aunt Becca told me that, I thought she was kidding. I thought she said it was a herd because I’m used to cows being in herds!”
    â€œWell, I guess they’re actually about as big as cows,” Alex said.
    â€œAt least some of them. I never realized how big they can get,” McKenzie agreed.
    â€œDo you see Susie?” Alex leaned against the railing and watched the sea lions frolic in the water.
    McKenzie squinted as she searched the herd for Susie. “There she is! On the ledge. That’s not like her. Last night she was spinning like a ballet dancer while Mario and Bianca swam around her. She must not have found her pups yet. She looks sad now.”
    â€œMaybe she misses her babies.” Alex lifted her camcorder and focused on the sea lions below her.
    McKenzie focused her digital camera on Susie and snapped a picture. Several of the sea lions were chasing fish, catching them playfully, then letting them go. “Susie just doesn’t act right. Do you think we could figure out what happened to the pups?”
    Alex lowered her camcorder. “I think we should try, anyway. When I was doing my report for school, I learned it’s illegal to capture sea lions. If we don’t look out for them, who will? They’re God’s creatures, too.”
    â€œIf someone stole Mario and Bianca, we need to find out who did it and what they did with the pups,” McKenzie said, glancing at her watch. “It’s hot out here. Do you want to go back to the beach for a while before Aunt Becca gets off work? That will give us time to figure out how to start this investigation.”
    Alex agreed as she shut off her camcorder. They hurried back down the road to the beach house. After grabbing their towels, they headed to the cove. While they were gone, sunbathers had flocked to the beach, spreading out colorful blankets and coolers. Rock music blared out of someone’s boom box. A few kites dotted the sky.
    McKenzie flung herself onto the sand.
    Alex dropped down beside her and stretched out on her stomach