Page 56 of Her Final Hours
There was a spacious sports field that provided ample room for outdoor games, while the waterfront area featured docks and boats, ready to take groups out for water-based activities in the summer months. “With the winter and the lake now frozen, we still use it as a playground for ice skating and other winter sports. The kids love it.”
He pressed on at a fair clip as they tried to keep up.
“And what about all these other structures?” Callie asked.
“Those are for arts and crafts, indoor rock climbing and rope courses, and a chapel for spiritual gatherings and services.”
“Much of a turnout to that?” Noah asked, his eyes roaming.
“Oh, it’s packed. People love it. That’s the way we designed this place. To be a one-and-done camp. Everything you need is here; no need to travel back to the town. Besides, we’re quite far out, so it helps to have everything we need here, especially when folks stay upwards of two weeks at a time.”
Lucas led them into his office, a spacious room located within the administrative building. The office had a warm andinviting ambiance adorned with personal touches and professional elements.
As they entered, the door automatically glided to a close, shutting out the sounds of the camp. The office was well-lit, with natural light streaming through oversized windows overlooking the lake. The walls were decorated with framed photos, awards, and newspaper clippings, showcasing the rich history and achievements of the camp.
On one wall were photographs capturing memorable moments of campers engaged in activities such as hiking, canoeing, and group games. Another section displayed certificates and plaques recognizing the camp’s many contributions to youth development and community involvement over the decades. Newspaper clippings highlighted positive press coverage, testimonials of parents, and stories of successful alums. It was clear what message he wanted people to walk away with.
The furniture consisted of a mahogany desk, with neatly organized papers and files in folders, and a comfortable seating area with a couch and armchairs. A picture frame on the desk displayed a snapshot of Lucas’ family — a testament to his connection to the camp and its mission.
Lucas motioned for Noah and Callie to sit, and they settled into the chairs across from his desk. The room exuded a sense of professionalism and authority. Yet the personal touches provided a glimpse of the man behind the position, the camp owner, the head of the facility — at least one of them.
“Nice family you have there,” Callie said.
“Ah yes,” he picked up the photo. “I don’t deserve them, but I… I’m proud.”
“You have other family members on staff?”
“Three. A sister and two brothers.”
Noah quickly began the conversation, acknowledging the challenges Lucas had faced in the past. “We understand you’vebeen through a lot over the years, what with the way law enforcement focused on you as a person of interest. So I appreciate you seeing us.”
Lucas smiled back, his expression calm and composed. “We all make mistakes, right?” he replied, referring to the previous investigators.
Noah reciprocated with a strained smile. “That we do.”
Lucas took a deep breath and gestured for their attention. “I’m not sure what I can tell that you don’t already know. As you can appreciate, our line of work places us in direct connection with young girls and boys. Trust is a huge factor in ensuring a place like this remains operational. Like I told the previous investigators, why would I risk that? We have been here for sixty years because people trust us. Are we perfect? No. No facility that caters to large groups, young or old, has a spotless record. You piss a few people off while running a place like this. Now we do our best to conduct full criminal background checks and vet all of our employees, which has worked for the most part. However, there are some things we don’t have control over.”
Noah listened attentively, his gaze fixed on Lucas. “And that would be?”
Lucas placed his fingers against the table, his voice steady. “Campers, detective. When parents leave their kids here, they essentially hand over the responsibility of parenting to some degree. Excited kids, young and immature, are prone to make mistakes, wrong choices, and act out. When we have to address disciplinary issues and bring the hammer down, some don’t like that, so they make up stories.”
Callie chimed in, seeking clarification. “By ‘hammer,’ you mean?”
Lucas didn’t seem bothered by the question. “Separating them and moving them from one group to another. We found that to be quite effective. When problems arose, it was usuallystirred up by two or three troublemakers. Separate them, and it puts an end to it. However, nowadays, that’s seen as a little too heavy-handed. Parents send their kids here to have fun, not to be separated from their teen friends and whatnot.”
“So, how have you handled that?” Noah asked.
“A more diplomatic approach. We call the parents and ask them to come and collect their child. Of course, they are sent here because their parents are usually at work. So, they don’t like that. That’s why we decided after it happened one too many times that we would inform the parents beforehand; that way, they could talk with their child, and most of the time, we don’t encounter these problems.”
Noah looked at him, searching for signs of deception. “The missing girls, the ones who attended here, were they troublemakers?”
Lucas leaned back in his seat, clasping his hands together thoughtfully. “Off the record? Yes. If they weren’t, there would have been no accusations.”
Noah processed the information. “Are you sure about that? From what I’ve been able to glean from the reports and statements, these girls were given guidance they didn’t want.”
Lucas glanced down, a small smile forming. “I know what was alleged. I can tell you that any guidance given was related to our facility and assisting them, nothing more. My staff and I do not have the time for anything else, especially not to abduct them. You’d have to be pretty stupid to do that after having them all here at one time or another.”
“Did you think someone might have a vendetta against you?” Noah asked.
