Free Chrystal Bones (Finding Home Book 1) by Billie Jo Hanlin Page A

beam shot out and scanned her right eye. She stepped back so Riley could step forward and the beam scanned her left eye.
    When everything checked out a computerized voice said, "Welcome home Blue and Riley. What is today’s password." "Twinkle, twinkle little star,” Blue said. "Voice verification complete." There was an audible snick as the locks disengaged.
    If she had given the wrong password the garage would have been flooded with an odorless knockout gas that would effect everyone but Blue, even Riley would pass out. They entered the warm house and Blue immediately went to the room next to the kitchen to check the security cameras. Riley wasn't as conscientious as Blue about security but she understood her friends need to be safe in her own home before she could relax.
    Blue returned with a grin on her tired face. "You are not going to believe this. I got a hit with the facial recognition program at a casino in Lincoln City. The LCA was seen entering the casino at 10:26 pm this evening and leaving at 2:59 am with a tall brunette. He played poker and walked away with six grand. No point in going there now but we know where to start looking in the morning."
    She was right about the LCA not leaving the state to gamble. She knew he was an addict and had taken the chance to monitor all the nearby casinos. She hadn’t expected to find him so fast but she wasn’t going to argue with the results. It had been a long day and with very little sleep the night before Blue was exhausted. They would finish this in the morning and have Scotty back with his mom by nightfall. Well before the forty eight hour deadline was up.
     
     

     
    Chrystal Bones Billie Jo Hanlin
     
    Chapter 9
     
    Jayden piloted the shuttle through the the satellites that surrounded the planet and into Earth’s atmosphere. He had timed the trip to make a night landing to lessen the chance of being seen. So far the stealth system was working perfectly. Dro had stayed onboard the Trilleion along with Sparks and Jos to monitor Earth’s communications and to warn Jayden if it became necessary. So far none of the satellites’ surveillance systems had detected them.
    He had opted for a landing on the coast of Oregon since that was where the signals Idris had tracked originated. He set the shuttle down on a deserted stretch of beach between two small towns. They had watched the coast for the last several hours as they flew in and had seen no activity in this area.
    The shuttle blended in to look like one of the giant boulders that littered the base of the sheer cliff when he settled it in place. Working quickly they secured the shuttle before rolling out their transportation. The air cars resembled Earth’s motorcycles enough that if anyone asked they would say they were a prototype being tested. Jos had added fake wheels but that was all that was needed.
    There were still a couple hours of night left and they wanted to travel as far as they could. The plan was to avoid contact with the natives as much as possible. That meant traveling mostly at night and off road. Jayden looked at Idris and said, "Lead the way."
    Idris took the chrystal out from under his shirt, he had no idea how this was going to work and could only hope Dro was right when he said it would lead him to Aaliyah. The glowing pulsing chrystal did nothing for several minutes then it lifted and Idris felt a slight tugging to the north. He looked up and exclaimed in excitement, "It is going to work like a locater. Maybe this will not be as hard as we thought."
    The three alien men mounted the bikes and with Idris in the lead headed in the direction the chrystal led. Staying on the small strip of rocky sand between the ocean and the cliffside when they could, they kept a steady pace and made good time. Before the sun rose they stopped to rest for a couple of hours in a small cave. Wrapping themselves in thin thermal blankets they settled in.
    Idris gave up trying to sleep and moved quietly to sit at