Chrystal Bones (Finding Home Book 1) (9 page)

"Sure can little man. In fact your mom and uncle are waiting for us just a little bit away. She is going to be happy to see you. She missed you so much and so did your uncle."

"I know. Mom always misses me." It was said with the total confidence of a boy who knew he was the center of his mom's universe." Blue and Riley shared a glance. Their childhood had been so different from this boy's. No one had been waiting for them.

The little boy showed no signs of abuse, just neglect from the last seven days. Scotty noticed Blue still standing at the door and just stared at her then blurted out, "Wow, you look like an elf. Are you an elf? I watch Lord of the Rings all the time."

"No sweetie. I'm not an Elf."

“You are really pretty." Afraid he had hurt Riley's feelings he told her, "You’re pretty too." Riley smiled and picked him up, even though he was almost as tall as she was, ignoring the stink coming from his unwashed body.

"Do you like cats?" she asked carrying him out of the house to the Jeep.

He nodded with his head on her shoulder, "We have three and one is about to have babies. Mom says they have to stay in the stables. I sneaked one up to my room and mom made me take it back to the stables.”

"Well, we have a really big cat in the jeep. In fact he's a tiger but he won't hurt you, I promise. He likes little boys." Scotty’s eyes got really big before he squirmed to get down, "I want to see." He grabbed her hand and pulled her along as fast as his legs would carry him.

Blue had let Leo out of the jeep and the big cat was sitting next to her. Scotty knew from living on a ranch not to run up to any strange animal so he slowed down. The excitement in his eyes was fun to see. Blue knelt down and with one hand on the tiger’s neck she introduced him to the boy. That was all it took.

Showing no fear at all, Scotty pet and hugged Leo. “Wow. Oh wow. A real tiger. How did you get a real tiger? Can I have one?” The questions poured out of him in one breath.

"Time to go little man. You can pet him in the Jeep,” Riley said. Scotty was in heaven. He was going home and he got to pet a tiger. He couldn't wait to tell his mom and uncle.

Fifteen minutes later Blue pulled off into a clearing on the side of the road large enough for the helicopter to land. Riley called Cole and told him where he could find them. He was close so it would not be long. Scotty’s eyes had closed and he had fallen asleep again. Riley looked worriedly at Blue, "A boy his age should not be sleeping this much."

"I know. I am pretty sure he was given sleeping pills to keep him quite. I saw an empty package of them in the house. He'll be ok,” Blue replied.

The noise from the helicopter was loud enough to hear it coming from a mile away. Blue stepped out of the jeep and made sure her sunglasses were in place. It was easy enough to pass them off as a sensitivity to the sunlight, weak as it was.

The helicopter landed at the same time two cars pulled into the clearing.
Crap, that’s all we need an audience,
she thought. A man stepped out of the first car and glanced towards the helicopter. He gave a two fingered salute before climbing into the passenger seat of the second car. The car pulled back onto the road and left.

Before the rotors could stop on the helicopter Janie was out and running toward them, followed closely by Cole and Jake.
And...... It just gets better and better
, Blue thought. She was about to meet Jake after years of avoiding it.

Riley opened the passenger door of the jeep and lifted Scotty out. She handed him to his weeping mother and felt like shedding a few tears herself. Cole wrapped his arms around both of them and stared at Riley. He said, "I don't know how you found him and I don't care. If you ever need anything from us all you have to do is ask." He then turned his attention back to Scotty and Janie.

Riley looked at Jake expecting him to be watching the happy family reunion but he was not watching them at all. He was staring intently at Blue who still stood next to the driver’s side of the jeep.
Oh boy. Just act like everything is normal,
she told herself as she walked over to him.

"Hi Jake. How’s it going?" She winced inwardly,
what a stupid question. He knew how it was going. It was going great. She and Blue had just reunited a missing boy with his mom and uncle and they had done it in less than twenty-four hours.

There was no way out of it, Jake was going to have questions. Before Jake could respond Scotty's voice rang out, "Blue, Blue you have to let Leo out. I want him to meet my mom and Uncle Cole." Blue slowly walked around the jeep to let the tiger out. She told the adults, "Please don’t be alarmed, Leo is a Bengal Tiger. I promise you, Scotty was never in any danger from him. He won't hurt any of you." Her voice was soft and musical.

Riley was used to it hearing it daily but it was funny to see how everyone went still then relaxed. It happened every time. Her voice was magic all by itself. People trusted that voice and were eager to spill all their secrets just to keep her talking.

Riley heard Scotty whisper loudly, "Isn't she beauuuuutiful Uncle Cole? I wanted to keep her but she said I can't." Everyone laughed, breaking some of the tension, at the innocent pronouncement.

Blue opened the door and the big cat jumped out gracefully. Like the gentleman he was, Leo sat next to Blue and waited for introductions. He nodded his head at each person as Blue said their names. Scotty pulled loose from his mother and ran to hug him. Janie gave a gasp and reached to pull him away. "He really won't hurt him. Watch them,” Blue said.

Janie pushed her fear for her son aside with effort and watched them. It really was something to see. Scotty was petting and hugging a huge tiger and the tiger was clearly enjoying it. She would swear he was smiling. Without taking her eyes from her son she reached out with both hands and clasped one of Blue and Riley's hands in hers.

"I don't know what to say to you both. You brought my son back to me. Saying thank you just isn't enough. I can never repay you for what you have done."

“That's payment enough,” Blue said using her free hand to point at a laughing Scotty and trying to ignore the woman’s thoughts pouring into her.

Riley agreed, "He’s a happy little boy,” she paused then continued, "We believe your ex gave him sleeping pills. You might want to have him checked out by a doctor though. He should be fine, but depending on how much of the drug is still in his system he might sleep a lot for the next day or so."

With tears in her eyes Janie gathered her courage and walked up to her son and the big tiger that scared her. She knelt down next to Scotty and unable to resist reached out a hand to pet Leo. Leo purred and pushed his head into her palm. She let out a giggle and her face reflected the same look of wonder her son’s had. Riley took out her phone and snapped a couple of pictures. She would email them to Janie.

"You are Blue, right? I'm Jake. Nice to finally have a face to go with the name,” Jake spoke up from behind Blue. She had known he was standing there but had put off turning around as long as she could. It was time to face one of her fears. That of coming face to face with a government agent. The odds that he knew of the labs and what really went on in Area 51 were so slim as to be astronomical but she couldn't stop the little spurt of fear.

Schooling her face into a mask of unconcern she turned to face him. "Yes I am. It's nice to finally meet you,” she lied.

"What you do with computers is very impressive. I wish I had you on my team,” Jake said. He looked at her for a long time before saying anything else. They both knew that what she did was not exactly legal. He wanted her to know that he knew but didn't care. "Why the sunglasses? It's not a sunny day so you don't need them,” he asked.

"My eyes are sensitive to light of any kind. The glasses keep the headaches away when I need to go out,” she said calmly.

Jake knew something wasn't right with Blue. He just couldn't think of what. Scotty was right she was beautiful, in an otherworldly weird kind of way and she did kind of look like an elf with her sharp cheekbones and slightly pointed chin. He really wished he could see her eyes but he didn't feel he could ask her to take the sunglasses off.

Not after what she and Riley had accomplished in such a short time. He had worked with them before so he knew they were the best. It had been for that reason he had asked for their help. This time they had surprised him with how fast they had found Scotty. But his instincts were screaming at him that something wasn't right with Blue.

"Thank you,” he said to both of them. Leo chose that moment to walk over and stand in front of Blue. Jake found himself looking into the yellow eyes of the big cat and stepped back. He knew that he would be cat food if he threatened Blue in anyway. He decided he was okay with that.

Scotty was sleeping in his uncle’s arms when Cole carried him to the helicopter. Janie climbed in while Cole strapped Scotty in the seat next to her. He spoke to the pilot then walked back to where Riley, Blue and Jake stood. The machine came to life. The propellers stirred up dirt and sand as they gained speed before lifting off, leaving the two men behind. Blue and Riley looked at each other wondering why the men were still here and a bit upset that they hadn't gotten a chance to say goodbye to Scotty.

"Sorry about that but Scotty fell asleep. Given what you told Janie about the sleeping pills I want him checked out by a doctor right away. Both Janie and I would like it if you both could come to the ranch tomorrow. If you can. Otherwise I can see Scotty throwing a tantrum that would rival Atherton's Pride, sorry A.P.,” Cole said looking at Riley. “Besides you promised A.P. you would come visit. My men tell me he stood and watched the driveway for hours today. They swear he was waiting for you."

Riley laughed, "I'll be there. I'm sure Blue will be too. If she can spend all her time with the horses. She is not much of a people person.” That was the biggest understatement of the year. “I take it that’s your car,” She said pointing to the black BMW that had been dropped off earlier.

"Yes, Jake says you are going after Nate. We're going with you. I want to talk to that bastard myself."

"You can't kill him,” Riley told him. "Blue has a much better plan. Trust me you are going to love it."

Three strange looking motorcycles drove out of the trees into the clearing. Blue's head whipped around to stare at them. Leo gave a low growl in response to her body going stiff with tension. The bikes came to a stop and the men riding them made no move to get off to stretch their legs. All three strangers just looked at the small group.

Slowly they got off the bikes and made their way towards them.
No
, Riley thought,
not towards them, towards Blue.
She, Jake and Cole might as well not even be here for all the attention the men paid them. As they got closer Riley saw that they were like Blue. They didn't belong on this planet any more than Blue did. She felt her heart sink to her stomach. They were here to take Blue away from her. She always knew this day would come and thought she was prepared for it. However, now that it had come she wanted to grab Blue and hide her away. She wasn’t ready to lose her only friend.

Blue stared at the men coming towards her.
Not now,
she thought frantically,
I'm not ready.
She knew they were here for her. A small part of her was happy but the larger part was resentful. Where were they when she was being tortured? That’s when she had needed them. She didn't need them now. She had a life and if she wasn't happy at least she was content. She shook her head and held her hands in front of her to stop them. They stopped and continued to look at her across the space between them.

She felt Riley move to her side. Jake and Cole moved to her other side and Leo stood in front of her ready to tear into them if she gave the word. She should have felt protected surrounded as she was but instead she felt exposed. One of the men softly whispered, “Aaliyah?"

Blue jerked back as if from a physical blow and in a way it was. She had forced herself to forget that name and now it hammered into her mind. "Not my name, not my name, not anymore,” she whispered.

The ice blue chrystal worn around the neck of the man who had whispered her forgotten name rose and snapped the chain anchoring it. It flew towards Blue at a speed too fast for the eye to follow. The chrystal hit her in the throat with enough force that Blue was thrown back several feet.

She was enveloped in a bright icy glow that grew and grew until it pushed Riley, Jake and Cole away from her. Leo tried to stay by her side but he too was gently brushed away. She felt herself being lifted off her feet and floating in mid air, she started spinning around and around.

The sunglasses flew off her face first, then the tie holding her hair back followed, allowing the long strands to fly out around her. She stopped spinning and the light flared so bright that the watchers raised their hands to cover their eyes. They saw her fragile body stiffen then arch back as if in pain. Then they could see no more through the light.

Crystal Bones Billie Jo Hanlin

Chapter 11

When the bright, glowing light dimmed then slowly faded away Blue was left lying unconscious on the ground. Leo was the first to reach her and he let out a roar of protest. Riley was close behind him and knelt next to her. She quickly checked for injures and found none that were visible. She took Blue's hands in hers prepared to wait as long as necessary for her to wake up. One of the alien men was trying to get to Blue but Leo wouldn't let him. The cat was hissing and snarling. The hair on his back stood straight up. Every time the alien took a step forward Leo would force him back.

Riley looked up to see that there was a stand off between the two groups. Cole and Jake were standing in front of two of the men with Leo holding off the third, the aliens were being held back. It was almost comical, except she really didn't feel like laughing. "What did you do to her?" she yelled at the first alien, the one that had spoken to Blue.