Alien Eyes Read Online Free PDF Page A

trash acres, bought with the money Rose made hiring out as muscle to animal rights activists. The girls were asleep in their room, bedclothes askew, the floor barely visible under books, toys, and wadded up clothes.
    David tiptoed in, trying not to notice the brown apple core and the half-eaten cookie with an ant on it. He shuddered at the green-scummed glass of cloudy juice. He stood for a moment, watching the girls sleep.
    David sat cross-legged under their window, between the bunk beds where Lisa and Kendra slept, and the single bed, for Mattie. The girls breathed softly, evenly, except for Lisa, whose breathing was heavy and deep.
    Allergies, David thought.
    He picked a book at random from the floor.
    â€œ Zeus ,” he said softly, holding the book under the night-light so he could see. “ The Adventures of a Parrot in the Big Apple .”
    Mattie stirred and sucked her fingers, but did not wake up. David lowered his voice.
    â€œâ€˜Zeus,’” he said softly, “‘had never gotten over being abandoned, a lone egg, in the nest. Had his mother left him on purpose, or had something happened to her? Whatever the reason, she had never come back …’”

FIVE
    David was partway down the sidewalk before he remembered to send the car on to the police garage. He opened the driver’s door.
    â€œFollow the grid,” he said. “PD garage.”
    â€œAcknowledge, David Silver,” the car said politely. “I should inform you that my gas tank is half-empty.”
    â€œThink of it as half-full.” David slammed the door.
    It had been dark when he left the house. The calf had been tucked into the barn with the llama. The lawn animals had still been stupidly chewing, though the lawn was thoroughly grazed. Tufts of missed grass gave the yard an unkempt look.
    The sun was coming up now, making the sky go pink, with overtones of reddish-brown that meant heavy air pollution. The city air smelled sulfurous and damp. David looked up to the third-floor homicide offices. Lights blazed, the blinds up. He felt a twinge of guilt for going home.
    In his mind he heard Dahmi’s wistful voice. Little baby ones.
    He frowned when he saw the Elaki standing like a sentinel near the back entrance. She was early today—if she’d ever gone home. Her usual place was at the front door, under the overhang and in the shade.
    Why had she moved?
    She was immensely tall, even for an Elaki, and must have been something to see before age had pulled her inward. Her scales were dull, the normally pink inner coloring transparent, the black outer layers faded and streaked with yellow.
    String had warned him not to approach her. No, he did not know why she chose to stand outside police headquarters day after day, but her great age made it an impossible breach of etiquette to ask. If she had something to say, she would say it.
    David chewed his lip. The old Elaki looked ill. Her side pouches hung open and loose—she had borne pouchlings.
    â€œAre you all right?” David asked softly.
    The Elaki did not seem to hear him. She swayed slightly. Her eye prongs drooped, and she did not look up from the sidewalk.
    David shrugged and went into the building.
    Upstairs, Mel was sitting on the edge of his desk. Two women and a man, all in uniform, slumped in chairs. Their shirts and pants were rumpled, jackets off, hats lying around. They had the up-all-night look. David knew it well.
    Mel looked up. “Rose chew you up pretty bad about the shirt?”
    David rubbed his cheek. He had forgotten to shave. He noticed that String stopped working when he heard Rose’s name. Two years ago Rose had killed a serial murderer who had broken into their home, and she had a reputation among Elaki Izicho.
    â€œShe was very understanding,” David said.
    â€œAw, right.” Mel rolled his eyes. “My sister is known for being understanding.”
    David sat behind his desk. He nodded at the