Chereads / The Adventures of The Clue Crackers-(Moved to a New Link) / Chapter 4 - Case #4: The Case of The Kansas Aliens

Chapter 4 - Case #4: The Case of The Kansas Aliens

The Clue Crackers were on a case on a cruise ship. Judy accidentally stepped into something while The Clue Crackers were investigating the cargo hole. Judy said, "Please tell me that's not seaweed on my shoe." Cassidy got down and held her magnifying glass up to Judy's shoe. Cassidy said, "Nope. It's just some...." Judy stated, "What?" Cassidy rubbed her fingers on what Judy stepped in and then smelt it. Cassidy didn't think it smelled very nice, so she took a sample of the substance, put it in a bag, and got Judy's foot free. After Cassidy got Judy's foot free, the ghost haunting the ship showed up, and The Clue Crackers all screamed. Then they all ran for it, and the spirit chased after them.

The Clue Crackers ran out of the cargo hole and up to the main deck. When they arrived, the ghost spotted them and tried to catch them. Then Brad pulled the rope they had set up and got the spirit in the net they had set up. Brad dropped the net, and Cassidy removed the ghost's mask. Brad, Judy, and Ricky said, "Crystal, Lovely." Cassidy stated, "Yes, Crystal Lovely. She wanted to ruin the cruise for everyone. So when we stopped at our next port, everyone would run away screaming, and no one would come aboard again." Judy said, "But why? What does she have against this ship?" Crystal stated, "Not just this ship, all ships. As a kid, I went on a cruise with my family. But then a storm hit and sank the ship. It ruined my family vacation. So I decided to ruin everyone else's." Captain Wolf said, "But how did you kids know it was her." Cassidy stated, "Simple, we put our clues together. We found her family picture on the main deck. She's the little girl in the photo. And even though I never tested it, I can tell you that we have a bag of rotten fruit here just by smelling it. And back when we questioned Crystal, she mentioned she loves all fruit." Captain Wolf said, "What about her ability to fly?" Judy removed Crystal's costume, and everyone saw a balloon suit underneath. Judy stated, "Crystal used helium tanks to fill her costume up with balloons, which gave her the ability to fly." Crystal said, "And I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you meddling kids." Since they solved the mystery, all the passengers, including The Clue Crackers, started having fun again. Once the ship docked, The Clue Crackers got off, got their all-terrain cycles from the ship's cargo, and drove them around town, hoping to figure out where they were.

While riding their all-terrain cycles around town, Judy saw something flying in the sky. Judy stopped her all-terrain cycle, removed her helmet, and looked at the sky. The other Clue Crackers wondered why Judy stopped. Then they looked up in the sky and saw what she saw. Brad said, "Is that a UFO?" Cassidy stated, "Brad, there's no such thing. It's probably just a jet." When the thing in the air passed over The Clue Crackers, their all-terrain cycles started to shut down. Once they did, The Clue Crackers tried to begin their all-terrain bikes but couldn't.

Since they couldn't start their all-terrain cycles, they got off them and tried to fix them. Since the UFO was gone, they attempted to restart their all-terrain bikes again. Then they drove around town and found a sign that said, "Welcome to Kansas." Judy stated, "At least we know where we are." While driving around town, they spotted something weird, so they stopped their all-terrain cycles, took off their helmets, and checked it out. Once they got there, they couldn't believe what they saw. All five of them walked up to what they witnessed and noticed it was a genuine UFO that had landed on Earth. All of them said at the same time, "Wow." Cassidy stated, "I don't believe it. This thing is an actual flying saucer." The flying saucer shook and beeped. While investigating, a girl approached them and told them about it. The girl said, "It's been here almost a week." The Clue Crackers all turned around and saw the girl. Brad stated, "Who are you?" The girl said, "Name's Monica." Judy said, "You know of this flying saucer or whatever it is?" Monica stated, "Yep, it's real. And I bet it's full of aliens." Cassidy had suspicions about Monica and had put her down as a suspect. Cassidy said, "Hmm."

The Clue Crackers then investigated the UFO. Judy leaned down and said, "You who, aliens." Brad hit part of the UFO with a hammer, Judy looked at some pieces with a magnifying glass, Cassidy held a statoscope onto the UFO and tried to find any life, and Ricky and Jake searched it for aliens. While they were looking around, Judy saw a clue. Judy said, "Look, it's a message of some sort." Cassidy took the piece of the flying saucer Judy held and looked at it but didn't recognize the letters. Cassidy said, "It must be alien code because I can read English, French, and Chinese. But I can't make heads or tails of this."

While they looked at the alien writing, two shadows walked up from behind them. Then, a green glow appeared and shined on them. Then, all six saw the green light and turned around to see where it was coming from. When they did, they noticed two aliens in hovercrafts. Once they caught them, they all screamed in terror. Judy said, "Let's get out of here." All six ran for their lives and took the piece of the flying saucer with them for evidence.

While they were running, the aliens chased after them. They pursued them through the desert and into town. Once they entered town, the aliens couldn't find The Clue Crackers and Monica. After they lost the aliens, they climbed down from the trees they were hiding in. Judy said, "They're gone." Brad stated, "Well, gang. It looks like we got another mystery on our hands." Cassidy said, "I think I just found our first clue." Brad said, "What?" Cassidy pointed up, and The Clue Crackers and Monica saw the treetops sliced directly in half in a perfectly straight line. Judy said, "Maybe they cut them down when they flew by." Cassidy stated, "Maybe, but I'm not sure."

While they looked at the trees, they heard something from above them. They looked up and saw the flying saucer they had witnessed earlier. Cassidy said, "There must be a logical explanation for this." Brad stated, "UFOs in the sky." Judy said, "Aliens that haunt the desert." Cassidy said, "Trees sliced when the aliens come by." Ricky stated, "A ship that crashed to Earth." Brad said, "And a message from outer space with an unknown language on it." Judy said, "They don't quite fit together." Cassidy stated, "We're just missing a few pieces." The Clue Crackers snuck around town when it got dark, looking for clues. Brad said, "I still can't believe we must walk instead of taking our all-terrain cycles." Cassidy stated, "Do you want to wake people up and think we're behind this?" Brad said, "No."

The Clue Crackers went where they saw those sliced trees and started investigating. Judy cast her flashlight down at the ground and found tire tracks. Judy said, "Hey, tire tracks." The Clue Crackers followed the tire tracks to a barn. Cassidy tried to open the doors, but they were locked. Cassidy said, "Someone locked them from the inside." Ricky stated, "Jake, will you do the honors?" Jake dug under the doors and made a tunnel into the barn. When they got in, they saw a jeep inside. Cassidy said, "That jeep must have made those tire tracks." Judy stated, "I wonder if that jeep has anything to do with our mysterious UFO." Brad said, "Maybe. The engine is cold." Judy pointed at the ignition and stated, "The keys are also gone. It doesn't seem like anyone's used this Jeep lately." Ricky tried to open the glove compartment, but someone left it locked. Ricky said, "Really? Then why is the glove compartment locked?" Judy stated, "I don't know. But I bet I can open it." Judy took a hairpin from her hair, put it in the keyhole, and used it to pick the lock. Once Judy opened the glove compartment, she grabbed a set of keys. Judy said, "This must be the ignition keys." Brad found a map inside and saw it was a town map. Brad stated, "Why would someone keep a map of the town in their glove compartment?" Ricky stated, "To find a specific spot in the town when they first arrived?" Brad said, "Maybe. But I'm not sure."

While in the barn, they heard rock music coming from outside. Brad said, "Who could be rocking at this hour? They could wake the town." The Clue Crackers followed the music to a stage in the park and saw The Pinewood Girls rocking. Britney played guitar, Sarah played the keyboard, and Tina played drums. The Clue Crackers left when the song was over, and Cassidy had her suspicion. Cassidy said, "Guys, we just met our alien friends." Brad stated, "The Pinewood Girls?" Cassidy said, "Yep. Two can be the aliens, and the third can fly the UFO, like a kite." Judy stated, "Do you think they're doing this so people will come to their show?" Cassidy stated, "Yep. I say tomorrow we split up. Three of us will spy on The Pinewood Girls while the other two look in their trailer for clues." Brad held straws up to his team, and they each picked one. When they showed them what straws they had, they saw the girls got the two short straws and the boys got the other two long straws. Brad said, "Ok, Ricky, Jake, and I will spy on The Pinewood Girls. Cassidy, you and Judy look in their trailer."

The next day, The Clue Crackers saw The Pinewood Girls leaving their trailer. After they departed, Judy and Cassidy ran inside while Brad, Ricky, and Jake followed Britney, Sarah, and Tina. Brad, Ricky, and Jake followed The Pinewood Girls to the town's diner. Then they peered in the window and saw them sitting at a reserved table. When Britney looked at the window, Brad, Ricky, and Jake got down so they wouldn't notice them. While they were spying on The Pinewood Girls, the boys saw the lights in the diner flickering. Then, the lights went out, and the boys witnessed the UFO flying overhead. Brad said, "Well, The Pinewood Girls sure aren't behind this." Ricky stated, "But if they're not, who is?" Brad said, "That's what we're going to find out."

Judy and Cassidy were searching their trailer for clues. Judy looked at a picture of The Pinewood Girls and saw they looked like best friends. Cassidy glanced at the desk and found a music book. Cassidy said, "Looks like these girls love their music." While they were searching, the lights flickered, and then they went out. When they looked out the window, they saw the UFO flying overhead. When it left, the lights in the trailer came back on. Judy said, "OK, if that thing isn't real, how can it block out everything electric when it flies overhead?" Cassidy stated, "Good question." While they were searching in the trailer, Judy's cell phone started to ring, so she answered it. Judy said, "Hello." Brad stated, "Girls, get out of there. The Pinewood Girls are coming back." Judy hung up her phone, and they quickly ran out of the trailer before The Pinewood Girls returned.

Once the Pinewood Girls returned, The Clue Crackers re-grouped and searched for more clues. Cassidy said, "I no longer think The Pinewood Girls are behind this. They seem to be more into music than scaring people." While they were talking, Judy accidentally stepped into something. Judy said, "Guys, I think there's something on my shoe." Cassidy looked at what was on Judy's shoe and rubbed it on her fingers so she could tell what it was. Judy said, "Alien slime?" Cassidy stated, "Try oil." Judy said, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Brad stated, "UFOs in the sky." Judy said, "Oil that came from underground." Cassidy said, 'We found the jeep hidden in the barn." Ricky stated, "And we also found the journal by the crashed spaceship." Brad said, "Aliens in the desert." While they were reviewing, Judy saw the aliens. Judy pointed at them and stated, "You mean those aliens." The Clue Crackers spotted the aliens, screamed, and then ran from them while they chased them.

The aliens chased The Clue Crackers into town. One alien went after Brad, Cassidy, and Jake, while the other alien chased after Judy and Ricky. Brad, Cassidy, and Jake ran across town while Judy and Ricky ran towards the barn. Judy and Ricky jumped back in the hole Jake made and ran back into the barn. The alien chasing them did the same but lost Judy and Ricky when he got in. The alien looked around and passed Judy, hiding under the Jeep. He examined the animal cages but couldn't find them.

Meanwhile, Brad, Cassidy, and Jake got chased by the other alien across town until it lost them at the gas station. The alien looked around the gas station but couldn't find any trace of Brad, Cassidy, or Jake. The alien left, and Brad, Cassidy, and Jake emerged from hiding. Cassidy looked on the ground and found a wire. Cassidy said, "Hey, look at this." Brad stated, "A piece of wire?" Cassidy dropped it and declared, "And it's hot. Hmm, that's strange."

Meanwhile, Ricky peered out of the haystack he was in and saw the alien looking for them had left. But then he saw A man and his wife walk into the barn, so Judy and Ricky stayed hidden to listen in. The man said, "Clara, you can't leave town." Clara said, "I'm sorry, John. But with those aliens around, it's too dangerous for me. That's why I brought you here so that we can talk privately." Judy whispered, "If they only knew." Judy tape-recorded everything they said. Judy also noticed dry mud on Clara's shoes. Clara and John left when they finished talking. Then Judy and Ricky left.

Later, Ace, the owner of The Clue Crackers' hotel, checked them into the town's hotel. Ace showed The Clue Crackers to their room, and then they reviewed their clues. Judy said, "Clara and John showed up right after the alien left. And while they were talking, Clara said she didn't like the aliens. But why was there dry mud on her shoes if she didn't? It would have been fresh if she got it while in the barn." Cassidy said, "What about this wire we found?" Cassidy showed Judy and Ricky the wire they found. Cassidy stated, "It was hot when we found it, which means it had to have gotten used recently." Ricky said, "What about the key and gloves inside the locked glove compartment?" Cassidy stated, "Well, pieces of this mystery are starting to come together. But other pieces still don't fit."

Cassidy turned on her computer and looked up the writing on the flying saucer piece Judy found by the crashed UFO. Judy said, "What are you doing?" Cassidy stated, "Trying to find out what the message you found says." Brad stated, "I bet it says, 'We come in peace.'" Ricky stated, "I bet it says, 'Take us to your leader.'" Judy said. "I bet it says, 'We want to take over the Earth.'" Cassidy said, "You're all wrong. According to my web search, it says, 'Evacuate the area' in Russian. That's why I couldn't read it." The other Clue Crackers all got confused and said at the same time, "Evacuate the area in Russian?" Judy stated, "The aliens are Russian?" Cassidy stated, "No, whoever's behind this is. The only question is, 'Who around here is Russian?' We have plenty of suspects.

Cassidy showed her team their suspect list on her computer. Then, photos of all their suspects appeared on her screen, and she lined them up. Cassidy said, "Monica is the one who's most obsessed with the aliens, but she doesn't seem smart enough." Brad stated, "John's smart enough. And you said he wants Clara to stay in town." Ricky said, "The Pinewood Girls seem unlikely. They take more interest in their music. Plus, we saw them at the same time as the UFO." Judy said, "Clara's smart enough. And she had dry mud on her shoes while talking to John. But she doesn't want to be around the aliens; she's too scared." Judy thought about it and said, "Let's split up and follow different suspects." Brad stated, "Sounds good to me."

Brad followed Monica back to her house. Once he got there, Brad peered inside Monica's window and saw her watching TV, and he noticed that she had a bunch of alien stuff in her house. Judy and Cassidy found Clara at the gas station and filled her gas tank. Clara then paid the man who sold her the gas and dropped something just before she got in her car. Judy said, "Look, she dropped something." Clara then left, and Judy and Cassidy picked up what she dropped. Cassidy stated, "A round-trip ticket to Miami." Judy said, "I thought Clara couldn't stand the aliens here. So, why would she buy a round-trip ticket instead of a one-way ticket?" Ricky and Jake followed John to the radio station and watched him do his radio show. John said, "Good afternoon, Kansas. Broadcasting to you live is John from the KRS network. The latest scoop is that the aliens were last sighted near the ridge behind the wooden fence. Also, The Pinewood Girls' show is going to take off tonight. Let's hope the aliens don't show up." Ricky whispered, "Let's go tell the others."

Ricky and Jake left the radio station and met with their team in their hotel room. Brad said, "Based on what we found, anyone is still a suspect. Monica has a motive; she has a whole bunch of alien stuff in her house." Judy said, "And she was the one who led us to the crashed UFO where we first saw the aliens." Cassidy stated, "There's still Clara. Remember, she had dry mud on her shoes while she spoke to John right after Judy and Ricky saw one of the aliens. And she dropped that round trip ticket after she got gas for her car." Ricky said, "John also has a motive himself. He's the host of a radio show that gives updates on these aliens. And he knew where the aliens last got sited." Cassidy said, "Oh, where was that?" Ricky stated, "A ridge behind a wooden fence. Sadly, he didn't say where the fence was." Cassidy said, "I think I know where it is."

The Clue Crackers got on their all-terrain cycles and followed Cassidy into the desert. When they reached the middle of it, they spotted the wooden fence. Then they parked their all-terrain bikes, climbed the wall, and jumped over it. Once they got to the other side, they found more oil coming from underground. Cassidy said, "Well, this looks familiar." Brad stated, "I think this mystery is almost solved. The only thing left to do is trap those aliens." The Clue Crackers returned to the crashed UFO and set a trap for the aliens there. Brad said, "OK, let's review. Cassidy and Jake will find the aliens and lure them here. Once they're here, Judy, Ricky, and I will pull the rope and catch Cassidy and Jake in a net while the aliens run by the UFO, where we dug a deep hole. The aliens fall in, and we capture the aliens and solve the mystery."

Cassidy and Jake went looking for the aliens. They checked over by the wooden fence and saw the aliens' footprints walking away from the wall. They also noticed the alien footprints disappear and a woman's shoeprint appearing after them. Cassidy then looked up and saw the flying UFO flying overhead. Then, a green light appeared on Cassidy and Jake. Cassidy then screamed, and they ran for their lives. Then they ran into the aliens and fell to the ground. Once they did, Cassidy and Jake looked up and saw the aliens. Cassidy then screamed and ran in a different direction with Jake before the aliens got them. The aliens then chased Cassidy, and Jake ran by the crashed flying saucer, and their team caught them in a net. Then the aliens ran under Cassidy and Jake and fell into the pit The Clue Crackers dug. Brad said, "Got 'em." The flying saucer in the sky then flew overhead and cast a green light on The Clue Crackers. A person inside the spaceship said over the loudspeaker, "This is the FBI. Remain where you are."

Ropes then dropped down from the UFO, and FBI agents slid down on them, surrounded The Clue Crackers, and held guns up to them. Brad said, "Wait. This capture is all a big misunderstanding." One of the FBI agents said, "Oh." Judy stated, "Absolutely. We're not the guilty ones; they are." Judy pointed into the pit, and the FBI held guns to the aliens inside the hole. One of the FBI agents said, "But who are they?" Cassidy stated, "Don't you recognize them?" Cassidy removed the aliens' masks and showed the FBI who they were. One of the FBI agents said, "It's Clara and John Thompson. But how did you know?" Cassidy stated, "Simple. The flying saucer we saw above was your FBI helicopter looking for the culprits of the mystery. You figured we must be the culprits when you saw us snooping around the crime scene." One of the FBI agents said, "That's right. But I guess we were wrong."

Judy said, "We were working on the case too. We figured out it was Clara and John when we put our clues together. The mud on Clara's shoes wasn't mud; it was oil, just like what Judy had stepped into. She had just come from finding more oil for them to sell and become rich in Miami. That's why John bought a round trip ticket; Clara wants out of here, but John was thinking of coming back to do his radio show." Brad said, "And this hot wire we found was a piece of wire from that crashed UFO, which made it crash, but it was just a life-like kite that looked like one. When the wire broke, it crashed. They used the Jeep we found in the barn to fly it. They locked the glove compartment so no one would steal the keys." Ricky said, "That explains the tire tracks and how the treetops got sliced perfectly in half."

Judy said, "We also figured out you were involved when we found the Russian message telling us to evacuate." Cassidy stated, "And the final clue was the footprints. When the alien ones disappeared, Clara's footprints appeared. That meant she took off her costume when she was done collecting the oil and went into town as herself so no one would suspect her, but Just caught a glance of the oil on her shoes." Clara said, "You are too smart for us." John stated, "We would have made a profit if it wasn't for you meddling kids and your dog." The FBI then took Clara and John to jail, and The Clue Crackers celebrated their victory with a Pinewood Girls' concert.

The End