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“WHY, I THOUGHT YOU said she could talk, Mary-Alice.” Boon St. Clair placed his hands on his knees and bent down to make eye contact with the little brown bird in the cage.
The little brown bird hopped sideways on her perch and cocked her head.
“I’m a good bird,” Boon declared.
The bird fixed her beady gaze on Boon but did not reply.
Mary-Alice was relieved to see Boon’s gentle way with the little bird. Mary-Alice had adopted Angela in the course of one of her previous investigations, and in a short time had grown quite fond of her “little angel.”
Boon stood up and ran his fingers through his silver crewcut.
“What kind of bird did you say this was, Mary-Alice?”
“She’s a European Starling. Now I know what you’re thinking, Boon, and I can tell you that Angela most certainly can talk when she has a mind to. In point of fact, she was quite talkative when Father Michael stopped by.” Mary-Alice’s cheeks reddened under her face powder as she relived Father Michael’s last visit.
A chime sounded from inside Mary-Alice’s handbag. She pulled out her phone and checked the text message.
“Oh dear, I’m ever so sorry, Boon, darlin’, but I have to run. Now I know you’ll take good care of Angela, won’t you?”
Boon lifted the cage off the dining room table and hooked it on the wrought-iron stand.
“Of course I will. And you stay safe, Mary-Alice. Give Gertie and Ida Belle and Marge’s niece my regards. What’s that girl’s name again? Harmony?”
“Her name is Fortune. Why, Boon, it was Gertie calling just now. How did you know?”
“I know that look,” Boon chuckled. “You just make sure to take good notes and tell me all about it afterwards. We’ll be waiting right here, won’t we Angela?”
Mary-Alice accepted a chaste peck on the cheek and hurried out. As the front door closed behind her, Angela hopped off her perch, strutted to the edge of the cage, and looked Boon straight in the eye.
“Embrasse moi tchew!” squawked the little bird.
“Now, wherever did you pick up that kind of language?” Boon exclaimed. “Well, I see we have our work cut out for us.”