Page 46 of Keep Him Like Secrets

He ignored that.

“I am going to have a few crews over at the building tomorrow.”

“Doing what?”

“Getting rid of the rats—and any other pests if they find them.”

“I better not hear you let anyone hurt any pigeons if they’re there.”

“You have a soft spot for pigeons?”

“We failed them.”

“Failed them?”

“We domesticated them. Brought them down from the rocky cliffs that they were native to to keep them in cages in cities. Then used them for their flying skills. And then when we didn’t need them anymore, we just… tossed them out like garbage. It’s not their fault that they hang around us. They rely on us, since they are no longer anywhere near their native area.”

“Do you have pet birds?”

“No. I mean, I would maybe take in a pigeon if I found one that needed a home. But no.”

“Then why the passion about them? Humans have been cruel to animals since the dawn of time.”

“I saw some asshole kick one once. Killed it.” I went ahead and left out the part where I’d almost killedhimfor it. “And I dunno. I was so upset about it that I started to look into why so many people hate pigeons. Read a few books. Watched a lot of videos. And that’s when I learned about what we did to them. I, uh, actually feed the pigeons in the park near my apartment.”

I hauled fifty-pound birdseed bags to my apartment every two weeks to always have on hand for those trips. It was the closest I got to a gym routine.

“With all the old ladies?” Soren asked, a smile warm enough to make his eyes look all gooey.

“Hey, those old ladies are a good time. I met one once who confessed to killing her first husband.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep. We can’t judge her too hard. She said he was always knocking her around. So she slipped a little belladonna in his nightcap. And she got to play the grieving widow, sell the house, and move to the city like she always wanted to. Then she married four more times.”

“Four?” Soren asked, looking suspicious.

“I know what you’re thinking. But she claims they all died of natural causes. Though, come to think of it, there was a strange look in her eye when she said the last one died.”

“How’d he die?”

“Stepped in front of a bus. Though, looking back, she never mentioned him stepping out in front of the bus. Maybe she pushed him.”

“And who would suspect the little old lady?”

“The perfect crime. Twice. I kind of have even more respect for her now.”

“So, to earn your respect, someone has to murder. Twice.”

“It certainly would help to bump you up toward the top of my list.”

“You know, I have a particularly annoying neighbor…”

I was determined not to be charmed by him.

But a little laugh bubbled up and burst out.

“How would you do it?” I asked.

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