While waiting for Maxi’s pet to finish eating, Tia remained huddled in the corner in case someone in the house decided to peer into the aviary. She couldn’t see any faces pressed to the glass, but the aviary had been built such that it could be seen from many rooms. Even if it hadn’t provided a home for such a spectacular pet, it would be an awesome sight with the way Maxi had brought the outdoors into his house.

Maxi had given Tia a Koosh ball to toss to Kiki. He said she played fetch like a dog and that retrieving it would help keep her stimulated. Tia hadn’t brought it out yet, though. Maxi had said Kiki loved it so much, she wouldn’t eat her dinner if she saw it.

“That’s a good girl,” Tia said.

This time Kiki didn’t create an echo, and Tia shifted to sit cross-legged in an attempt to get more comfortable. When Tia learned she’d be caring for a parrot, she’d done some studying and learned that these birds could live to be fifty years old. That was surprising, but it was equally surprising to read that it was difficult to determine the sex of a parrot. Physical examination didn’t make it obvious; it required a DNA test.

Had Maxi ever had Kiki tested? Or had he decided—from her beauty or something else—that he’d simply assume she was a female?

“Are you really a girl?” she whispered to the bird.

“Pretty girl,” the bird responded, adding a sharp whistle. “Pretty girl.”

Shoot! Again, Tia looked around, expecting the man she’d met earlier to be peering in at them.

But she didn’t see anyone. Maybe whoever was at the house had already looked their fill and they were doing something else now. She was pretty sure they were eating.

She stayed in the atrium with Kiki for over an hour. Maxi said ninety minutes would be ideal, but she was too nervous to hang out any longer. She played fetch with Kiki, gave her some pumpkin seeds, which Maxi said she’d love, and decided to get out while she could. But the bird started to whistle as soon as she got up.

“Pretty girl. Pretty girl,” Kiki said, over and over.

Tia guessed Kiki could sense that her playmate was about to leave and didn’t want that to happen. She was making so much noise that Tia was hesitant to open the door.

“Shh,” she said again, but that only started the bird saying, “Be quiet. Be quiet.” Squawk. “Be quiet.”

Tia tossed the Koosh ball to the other side of the atrium and let herself out as the bird swooped down to get it.

“Shh, be quiet,” she heard Kiki say as she closed the door.

Tia had just reached the front door when she heard voices—and they were getting louder.