A Flock of an Alibi by Verena DeLuca

Author:Verena DeLuca
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aconite Cafe

Chapter 2

By the time I got home, I decided to put them in my bathroom. At least in there, they have a bathtub to wade in and have easy access to fresh water. When we pulled up to the house, though, I realized we would have to get past Chief before we could get them inside. I got out of the old truck and addressed the goose that guarded our home. “Hello, Chief.”

The perimeter is secure. It smells like you brought home more geese. I'll get them to the pond for you.

“Thank you, Chief, but no. These aren't geese. They’re flamingos. I'm going to bring them into the house until I can find them somewhere to live.” I opened the passenger door and let the flamingos out of the truck.

Big geese! Chief ruffled his feathers. Yes, I think you'd better take them inside. They look like they eat a lot.

I chuckled and picked up the baby, leading them up the steps and into the house. Gran was in the kitchen, and when she saw me traipsing through with flamingos, she exclaimed, “Autumn! Flamingos? Really? As if it wasn’t a zoo here enough already?”

I shouted over my shoulder on my way to my room. “Blame Rowan for this one, ma'am. This wasn’t my doing.”

She followed me through my bedroom and to the bathroom, stopping in the doorway. “Where is Rowan?”

I started the water flowing into the tub and sat the baby on the floor. “He’s working a murder in that fancy neighborhood before you get to Linville. Someone there had flamingos as pets, so they called me.”

“Hmm. Well, they are pretty. But what are you going to do with them?”

I glanced at the birds. “Stay here. I’ll get your food.” I guided grandma back out of the bathroom and closed the door. “Feed them first. Then I’m going to have to wait and see if I need to return them to their owners or find them someplace else to live.”

As I opened the back door, I was greeted by an irate raven. “I'll pluck your eyes out!”

“Sorry, buddy. I had to get the flamingos inside first. They don't know where they're going. You do. Besides, they are witnesses to a crime. I had to make sure they didn't fly away and get lost.”

He flapped his wings and hopped on the steps, clacking his beak angrily.

“Come on, Simon. You're such a smart bird. A genius. I had no doubt you could take care of yourself for a few minutes.”

He paused and then cocked his head at me. “Treat?”

Gran had followed me to the porch. She opened the door wide and beckoned to Simon. “Come on in, bird, and I'll get you a treat.”

I thanked her, grabbed the food out of the back of the truck, and headed in to feed our new residents. Once they were settled in, I researched flamingos, waited for Rowan to show up, and helped Gran cut the strawberries for dessert.

Rowan arrived at dinner time, as was his habit.

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