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The cockatiel regarded us as it swung back and forth in decreasing arcs.

“Merry Christmas,” Ryan said. “Charlie, meet Tempe.”

The swing settled. Charlie checked me out, first with his left eye, then with his right.

“I can’t have a bird. I’m away far too much.”

Charlie hopped from the swing to his seed dish.

Across the room, Birdie rose, tail puffed, eyes fixed on the cockatiel.

“Birdie, meet Charlie,” Ryan said to my cat.

Birdie oozed across the carpet, a miniature white leopard on a predawn stalk. Placing forepaws on the coffee table, Bird craned toward the cage, tail flicking only at its tip.

Charlie raised his crown, tipped his head at Birdie, then refocused on his seed.

“He’s beautiful, Ryan.” He really was. Soft yellow head, pearl gray body."

"Jumping to the tabletop, Birdie placed his paws in a square, sat, and stared at the cockatiel.

“It’s a lovely idea, Ryan, but it won’t work.”

Bright orange cheek patches.

Birdie settled into his sphinx position, paws curled inward, eyes locked on the bird.

Soft white stripes on his wings.

Birdie began to purr. I looked at him, astounded.

“Bird likes him,” Ryan said.

“I can’t commute by air with a cat and a bird.”

“I have a plan.”

I looked at Ryan.

“Live with me.”

“What?”

“Move in with me.”

I was in shock. The idea of cohabitation had never crossed my mind.

Did I want to live with Ryan?

Yes. No. I had no idea.

I tried to think of a suitable reply. “Maybe” lacked a certain style, while “No” seemed rather final.

Ryan didn’t push.

“Plan B. Joint custody. When you’re down South, Charlie bunks with me.”

I looked at the cockatiel.

He really was beautiful.

And Bird liked him.

I stuck out a hand. “Agreed.”

Ryan and I shook.

“In the meantime, plan A remains on the table.”

Live with Ryan?

Maybe, I thought.

Just maybe.

That afternoon I decided to visit my office. I’d been there about an hour when my phone rang.

“Dr. Brennan?”

“Yes.”

“This is Pamela Lindahl. I’m the social services psychiatrist assigned to assure that Tawny McGee receives appropriate assessment and care.

Will you be in your office another forty-five minutes?”

“Yes.”

“I’d like to come by for a brief visit. Would you ask security to pass me through?”

“Certainly.”

As soon as the call concluded I wished I hadn’t agreed. Though I recognized the importance of supplying all available information to the caregivers, I didn’t feel up to recalling or recounting the depravity, the evil of what I had seen.