Many criminals keep pigeons as pets. Mike knew one gangster named Louis One Eye who kept pigeons on the roof of a building and prevented anyone else from using the roof. The people who live in the building resent Louis’s use of the roof, but they are too scared of him to protest. When Louis catches Mike watching the pigeons, he punishes the young boy by asking about Mike’s Aunt Lena, a pretty young woman who attracts a great deal of unwanted male attention. One day, Lena is sick after a long and difficult shift in a clothing store. She sings sad songs for Mike. Around this time, Louis One Eye’s gang kills a grocer. The gang is quickly blamed for other crimes, even those they do not commit, but everyone is too fearful of Louis to try and stand up to them.

Mike and Lena escape their hot apartment by venturing out into the cool air on the roof. Louis is tending to his pigeons, and he begins to make advances toward Lena. Mike is frightened but wants to protect his beloved aunt. Louis touches Lena, she screams, and the roof is quickly filled with neighbors rushing to her aid.