Colleen didn’t answer.

She turned away from the bay window and walked slowly toward the front hall.

Through the glass side panel I watched her press four strips of clear packing tape over the corners of the printed notice, sticking it right to the glass next to the deadbolt.

She pressed the tape down with her thumb, stepped back, and switched off the hall light.

I drove straight to Thomas Elementary School and pulled into the visitor lot at twelve past five.