Rachel arranged a safe place for me to stay while detectives continued their work.

It was a modest guesthouse outside Tempe with two bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a pecan tree outside the window.

Connie stocked the refrigerator.

Miguel brought my laptop.

Valerie insisted on sleeping on the couch for the first two nights even though I told her she could have the second bedroom.

“I like the couch,” she said.

“You’ve complained about every couch I’ve ever owned.”

“I’m evolving.”