“Your trunk is fully loaded in the back of your car.”

“Thank you, Brenda,” I said.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked around the empty living room.

“The landlord came by at five while you were at headquarters.

He signed the move-out inspection sheet without even checking the stove.”

I took my spare set of brass townhouse keys out of my pocket and held them out to her.

“Hang on to these until the lease ends on Friday,” I said.