Around eight, I went downstairs to look at the monitoring panel James had arranged to have installed a couple of months earlier.

He had shown me the lights when it was new.

I remembered him saying that a green indicator meant the unit was operating normally.

I did not remember everything he had said about the other indicators because I had been thinking about dinner.

The little green light was on.

Beside the panel, a clear sleeve held instructions.

James had taped three dates to the edge of it.

September 18.