When I heard those stories, I corrected what concerned my observations and declined to discuss private details.

It was less satisfying than telling everyone everything.

It was also more useful.

The detective returned to clarify the timing of Tuesday morning.

He wanted to know when the collection truck had passed and when I went outside.

I could establish the approximate sequence from my routine and the messages I had sent that morning, but I could not offer precision I had never recorded.

“About midmorning,” I said.