At eleven o’clock, the house went completely silent.

The radiator under the hallway window gave a faint metallic click as the furnace shut off for the night.

I slipped off my leather shoes and walked down the carpeted stairs in my thick winter socks, keeping my palm light on the banister so the steps wouldn’t creak.

Arthur’s heavy dark green winter coat hung on the brass rack in the front hall.

I reached into the deep right pocket, my fingers brushing past crumpled gas receipts until they found the cold, heavy metal of my Toyota key ring.