I lifted the keys out smoothly, making sure my brass house key didn’t jingle against the fob.

I slid the keys deep into my sweater pocket and climbed back up the stairs to the bedroom.

By two fifteen in the morning, the guest room had gotten four degrees colder.

I picked up my suitcase in my left hand and my work briefcase in my right.

Zipped inside the front leather compartment of the briefcase was my clean vehicle document folder, holding my paid state title, current registration card, and full insurance history.

I went down the stairs one step at a time, putting my weight on the outer edge of each tread, where the oak was anchored tightly to the wall framing.