“It’s a protective measure,” Daniel said, in his fast sales voice.

“If you had an episode or lost track of your utility payments, the state could step in.

This keeps it all inside the family.”

“I paid my own water bills for forty-two years,” I said.

“Things are different now,” he said.

“Property values are unstable.

We can’t afford any loose ends.”

“Which loose ends?” I asked.