Kowalski, stood in his driveway with a rake and watched me without saying anything.

I waved.

He waved back and went inside.

By five o’clock the closet was empty except for my uniforms and a single wire hanger swinging loose.

I stood in the doorway and looked at the blank space where his things used to be.

The new deadbolt sat on the kitchen counter in its package.

I had bought it on the way home from the courthouse, along with a security chain and a doorbell camera.

The receipt was still in the bag.