The last step was taking physical control of the Elm Street house before Haley and Cody got home.

“Let’s go,” I said.

Martinez took hold of the metal handle hanging from the ceiling.

He hauled the rolling door down until it banged against the concrete.

I stood there and watched him lock the roll-up door of the storage unit with a brass padlock.

Martinez started the truck, and we left the storage place.

We headed south on Highway 114 toward Oak Ridge.

The Texas sky was a flat, pale blue.