I rubbed a thin coat of paste wax into the wood around the latch opening until the golden oak grain gleamed under the hall light.

I fitted the second lock cylinder into the lower hole in the door and slid the brass latch tongue into the strike opening until it clicked tight against the frame.

I stood up, put the key into the outside cylinder, and turned the mechanism to the right.

The thick steel deadbolt shot into the jamb with a solid, heavy thud that echoed through the quiet hall.

I pulled the bolt back, drew the door shut against the weather stripping, and turned the inside thumb latch.