My phone rings, and it’s Stringer, letting me know that he hears a commotion from the apartment next door. He asks if he should go knock on the door, and of course I tell him he should do so. He hangs up while he goes to see what is going on. It’s the longest ten minutes of my life as I pace around my study, waiting to hear what’s going on.

I decided not to go all the way back home. It’s too far from Julia. Instead, I’m staying in my apartment near work. I’ll stay here for ...