Deacon Roth was a man who followed routine because it gave him comfort. He loved the predictability of it. Something that was part of his routine was that he almost always worked late. Often not going home until the stars were out, (even though the light pollution of the city made them impossible to see ).
That day Deacon had had every intention of going home late as usual. But something had pulled him away from his desk. A feeling of unease building and building in him until he'd had no choice, but to head home earlier than usual.
Now, whatever that feeling had been, Deacon was thankful for it. Had he ignored his unease and carried on working, he would have unintentionally abandoned Slater to her fate. But because he had given into the feeling that had been needling him to go home, Deacon had come in time to listen to his wife's grandfather belittle her.
