Enjoying the snake stories! I rather like snakes, but I would draw the line at having one loose in my house. At home on the farm in Washington, most of the snakes are bull snakes - love them as they keep the mouse population under control, but we do have diamondback rattlers...and I LOVE to go barefoot in the summer, but can't on the farm. Haven't seen a snake here in Florida...yet, but I'm not going on a snake hunt!
Sure hope you find a way to KNOW that your uninvited guest is gone! I would be getting animal control to come find him...don't tell them you know what kind of snake it is!