The exterior wood was exposed over most of the house, leaving a weather-beaten look. It stood three stories high and had beautiful bay windows masked from the inside by tightly drawn blinds. Steven and Roy walked through the front yard. There were large, overgrown bushes that needed tending and the lawn was three weeks past its expiration date. Once they walked up onto the porch, they saw the front door was open behind a screen door. They could hear the sounds of a video game coming from beyond. Steven knocked on the door. “Mom!” a child yelled from inside. They knocked again. “Mom!” came the reply. “Hello!” Steven said through the screen. “Is anyone home?” They heard the sounds of the game abruptly stop and a boy of about ten walked around a corner and to the door. “Hello?” he said sheepishly. “We’re looking for Eliza Winters,” Roy asked. The boy turned and walked down a hallway out of sight. In the distance they heard him yell again, “Mom!” and then he turned and walked back into the room he came from.
