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middle of the road. Brad glanced up at the dark windows on either side of them. The rows of two-story buildings on either side of him reminded him of the old west. They were walking up the middle of the street like gunfighters. But it wasn’t high noon, and they had no guns.
    At least Robby was walking on his own. Brad was happy he didn’t have to carry him.
    Romie touched Pete’s shoulder.  
    She leaned in and talked low. They were all a bit spooked.
    “There’s a parking lot behind the buildings over there. Do you think you could hot wire one of the cars?” Romie asked.
    “Of course not,” Pete said.
    About a block up, a residential street led off to the left. The five of them stopped in the intersection. The tall trees on either side of the street were just starting to get their leaves.  
    “I imagine we could find something up that way,” Pete said.  
    Nobody moved.  
    “Come on,” Romie said. She led the way.
    They walked in a line except for Brad and Robby. Brad kept his hand on Robby’s elbow, guiding him forward.
    “That one?” Romie asked. She was pointing towards a house.
    “No,” Lisa said. “The door’s open. More likely to find keys inside if the door is closed.”
    “If you say so,” Romie said.
    “She’s right,” Pete said. “Think about it. In a lot of cases, the person who had the house keys also has their car keys on the same ring. If they left…”
    He stopped talking when Romie put a hand on his shoulder. She was looking back towards the intersection.
    “I saw something back there,” she whispered.
    “What?” Pete asked.
    “I don’t know, that’s why I said ‘something’ instead of what the thing was.”
    “That house. Let’s go,” Pete said. He pointed up the street. They broke into a trot. Brad pulled on Robby’s hand and he adopted a shuffling gait, just fast enough so that Brad didn’t pull him off his feet. As they crossed the yard, Brad got a look at the tiny car in the driveway. It would never hold the five of them. Pete got to the front door first and threw it open. He waved everyone inside and locked the door behind them. Romie and Pete fanned out and spied through front windows at the dark yard.
    “Anything?” Brad asked.
    “Who knows,” Romie said. “I can barely see.”
    “I don’t see anything,” Pete said. “You guys look for keys. We’ll keep watch.”
    Brad left Robby in the living room with Pete and Romie. He dug through his pocket and pulled out the tiny light he carried. He turned it on as he moved down the hall. He saw Lisa’s light come on at nearly the same time. Brad headed for the kitchen. The back door was open a few inches. The screen door was closed, but not latched. Brad pushed the back door shut and set the deadbolt.  
    He turned back to the kitchen. He imagined it would be a cozy spot in the daylight, but by flashlight it held too many shadows. He pushed aside the mail on the counter, and dumped out a basket that held pens and a notepad. He spun slowly, looking for a bowl, or pegboard, or anywhere you might keep a set of car keys.
    A pair of black bananas had turned to liquid near the microwave. Near the toaster, a plastic bag looked like it contained more mold than bread. He pulled open a few drawers and finally found the one that contained random screws, tools, and junk. That’s where he would keep his spare set, if he lived there. Nothing.  
    Brad backed out of the kitchen and scanned the dining room quickly. That room looked barely used.  
    He returned to the living room.  
    “Nothing in the den, or hall, or laundry room,” Lisa said. She came into the living room from the other entrance.
    “Nothing in the kitchen or dining,” Brad said.
    Robby was still standing there, like he was supervising Pete and Romie. They practically had their faces pressed to panes of the front windows.
    Lisa turned her light towards the stairs and Brad followed her.
    They split at the top of the staircase and Brad found himself in