Project Renovatio by Allison Maruska Page B

in his mind, and he nodded.
    She squinted. “Doesn’t Scott work for PR?”
    He stopped scrolling. “We have to do something, and this is all I’ve got.” He pressed the contact and held his phone to his ear.

Chapter Thirteen
     
    Rana’s ringtone jolted her into consciousness, and her heart raced when she didn’t recognize her surroundings. The caller ID reminded her: she was at Levin’s apartment. Maggie drove her here last night–or early this morning.
    “Hello?” She couldn’t hide the grogginess in her voice.
    “I woke you. Sorry. I picked up Dayla from Alicia’s house, and we’re on our way to you.” Levin’s voice boomed through the phone.
    “What time is it?” She searched for her phone to check the time before remembering she held it against her head.
    “Almost 10:30. Did Maggie leave?”
    Rana rose from the couch and wandered around his meticulously neat apartment. “I don’t see her.” She glanced outside. “Her car’s not here.”
    “Good. I sent her . . . away. We’ll get there in twenty minutes.”
    “Okay.” She ended the call.
    Twenty minutes. Plenty of time to take a shower.
    She scanned the room for the backpack she’d hastily stuffed with clothes when the police told her she couldn’t stay at her mother’s house. It rested upside-down next to the front door.
    While the water ran over her skin, she tried to sort out last night’s events. Most of the images felt like a dream, as if she could go home and see her mom sitting at the table and drinking coffee. When she recalled the smaller details–her mom’s voice during her last phone call, her panic when she saw the blood, the terror of thinking Walt had died–she found herself doing more crying than washing.
    Keys jostled from the front door as she toweled off. Levin’s voice came through the bathroom door, and Rana rushed to get dressed.
    She emerged from the bathroom. Dayla sat on the couch, clutching her backpack and staring at the wall. Dayla made eye contact with Rana, dropped her backpack, and ran into Rana’s open arms. Levin stood in the kitchen and talked on his phone. He still wore the cargo shorts and blue T-shirt he had on the night before.
    “Levin said we can’t go home.” Dayla spoke into Rana’s bicep, muffling her words.
    “Yeah. Did he tell you why?”
    “Something happened to Mom and Dad.”
    “That’s right, but we don’t know what yet. We’re staying here until it’s safe to go home.”
    Rana squeezed Dayla, thankful her sister hadn’t seen the house.
    Levin joined them. “That was a nurse at the hospital. Walt woke up. I’m going there now. You and Dayla stay here. Call work and tell them you’re not coming in.”
    “I’m not scheduled today.”
    “Good. Just lay low. I brought in some groceries. Help yourself.”
    Dayla released herself from Rana’s arms and entered the kitchen. The mention of food must have made her hungry.
    Rana lowered her voice and stepped closer to Levin. “Have you slept?”
    “No. I’m fine. I went back to the house this morning to let the cleaning people in.” He put his hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes. “How are you doing?”
    Her eyes burned. “I’m scared,” she said in a near whisper.
    He pulled her close for a hug. “So am I.” He released her, took her by the hand, and led her to the couch, where they sat facing each other. Dayla rejoined them, sat in a chair on the opposite side of the room, and peeled a banana. Rana considered sending her away again but decided she probably needed to know more of their situation. Her mother was missing, too. Still, Rana hoped her sister wasn’t entirely listening. 
    “I’ve been up all night, partly because I had no choice, and partly because I’ve been thinking.” Levin leaned closer to Rana and lowered his voice. “Do you remember what Scott said about why PR created us?”
    “Yeah. To survive. We’re supposed to be smarter and stronger and healthier than everyone