The Twin Test. Rula Sinara

old...right after her father had discovered she existed.

      The fact that she still lived here wasn’t all that weird. It wasn’t like there were apartment complexes every block so she could move out—not that she wanted to move away. The year and a half she’d spent traveling had been enough to stretch her wings and make her miss home. At least that’s what she kept telling herself. Maybe if she ever made enough money to invest in herself, she’d be able to build her own cottage nearby. It seemed like a waste of resources, though. There was room here. And whatever money she made, she preferred to donate to her education project or funding wildlife projects, like at Busara.

      A lamp from inside cast just enough light through the nearby window for her to read the book in her lap. The house was quiet; everyone was asleep. The rise and fall of cricket and cicada song lulled her into a dreamy, relaxed zone, perfect for reading. Dark. Breezy. Alone. Perfect for a romantic mystery.

      She opened her book and vanished into the story. It sucked her in. Page after page. The thrill of not knowing...like that first spark of attraction or first crush. Dax’s face flashed in her head and she rubbed at her eyes. Where had that come from? She glanced at the page number and paragraph she’d just read. Nope. She wasn’t falling asleep. She’d read that. It had just been an exhausting day, that’s all. She shifted in her chair and kept reading.

      This was it. The moment of truth. The whodunit. A wild dog howled in the distance, and the brush beyond the elephant pens rustled. Her pulse raced, and she flipped the page.

      “What in the name of thunder? No!” she growled.

      She double-checked the page numbers. It wasn’t a typo. The page was gone. The page with the whodunit. She stretched the binding apart just enough to spy the jagged remains of a torn page. White powder shook onto her lap. White powder. Sugar. A brown smudge stained the following page. Chocolate.

      “They. Did. Not!”

      The twins had torn out the page. Who did that? Who damaged books like that? A rare copy, no less.

      “Those freaking girls. I’m going to—” She grabbed fistfuls of her hair and braced her head against her knees. “I swear they better not have thrown it away.”

      The screen door to the house creaked open and her mother appeared, half-awake.

      “Pippa, what in the world is going on? You’re going to wake up the entire camp.”

      “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t realize my voice had carried. It’s just these twins I’ve agreed to look after. This whole thing might not be worth it. I’m pretty sure their dad knew they were a handful. He lied to me by omission. Alim tried to warn me. I should have listened.”

      Her mom sat on the corner of the ottoman and put her hand on Pippa’s knee.

      “Since when do you back down from a challenge? You seemed so excited about this at dinner and you haven’t seen them since you left Tabara. Why the change of heart in just a few hours?”

      “They tore my book.”

      “Ooh, that’s bad. Girls their age should know better. You ought to call in first thing and quit.”

      “Just like that?” Pippa sighed and slumped back when Anna smiled. “Am I ever going to outgrow your reverse psychology tactics?”

      “Nope. Because we parents know our kids so well.”

       Just how well does Dax know his daughters?

      “I guess. I just never met a child who would tear up a book. They’re evil little monsters.”

      “A harsh label for girls so young. I love you to pieces, Pippa, but I’m pretty sure a few of my gray hairs were caused by you.” She gave Pippa’s hand a loving squeeze.

      “Just a few?” Pippa tipped her head up and stared at the moon. “I’m sorry I woke you. Go back to bed. I’ll be in in a sec.”

      “Okay. But just remember, Pip, you’re the one in control. This can’t be that different from all the tours you’ve given at camps and lodges in the past. You’re the leader. You make the rules and set the boundaries. Maybe these girls need some. Maybe they need someone like you.”

      “You’re right. I’m the one in control.”

      Her mom nodded as she disappeared through the screen door. Pippa got up, wrapped the shawl around her shoulders and filled her lungs with night air.

       You have them at your mercy, Pippa. Don’t lose it. Use it.

      Civil war history and battle strategies, huh?

      She had a few battle plans herself.

      And if Dax didn’t like her methods, he was on his own.