From Overthrow, which will be published this month by Viking. Crain’s previous novel was Necessary Errors.

A little before one, Leif’s phone gave the black-fly buzz that signaled its receipt of a text. They didn’t get out of bed. A few minutes later, they ignored a second text too. “You’re blowing up,” Matthew said, when a third one came in.

“It’s happening,” Leif said as he read. “The police are evicting everyone.”

Matthew switched on his desk lamp and shielded his eyes from it. “Do you want to go?”

“We won’t even be able to get close enough to…