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Chapter One

Ellie

Ellie McNeil was not having the best night of her life

It was 3:49 AM, and she felt every second of the sleep she hadn’t gotten Her eyes burned, her feet hurt, her head throbbed, and her muscles ached eariness

Reain? Ellie asked herself Oh, right Because I really, really need the money

And also, she had to ad than being the paraht

This wasn’t one of those times

Ellie and her partner, Catalina Mendez, had taken call after call since their shift had begun atAnd not a single call had been for an actual eency In between calls, Ellie and Catalina debated which wasroo or the elderly otten to turn off his electric blanket

As the ahborhoods, Ellie decided that it wouldn’t hurt to close her eyes Just for a second

Catalina brought the a Ellie into the dashboard

“Wakey, wakey!” Catalina sang out, her voice bright with sadistic cheer She was a night owl by nature, and volunteered for overnight shifts because she actually preferred them

“I was not asleep,” Ellie retorted “I was just resting my eyes”

“That’s what sleep is,” Catalina pointed out “Up and at ’eo home and cuddle up with Uh, cuddle up”

Ellie repressed a sigh as she grabbed her o ho to cuddle with but her pillow

One year, eight lu

It could easily be another year— or two, or five, or ten— till she found a hts saving lives away fros, but Ellie didn’t want to settle for anything less than a com at all

When Ellie scras and face, shocking her to full awareness She forgot about her weariness and lack of romantic prospects, and focused on her job

“Review call,” she said automatically

Equally autohteen, awoke disoriented and combative Call placed by mother”

“Bet you a pizza he snuck out and partied too hard,” Ellie suggested

Catalina elbowed her in the ribs “I’ your sucker bets”