She fought through the dizziness and the sting of scraped skin, staggering as she crawled out of the overturned car.


    The icy air hit her face, snapping her back to her senses.


    She fumbled for her phone, hands trembling, and dialed Lyman''s number.


    The moment the ident happened, it was Lyman''s face that shed through her mind.


    Effie was terrified she might die here, that she''d never get to see Lyman again.


    The call rang and rang with no answer.


    She bit her lip, panic rising, just as the line finally connected.


    Lyman''s deep, reassuring voice came through. "Effie?"


    "Honey, I... I nearly died just now..." Effie''sposure shattered the instant she heard his voice.


    The memory of those terrifying seconds sent a fresh wave of shivers down her spine.


    "What? What happened? Where are you?" Lyman was in the middle of a meeting, but at her words, he shot to his feet.


    "It''s a long story. I''m out by the highway, my car''s totaled. Can you send someone to help me?” Her voice wavered, fear catching up with her.


    She was worried Ynde''s aplices might be nearby. If they came at her all at once, she didn''t stand a chance.


    Better call for backup.


    "Don''t be scared. Text me your location. I''m on my way. Stay on the line," Lyman said, wishing he could sprout wings and fly to her side.


    He soothed Effie while striding out of the conference room with Luther close behind.


    The department heads exchanged uneasy nces, but no one dared ask a thing.


    They''d never seen Mr. Etheridge look so rattled before-whatever this was, it had to be serious.


    As soon as Effie hung up, she sent Lyman her location.


    Just hearing his voice had steadied her nerves; now she felt as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.


    Turning back to her wrecked car, a pang of grief twisted in her gut.


    She''d barely had that car for a year-and now, it waspletely destroyed.


    She nced at the back seat. Ynde was slumped over, blood trickling from a


    cut on her forehead-unconscious, by the look of it.


    Effie frowned, then pulled open the door and dragged Ynde out herself.


    It looked like the crash had knocked her out cold.


    Effie pinched the pressure point beneath Ynde''s nose, hard. Ynde groaned and blinked awake.


    When she saw Effie''s face, her expression twisted with disbelief. Of all people, she hadn''t expected Effie would be the one to save her.


    "Why would you help me? Aren''t you supposed to finish me off? After what I just did to you?" Ynde''s voice trembled with confusion.


    Effie shot her a cold look. "Taking a life means paying the price. Do you really think a person''s life is that cheap?"


    "I''m not you. I won''t turn into a monster for revenge."


    "So-who sent you?"


    Ynde hesitated, then turned away, refusing to answer.


    Effie gave a small, humorless smile. "Suit yourself. You can exin everything to the police. Attacking someone with a knife is a pretty serious offense."


    Ynde let out a strange, bitterugh. "What''s with the hero act? You think I''ll be grateful? Dream on. Looks like I''ve lost if you want to kill me, just do it."


    Effie didn''t bother arguing. "Kill you? What would be the point?”


    Ynde''s eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping in.


    Damn it, she thought. She''d figured Effie would be easy to deal with, but behind


    that angelic face was a mind sharp as a de.