“Fine with me if you don’t want to come,” the fireman said. Mummy hastily grabbed an armful of clothing from her case before nimbly hopping aboard. The firemen piled us onto the truck and drove us down to the gate. The area around the gate itself had escaped from the fire as it rushed up the hill. It was a shock to suddenly come upon green trees by the fence and a giraffe and several zebras cowering there. I was glad they hadn’t all met a horrible end and found myself wondering about Juan. Had he also found a place of safety by the fence? I have to say that I no longer felt as charitable about him as I had done. Anyone who can condemn innocent people to being burned alive is truly despicable. I hoped the sheriff’s men caught him and that he did have to face execution.

The sheriff’s truck with the dog handlers had arrived and was waiting on the road.

“Keep an eye on the fence, boys. I don’t want that bastard trying to slip past us,” the sheriff said.

We climbed down, shivering now in our wet clothing.

“How on earth are we going to get out of here?” Belinda asked. “All the motorcars have been destroyed.”

“We’ll take you back to our headquarters in the truck,” the sheriff said. “It will be a bit of a tight squeeze but we’ll manage. We’ll need statements from all of you.”

I turned to see Stella looking at her sister with wonder. “It really is you,” she said. “I began to think it must be my guardian angel come to save me.”

“It’s really me, all right,” Bella said. “Maybe I am your guardian angel.”

“It’s a miracle, Flossie. What were you doing here?” Stella asked.

“Come to visit my big sister. What else?” Bella grinned at her. “It’s been a long time, Gertie.”

“Too long. I’ve missed you.”

“Really? I thought you were too busy being famous.”

Stella smiled. “We used to have good times together, didn’t we? We only had each other.”

“You left me behind. You said I held you back.”

“I know. It was stupid of me. And hurtful. And now you saved my life. I’ll try and make it up to you if I can.”

The sheriff helped her climb aboard. Bella watched her sister with a kind of fierce longing. Then it was my turn to join the others. The doors were shut and off we went. It wasn’t until we finally reached our destination that we realized that Bella was not with us. She had somehow managed to melt away as we were busy boarding. I can’t say I blamed her, and secretly I wished her well.

Chapter 31

AT THE SHERIFF’S HEADQUARTERS AND AFTERWARD BACK IN BEVERLY HILLS

AUGUST 4