Finally they were turning off the highway, climbing a residential street, sometimes needing to wait as homeowners backed out of their driveways and fled. At last they pulled to a stop at the top of Paradise Circle.
Eva and Melanie both bolted out of the car and dashed to the front door. A taped note fluttered there.
Melanie plucked it off. “She and Nicky already left, thank God.”
Relief and surprise poured over Eva. “Where are they? How’d they leave?”
“Max came for them. June wrote down his address.”
“And the cat?”
“They have him. Come on. I need to grab a few things from my place before we hightail it out of here.”
As they turned from June’s front door, a fire truck pulled to a stop at the top of the cul-de-sac. Four firefighters jumped off of it, each brandishing a pickax or shovel. One of them made his way over to them as the other three jogged partway down the hill to the next closest house.
The firefighter coming toward them was moving fast.
“This street is being evacuated,” he called before he even reached them. “You two need to return to your vehicle and get as far south from here as you can.” His tone was urgent. “Is this your home?” He pointed to June’s house.
“My neighbor lives here,” Melanie said. “I live next door.”
“Is she still inside?”
Melanie held up the note. “She’s already left.”
“All right, listen. We need access to the backyards on this side of the street to dig firebreaks. If you can unlock your neighbor’s gate, we won’t have to break it down. Are you able to do that quickly before you go?”
Eva felt a cold shot of alarm rush through her as she tried to fit together the firefighter’s request with what she knew lay buried in June’s backyard.
“You’re…what? What did you say?” Melanie asked.
“If you are able to leave your neighbor’s gate unlocked for us we won’t have to break it down. Can you quickly do that?”
“Uh. Sure,” Melanie said.
“You both need to be gone in five minutes. It’s not safe to stay.”
He jogged away from them, holding a shovel aloft as he went.
“Melanie!” Eva said as soon as he was out of earshot.
“Shut up. Don’t say it.” Melanie fumbled with June’s key ring, looking for the one that would open the front door. When she found it she thrust it into the lock.
“But they are going to be digging in the backyard!”
“I said don’t say it!” Melanie threw the door open.
The two women entered the house and Melanie made for the back door in the kitchen that opened onto the backyard and everything that was in it.
Eva followed her, calling her name.
Melanie didn’t answer.
Seconds later in the backyard Melanie glanced at the rose garden for only a second before heading to the gate on the side of the house nearest her own. She turned the lever that released its lock, swung it open, and turned to face Eva and the rose garden.
“We have to move the body,” Eva said softly but with intent.
Melanie’s mouth fell open. “What did you say?”
