He frowned, then reached into his pocket. “Then this must be yours. I was just about to turn it in to lost and found.”

It was a small, black leather wallet. After closer inspection, she discovered it contained a birth certificate with her name on it and a hundred dollars in cash. There was also a torn piece of paper with the handwritten words “Paradise Inn” and an address.

The security guard tapped the paper. “That motel’s just around the corner. Are you staying there?”

It hurt to think. “I . . . I guess I might be.”

Somebody approached from behind and was trying to slip something over her head.

Remembering what the scroll said, she instinctively began to fight against whomever or whatever it was. “Demon!” she shrieked. “Get away from me!”

“No,” the security guard assured her. “It’s only a T-shirt, Ms. Grace. To cover you up. I think the crowd has gotten enough pictures today, don’t you think? Why don’t I get a taxi for you?

Then you can go back to your motel and maybe . . . rest a bit?”

She clutched his arm. “Have you seen any demons? They’re very dangerous. I have to get back to Heaven as soon as possible. This is all a horrible, horrible mistake.”

The water in the tank had been very cold and she started to shiver as the sun disappeared behind some clouds in the otherwise clear sky.

The guard eyed her strangely. “Let’s start with the taxi, shall we?”

Get hold of yourself, Valerie, she commanded herself. The golden scroll was right. Anyone who listened to her would think she was insane. She’d been human for only five minutes and even she could see that.

She nodded at him and tried not to cry.

This was a mistake. She hadn’t done anything to warrant this. She had to go back. They’d take her back, wouldn’t they? She’d always been an angel, it was all she knew. All she ever wanted to know.