Almost Dead

by Blake Pierce

Cassie racked her brain for the best idea as they trooped downstairs. What would be most fun, and bring her and the children together?

  “How about a game of tag?”

  Cassie decided to keep it simple, as the clouds were looming, and she didn’t think they would have very long outside before it started to rain.

  “What is tag?” Nina asked curiously.

  Cassie had no idea of the Italian word, so she decided a quick explanation would work best.

  “We can run anywhere in this garden. As far as the wall on that side and the flower bed all the way over there. I’ll start by being ‘it’ and will give you the count of five to get away.”

  The children nodded. Venetia was looking excited, while Nina appeared puzzled but intrigued.

  “OK, let’s go.” Cassie turned away from them and counted down dramatically.

  “One, two, three, four, five!”

  She spun round and gave chase.

  Nina sprinted off, but Venetia was slower, seeming not to understand the game. As Cassie ran toward her she appeared to realize she was in trouble and backed away.

  Cassie just had time to realize that she looked genuinely scared, before she lunged at her.

  “Tag! Got you!”

  Instead of the screams and laughter she had expected, Venetia flinched back and Cassie saw she was fighting tears.

  She stopped, dismayed by the child’s unexpected reaction. None of her ideas seemed to be working out.

  “Are you upset? Everyone gets to be ‘it.’ You just have to tag someone else now.”

  When Venetia clamped her lips together and shook her head, Cassie had another thought.

  “Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry. I think I tagged you harder than I meant to. Can I see?”

  As she grasped Venetia’s hand, she noticed that the young girl’s nails were bitten down to the quick. She was wearing a pink, long-sleeved velveteen top, and Cassie pushed the soft fabric up her arm.

  “I can see a mark. It looks as if it’s bruising already. I’m really sorry.”

  Staring down at the faint purple-red welt on Venetia’s arm, Cassie felt filled with horror that the first thing she’d done was to cause injury.

  “It’s starting to rain,” Nina said, as the misty drizzle turned into a chilly shower.

  “Let’s go in and play another game,” Cassie said, desperate to make amends for her clumsiness. She hadn’t tagged Venetia that hard, but again, she had been expecting her to run and not just cringe fearfully away.

  She was starting to think that under her well-schooled exterior, Venetia was a sensitive child, both physically and mentally.

  “Have you played hide-and-seek before?” she asked the children when they were safely in the hallway, with the front door closed.

  They both shook their heads, but they looked eager, rather than doubtful.

  “Let me explain. You can hide anywhere in the house. Anywhere at all. I’m going to close my eyes and give you the count of fifty to find a hiding place and then I’m going to shout, ‘Coming, ready or not!’ When I find someone, it means the game is over and then that person gets to do the finding in the next game. Do you understand?”

  Nina nodded. Venetia seemed to have recovered from her earlier trauma, and smiled excitedly.

  “All right, I’m closing my eyes.” Cassie placed a hand over her eyes to show they were really closed. “And now I’m counting down.”

  She finished her count and shouted, “Coming, ready or not!”

  Pacing through the tiled house, Cassie said aloud, “I wonder where these girls are hiding. My goodness, they have hidden well. I can’t find them anywhere. Perhaps they’ve managed to make themselves invisible. I really thought I would have found Nina by now, after all, she’s taller.”

  She checked under the dining room table and walked into the lounge. Her eye was immediately drawn to the large velvet ottoman at the far end. It was a brilliant hiding place and she was sure she’d find one of the children there.

  Cassie paced toward it, drawing out the tension of the moment.

  “I think I’m about to give up. These clever girls have hidden so well. But wait, there’s one last place I think I might look!”

  She grasped the ottoman’s lid and opened it.

  Inside, curled into the tiniest of balls, was Nina.

  She uncurled herself, squealing with excitement, as Venetia jumped out from behind one of the elegant dark blue curtains.

  “You were found! You were found!” Venetia shouted.

  Both of them were laughing. Cassie realized it was the first time she had heard them laugh.

  “Your turn, Nina. Count us down!”

  As soon as Nina started counting, both Cassie and Venetia scurried upstairs. Venetia was giggling breathlessly, chattering nonstop as she scouted out her next hiding place. Cassie felt delighted to hear the sound of happy voices.

  She crawled under Nina’s bed, guessing that she might be found first, but in the end, Nina spotted Venetia, who’d hidden behind the laundry basket in the bathroom, amid screams of laughter.

  Cassie was ready to stop at the first sign of boredom, but the girls didn’t seem to be getting bored at all. Rather, they appeared captivated by the game. Laughter and shrieks echoed through the house whenever anyone was found, and as they played round after round, Cassie was convinced that this was the most fun either of them had had in a long while.

  Checking the time on the phone in her jacket pocket, she saw that they’d been playing for nearly two hours. Time had flown, and in the process she’d gotten to see a lot more of the house. The only places which, by unspoken rule, had been out of bounds were Ms. Rossi’s office and her bedroom.

  Cassie had hidden in the other spare bedrooms, and in the upstairs lounge, and in the small second kitchen that she found downstairs, and in the covered entertainment area with its big glass doors overlooking the courtyard. She’d even hidden in the downstairs wine cellar, accessible via the dining room, which was another place she hadn’t known about.

  This time around, she opened a door in the passage that led into a store cupboard with shelves packed with linen and bedding. There was just enough room for her to press herself inside and hold the door closed. It wasn’t properly shut but maybe Nina, whose turn it was to look, wouldn’t notice.

  She thought that Venetia had probably stayed downstairs. At any rate, upstairs was very quiet.

  Cassie held her breath, waiting for the shrieks that would mean Venetia was discovered, or else the sound of footsteps that meant she was likely to be found.

  In the end, it was the footsteps. She heard the clicking of shoes on tiles and tried to stay as quiet as possible, hoping Nina might go past.

  But when she heard the footsteps stop outside the cupboard, she knew the game was up.

  Cassie pushed open the door, laughing.

  “Well done! I was holding my breath in there, hoping you wouldn’t—”

  Her laughter and words cut short as she realized who she was speaking to.

  Nina was nowhere to be seen.

  Ms. Rossi was standing outside the cupboard. Her arms were folded across her chest and she was frowning slightly.

  Cassie felt cold, because although the woman appeared calm, she could sense a quiet, but intense anger emanating from her.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “H-hello,” Cassie stammered out to the tall businesswoman. Her face was flooding with guilt, even though she didn’t know why, because they’d only been playing a game. “I didn’t hear you come home.”

  Ms. Rossi regarded her wordlessly for a little more time, during which Cassie grew increasingly uncomfortable. She had wanted to explain what fun they’d been having, that the children had blown off some steam despite the rain, that they’d been good girls and had kept the house tidy with nothing broken or even moved.

  The expression on Ms. Rossi’s face silenced her before the words were spoken.

  Cassie lowered her head so she was staring at the floor.
She felt ashamed, in spite of having no idea of the reason for her misdemeanor.

  Eventually, Ms. Rossi said, “Please go to your room. You can stay there this evening, and the cook will bring you your dinner.”

  She strode away, her colorful cerise heels clipping along the tiles as she left.

  Cassie stood where she was until Ms. Rossi had left, trying to process what had just happened.

  She felt mortified. How had she managed to make such a terrible mistake just by playing an innocent game? Why was this not allowed? She’d been given no rules that said activities in the house were forbidden.

  As she trailed back to her own room, she wondered if perhaps Ms. Rossi sometimes brought business associates to the house during working hours, and didn’t want a noisy environment or children running wild. It was the only reason she could think of, and hoped the children wouldn’t get into trouble as a result of her actions.

  After fretting about this for a while, Cassie found her thoughts returning to the disastrous news of Jacqui’s death.

  Checking the time, she saw that it was five-thirty p.m. She had no idea how long Mirabella’s boutique stayed open, but tried calling the number again just in case.

  As before, it just rang.

  Cassie was starting to wonder whether the boutique might have caller ID, and Mirabella was not answering when she saw Cassie’s number come up on the screen.

  Or maybe the boutique had just closed early.

  Either way, Cassie found herself unable to accept the news that the woman had given her earlier that day. She could not believe that her sister had died so recently. She felt, deep down, that she must be alive. Perhaps Mirabella had made a mistake, or been thinking of another Jacqui. Perhaps she had made up the story because her sister was hiding from an abusive boyfriend, or evading debt collectors, or lying low from some other threat.

  If Cassie couldn’t get hold of Mirabella on the phone, she would have to go there and speak to her face to face. In person, she was sure the woman would not find it so easy to lie, and Cassie would have the time she needed to find out the truth.

  While Cassie was calculating how long it would take to drive to this town, which looked to be at least a two-hour journey from where she was, she heard a tap on the door.

  “Come in,” she called, and then realized that the cook might not understand her.

  She got up, but before she reached the door, it swung open.

  She’d expected to see the cook, but Ms. Rossi herself was standing in the doorway, holding a tray covered with a silver salver.

  As she walked into the room, Cassie found herself backing away.

  Ms. Rossi closed the door behind her and placed the tray on the desk.

  Then she took a seat in one of the two gold-upholstered chairs in the corner of the room, and gestured for Cassie to take the other.

  “Please sit down. We need to talk,” she said.

  Although the invitation was polite enough, Cassie found herself trembling with nerves as she perched on the edge of the ornate chair.

  The businesswoman’s personality was so intimidating, and she held such power. Being in trouble with her seemed more serious than getting scolded by an ordinary person. Cassie wished she had known better, or had at least asked permission before playing a game with the children. Under Ms. Rossi’s stern gaze, she felt inadequate, as if she’d failed to achieve what had been expected of her.

  “I am going to be patient with you,” Ms. Rossi said calmly, “because I can see you do not understand.”

  “No. No, I don’t, and I’m very sorry.” Cassie seized the proffered excuse eagerly.

  “My girls live different lives from the people you are used to. We live in a very different world from yours. Childish games have no place in their life.”

  “It was just some fun for them,” Cassie whispered, feeling she must attempt to explain, no matter how weak or pathetic her words seemed.

  “Here, you misunderstand again. My girls have fun, just not in the way you know it. They enjoy their singing lessons, and their horse riding.”

  Cassie nodded reluctantly as Ms. Rossi continued.

  “However, running around the house, playing destructive games, is not something that I want them to learn. This unruly behavior should not be encouraged. You have seen, have you not, how quiet and well-disciplined they are?”

  “Yes, they are.”

  Cassie longed to speak up in the children’s defense, to explain that in her view, lessons and play were two different things, and that play was just as important to help the girls grow up into happy, well-rounded adults. After all, play allowed you to use your imagination and to learn through making mistakes. Lessons were only instruction.

  The problem was that Cassie had nothing on which to base her argument. She had no childcare qualifications, nor any real experience. If Ms. Rossi challenged her on this, where were her credentials, and how could she prove that her version carried any weight?

  Ms. Rossi was highly qualified and must have access to top experts on the subject. So maybe she did know better, and children could be happy even if they didn’t play?

  “I understand,” she said in a small voice.

  “You have not had the advantages my children have enjoyed. Nor, I can tell, have you had the benefits of the classical education which they are receiving. I knew that was a risk when I hired you, but I assumed you would rise above it. I do not want you to drag the children down through your own incompetency, and make them less than they should become.”

  Cassie found herself shriveling under this criticism. It was as if Ms. Rossi was deliberately calling her stupid and badly brought up, and explaining that she was damaging the children just by being the way she was. The businesswoman’s words cut deep, even though Cassie was sure she didn’t mean them in that way—did she?

  “I’m extremely sorry,” she said, and her voice sounded small and anxious. “Now that you’ve explained, I understand where I went wrong. I’m glad we have had this conversation so that I can make sure to obey the rules.”

  “Good. I am sure you will not find it difficult to change your ways. Remember, you have impressed me as an intelligent young woman, which is why I took the chance and employed you.”

  Cassie felt a spark of pride at the praise, but then the businesswoman continued.

  “Just remember, my standards, and my daughters’, are high, and I will not compromise them. You have a lot to live up to. You have disappointed me once. You had better not do so again.”

  Her tone grew hard again, and Cassie could sense the threat in her words.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Ms. Rossi stood up and Cassie jumped to her feet, eager to show respect as she headed for the door and marched out of her bedroom.

  When the door closed, Cassie slumped into the chair, trembling all over. This woman’s anger was a powerful force and she felt flayed by her words. Cassie knew she would do anything rather than risk displeasing her again—or, as she had said, disappointing her.

  She didn’t even dare to dream about the internship now. Thanks to her messing up, she guessed that offer was no longer on the table, unless she could find a way to redeem herself again.

  Lifting the salver, Cassie found a sumptuous supper arranged. It was as if Ms. Rossi had provided enough for two. In addition to the large bowl of chicken risotto, there was a platter piled with breadsticks, dips, roasted vegetables, and cheeses.

  There was no way she could eat it all. That left her in a quandary, because she’d been told to stay in her room for the night, so she couldn’t return the leftovers to the kitchen. After forcing down half the risotto, she transferred the rest of the food to the side plate and put it into the small bar fridge next to her desk.

  With nothing else to do, Cassie decided to turn in early. This had been a stressful day and she decided an early night would do her good.

  Once in bed, she found herself unable to sleep. She tossed and turned, agonizing over the question of whether J
acqui was dead or alive, with her thoughts returning again and again to the children in her care.

  It was unfair that they were not allowed to be children. Every child was, surely? Cassie couldn’t imagine that all business leaders and giants of industry were raised in a certain way. She was sure that the majority were raised normally. Yes, Ms. Rossi had exceptionally well-behaved children thanks to her methods, but were they happy? They seemed so reserved, as if they were almost—frightened, Cassie guessed, about expressing their personalities. Surely over-disciplining a child in this way would create a follower rather than a leader?

  Then again, perhaps that was what Ms. Rossi was aiming for—two obedient children who would do what she told them, while she remained at her company’s helm.

  With that depressing thought in her mind, Cassie managed to drift into a deep sleep.

  *

  She only realized when she opened her eyes that she had forgotten to set her alarm the night before. Jerking upright, groggy and disoriented from her dreamless slumber, she grabbed her phone in a panic.

  It was already a quarter to eight; she should have been up half an hour ago. Her alarm wasn’t programmed for Saturdays, but it seemed Saturdays were school days here, because Nina had told her yesterday about her test.

  The children had to be prepared for school, and Cassie couldn’t rely on them making their own breakfast every morning. Yesterday might just have been an exception.

  She tore round the room, flinging on her clothes, and ran into the bathroom to tidy her hair. Then she dashed out and sprinted to the children’s rooms.

  Nina was not in her room but her bed was made. Venetia, already dressed for school, was packing books into her bag. As she said good morning, Cassie noticed that the younger girl’s ponytail was messier than it had been the day before and guessed she’d done it herself. Perhaps she and her sister didn’t always help each other. Cassie wondered if her game of hide-and-seek might have caused them to fight.

  “Would you like me to tie up your hair?” she asked.

  “Thank you,” Venetia said.