When Rosaline brought in some food, Kiara looked and saw that she had her phone in her dress pocket. She stood up to walk and immediately screamed, going down on her knees.
"What is it ma'am?" Rosaline was alarmed, because Kiara's fall was very sudden.
"I sprained my knee. Oh no, help me."
"Should I call for help?" Rosaline was beginning to panic.
"No, just help me up, please!" Kiara showed that she was in a lot of pain.
Rosaline ran forward and she bent to hold Kiara. Kiara, bringing her arms around Rosaline for support, swiftly pulled the phone out, and she managed to continue acting as if she was unable to stand up on her own.
"Are you well, ma'am? Can you stand on your own now?"
"I will manage," Kiara limped helplessly, headed for the bathroom. Rosaline looked on, and she was a bit amazed that at one moment Kiara appeared like she was unable to stand at all, and then the next moment she was limping away.
She went back to her food trolley, so that she could place the food on the table. Just when she was done placing the food, Kiara came out of the bathroom, walking properly with no limp at all; scorn written all over her face.
"Where is your phone?" she asked the maid.
"It's right here…" Rosaline froze. The phone was gone. She blinked multiple times and looked up at Kiara, and the latter waved the phone in the former's face.
"I tried four times to call someone using your phone."
"Ma'am ,why would you…."
"I am not done talking, Rosaline! Now listen carefully to me, and you will do exactly as I tell you to do. You and I both know that Gareth will be more than happy to chop your head off the moment he knows that you allowed me to use your phone. And if you do not cooperate, I will inform him that you gave me a phone to use."
"Oh ma'am Kiara please. Don't do that to me." Rosaline pleaded
"I tried to talk to you nicely, and you acted all high and mighty; as if you are special? How many times have I tied to ask you something and you walk away, telling me that you aren't supposed to talk to me? Now today you shall talk to me."
"But ma'am Kiara, do you realise that you have already put me in danger? If Gareth does his routine checks, he will see that my number called out, and then I will still be in trouble. I would rather let him know now."
"Let him know what? Who is he likely to believe between me and you? I will tell them that I caught you yelling at Vincent Lisandro; and I will make them believe me. I will tell them how I caught you feeding him some solid foods which he is not supposed to eat; yelling at him at the same time. Now if you know how precious Vincent Lisandro is to both his grandparents and Vine, you will know what such an accusation can do to you. Don't mess with me and listen carefully. I don't have much time." Kiara herself could not believe that she had become that tough.
Rosaline nodded fearfully.
Kiara continued, "You are going to help me get Tessa out of this mansion."
"Tessa? Where is she?"
"We don't have time, let me finish talking. You shall go into the kitchen and do something to trigger the fire alarm. When everyone is running for their lives, going outside to save their lives; you too shall go, and disturb that security guard who is always near the water fountain. While you do that, you shall watch and see that Tessa makes a smooth exit from the mansion; without leaving her for any reason whatsoever, and you shall not come back in here before making sure that she is safely out of the mansion grounds."
"Oh, ma'am Kiara. How am I supposed to do that?" The girl was hoping it was just but a joke.
"Find a way. It's better than dying anyway, because if I prove to Gareth now that you allowed me to use your phone, which you did, then you will die. And if I tell Vincent's father and great grandma about you force feeding him; which again you did, you don't want to imagine what will happen to you."
"But ma'am Kiara, I did none of those things. I never gave you my phone; neither did I shout at nor force-feed the child."
"It's your word against mine, Rosaline. Now listen, this plan will go ahead, and you shall make no mistakes! In the mean time, find me a maid uniform for Tessa to wear. Bring her a wig as well."
"Oh my goodness, ma'am Kiara. I don't think I can do that."
"Really?" Kiara raised the phone and waved it in Rosaline's face.
"But by saving Tessa, you're also getting me into trouble."
"I know, but trust me, if you follow all my instructions, you won't ever get into trouble. I have already worked out a plan."
"What time should this be done? When? Is it today?"
"Tonight. When everyone is asleep, I shall call you and inform you that I am unwell with period pain. And I will tell you that I need some soup. When you go to the kitchen to make that soup, make sure you unlock the side door first before you do anything. Then do something to trigger the fire alarm. You cannot afford to make any mistakes."
"I…I will do my best."
"You have to. And once the alarm goes, you have to panic so bad that you scream and make a lot of noise. I want that bodyguard, who usually stays near the fountain, to vacate that place. Find a way of getting him off that place. Tessa needs to leave, and without our help, she won't be able to."
"It is a tough assignment." Rosaline complained.
"It has to be done. And one more very important thing; you shall switch off the CCTV. People will think that the fire disturbed it, so just soon after the fire starts; the control room is near the kitchen anyway, you should run and switch off that stupid thing. And switch off the mansion lights." Kiara said sharply.
"All of them?" Rosaline widened her eyes.
"Switch off what you can. I don't know how the lights work; but make sure to switch something off.
The day immediately became very sad for Rosaline. She moved about, carrying out all her duties, but she looked much drained. Her mind had been busy trying hard to come up with an excuse, or anything to make Kiara forget the plan, or at least change it, but it was all in vain. When it was time to go with the lunch, Rosaline secretly carried a maid's uniform, some shoes and a wig. She gave them to Kiara.
"Good," Kiara responded before pointing at the door, thus telling Rosaline to leave her. The young maid had hoped that she was going to use that time to try and negotiate with Kiara, but the young mother was not in a mood for any kind of talk.
Left alone in her room, Kiara carefully set some food aside, for she meant to later on give it to Tessa.
The day was moving at a very slow pace for her, and if it were possible, she would have just pulled the time and let it be evening already.
Finally her long awaited wish was granted, when she saw Rosaline walking in, bringing the dinner.
"I meant to ask you, ma'am," she began to talk. "I realised that the chest of drawers in the bathroom was moved to cover the mirror. Is that how you want it to be?"
"You've asked that before. And I told you to leave it like that," Kiara snapped. She went on to tell Rosaline to leave without the food tray, for she said she still wanted to eat some of the food therein.
Rosaline nodded her head and excused herself.
Kiara ate her food in silence. Vincent Lisandro was with his great grandmother, and so Kiara was all alone.
***
Dear Kimmy
Today I will take the greatest risk of my life.
I am grabbing the bull by the horns, because I have to do what I have to do.
This is the only chance I have to save Jeremy and Tessa. I can only have full trust in Tessa; that she is going to meet up with Jeremy. If she does not; then I am doomed.
Dear Kimmy, wish me the best.
***.
When Rosaline brought back Vincent Lisandro, it was late. Kiara had no idea what time it was, but she guessed around 9PM. Too late for her liking, but all the same it was still OK for her to carry out her scheme.
She played with the little one, who was already very sleepy. Before long, the boy was sleeping in his mother's arms.
Kiara waited a bit, for she could not afford to make any mistake at that very crucial moment. When she felt that the time was right, she crawled into the all too familiar space, and within a short while, she was facing Tessa.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Let's do this," Tessa nodded her head fearfully.
"Have you put a blanket, I mean, for disguise."
"I have." Tessa pointed at the floor. On the space where she usually slept, she had carefully placed a well shaped blanket and covered it, making it appear as if she was the one sleeping there.
Kiara asked her to lead the way. Once Tessa was inside the tunnel, Kiara went in as well, put back the frame and they started their journey.
Back in the room, Tessa had to eat as fast as she could, and then she took a shower. She cleaned herself in tears, for she had not taken a bath in many days, and she hated what she had become.
Once they felt ready, Kiara pushed the cabinet away; the one which was in front of the mirror. Then she roughly removed the mirror, making it appear as if it had been pushed from inside the tunnel. She made sure the mirror was further broken, and she left the place.
Quickly, Tessa put on her maid's uniform and shoes. While she was dressing up, Kiara was writing a letter:
Dear Jeremy
I have sent Tessa to find you. Tessa can be trusted. I gave her a lot of fine high quality jewellery. Please sell it as fast as you can, and leave the capital city. I am still stuck here, and I have not yet managed to find a loophole for myself. But soon, I will have to do what I have to do, and I will find you.
What I can tell you is, I know you are crying, and I am sorry for all your tears. But before your next teardrop falls, I will be there with you. I will find you, Jeremy, because I love you.
Living with the Pinkertons taught me to be tough. I now know that sometimes you just have to do what you have to do, or else you won't ever get what you need in life.
What I need is for you and me to be together; and for that I will work.
Don't waste any time, Jeremy. Move, because if they find you, they surely will kill you.
Go Jeremy. Go and wait for me until we meet again.
Love you.
Kiara Angela Noels.