The nanny

I was completely broke. I pushed my card into the ATM again, just to make sure. Yep, I had a grand total of 25 dollars.

"Sorry buddy," I said to my dog, Scotty. "It looks like you'll be getting the cheap dog food again."

Scotty put his paws on my knee, which meant he wanted to be picked up and cradled like a baby. He was a tiny rescue dog that I bought in more prosperous times. As I was carrying him home, I saw an ad nailed to a telephone poll. "Part-time nanny needed for two children," it read. "Possible live-in position. If interested, call 1-555-2937." I took a picture of the number with my phone.

Then, I walked up 5 flights of stairs to my apartment, with Scotty safely tucked under my arm. On the front of my apartment door, there was an eviction notice for non-payment of rent. I had 3 days to vacate the premises. I thought about my options. I could go home to my mother's house in Ohio. That felt like quitting. My dream was to make it as a full-time writer in NYC. I decided to call the number I'd taken a picture of.

"Hello?" said the voice of a woman with a British accent.

"Umm...hello," I said. "I'm calling about the part-time nanny position.

"Yes," said the voice. "I'm very glad you called. I've gotten no response to the add, and Christmas is the busiest time of year for my husband and I. May I ask, what is your name?"

"Adeline," I said.

"Very good," said the woman. "Are you available, now?"

"Yes," I replied, thinking of the eviction notice.

"Wonderful," said the woman. "My name is Margaret. Can you come for an interview in about an hour?"

I paused for a moment. "I'll have to check my calendar," I said. I didn't want Margaret to think I was desperate."

"Very good," said Margaret.

I studied the eviction notice for a moment. "I am totally free," I said. "Where are you located?"

Margaret gave me an address on the upper east side. "See you soon, darling," she said.

I didn't know what to say to this. I'd never been called "darling" by a stranger. "See you soon," I replied.

It took about one hour to reach Margaret's address. As I entered her building, I marveled at the marble staircase.

"Young lady," said a stern voice. Involuntarily, I jumped.

"Is your name Adeline?"

"Yes?" I said.

"You may go up now," said the security guard sitting in front of a large number of computer screens. "Ms. Margaret is expecting you."

"Great," I said. Inside the elevator, I pushed the button for the 12th floor. The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out into a well decorated apartment. The sofa appeared to be genuine leather, and there were paintings on the walls that didn't seem to be reproductions.

"Hello, Adeline," said the same woman's voice from my phone call.

This time I didn't jump, but I put a hand to my heart.

"I'm so sorry darling, Adeline dear. Did I scare you? I'm Margaret. I should have come to the elevator to introduce myself."

I took a deep breath, and smiled. "That's okay. I am glad to meet you."

"And I am equally glad to meet you," said Margaret. She had green eyes that resembled a cat's. "Let's move to the sofa, shall we?"

The sofa probably cost more money than I could make in a year. "Sure," I said.

Margaret sat uncomfortably close to me, and appeared to be sizing me up. "Do you have child care experience, Adeline?"

"Yes," I said. "I was a babysitter about ten years ago, and I babysit my sister's children." This was a lie. My sister's children were brats, and I had never taken care of them.

Margaret leaned back, resting both of her arms on the top of the sofa. "How old are your sister's children?"

I smiled weakly. "My niece is 10, and my nephew is 8."

Margaret's mouth dropped open. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," I said, and nodded.

My oldest child is Hilary, and she is ten years old. My second oldest is Philip, and he will be eight in a few weeks.

"That's an amazing coincidence," I said.

Margaret narrowed her eyes. "Isn't it."

I hoped my potential employer couldn't tell that I didn't have a clue about the ages of my sister's children.

Margaret leaned back into the sofa, and closed her eyes.

"Are you okay?" I said.

My potential employer opened her eyes. "The job is yours.'

I was flabbergasted. "Don't you want to see my references?"

Margaret frowned. "Send them to me if you want, but I am an excellent judge of character. Can you start tomorrow?"

I raised my eyebrows.

"If you're worried about salary," said Margaret, I pay 100 dollars an hour. If you decide to live in the apartment, the rate doubles."

It was my turn for my jaw to drop open. "Let me get this straight. "You'll pay me two hundred dollars an hour to take care of your children, and to live in this apartment?"

Margaret grinned. "Of course, dear. Do you accept the job, and will you be living on the premises?"

I didn't have to think about it. "I accept," I said. "How do you feel about me bringing a small dog?"

Margaret said she didn't mind a small dog, and called for her children. "Philip, Hilary! Come and meet your new nanny." Two children came running from the back of the apartment.

"Hello," said Hilary. "It's very nice to meet you." She held out her hand to shake mine. I gently shook her tiny hand. Hilary was small for her age. Philip hid behind the sofa.

"Come now, don't be shy," said Margaret. "Say hello to the new nanny. Her name is Adeline. Isn't that nice?"

Philip popped up from behind the sofa. "Nice to meet you," he said. Then, he sat on the sofa next to his mother.

"That was very good, Philip, now go with your sister and you can each have a piece of cake. Cook baked it this morning."

The children ran off, which left me alone with Margaret. There was something about her that gave me the creeps, but I couldn't put my finger on what. I decided she must be eccentric, and there was nothing to worry about.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow at 9 am?" she said.

"That would be great," I said, and thank you so much."

Margaret beamed. "Really, it's nothing. See you tomorrow, dear."

The next morning, I arrived with one suitcase stuffed with my belongings, and Scotty. I detached Scotty's lead, and he trotted off to smell the apartment.

Margaret showed me to my room. It had a king sized bed, and its own bathroom. I couldn't believe my good fortune.

"Is the room suitable?" asked Margaret. "If you like, I can have it quickly redecorated."

I grinned. "It's perfect. Thank you."

Margaret smiled. "You are quite welcome. I have to go work for a couple of hours, and then I'll be back."

"What time should I expect you?" I said.

"Oh, around 7 pm. The children eat at 6, and I've already informed cook that she is to prepare meals for you, as well as Hilary and Philip."

"Thank you," I said. Was I dreaming? Yesterday, I was going to be evicted from a grubby apartment, and now I was living in an apartment on the upper east side.

"See you soon," said Margaret, as the elevator doors opened and she stepped inside.

Scotty put his paws on my knee, so I picked him up and cradled him.

Philip popped up from behind the sofa, nearly causing me to drop Scotty.

"Is that your dog?" said Philip.

"Yes," I replied.

"Is he a nice dog?" said Hilary.

"Yes, he is. Would you like to pet him?"

"No," said Hilary.

"Yes," said Philip. He reached down and scratched Scotty behind the ears.

"Hilary is scared of dogs," Philip informed me.

"Am not," said Hilary.

"Are too," said Philip.

"Hey, you two," I said. "It's okay to be afraid of dogs, but Scotty is more afraid of you than you are of him." We all looked at Scotty, who was quivering in a corner.

Cautiously, Hilary began to pet the dog. Scotty seemed to smile, and licked her hand.

"He likes me," she said.

"Yep, he sure does," I said.

"Will you leave us, like our last nanny did?" said Philip.

I shook my head. "No, I'm here for keeps."

"Our last nanny ran away," said Hilary.

"Really?" I said. I picked up Scotty and gave him a kiss on the nose.

"Mummy said she went to China," said Philip, gravely.

That's weird, I thought.

"Let's make some chocolate chip cookies," I said.

"Mummy never let's us make cookies," said Hilary. "That's cook's job."

"Just for today, I think your mummy would say it's okay."

Philip's face lit up. "I know where the chocolate chips are."

"I know where cook keeps the sugar," said Hilary.

The children and I spent a pleasant morning making cookies. We even made a small cookie for Scotty, which he ate immediately. Hilary and Philip laughed.

"You're the best nanny we've ever had," said Hilary.

I blushed. "Thank you."

"We should tell her about the room," said Philip.

"What room?" I asked.

Hilary's face turned pale. "Mummy told us never to tell people about the room."

By this time, I was curious. "What room?"

"Daddy's room," said Hilary.

"Where is your daddy's room?" I asked.

"It's all the way back there," whispered Philip. He pointed to a room at the end of the hallway.

Hilary took a deep breath and stared at Philip. "I know where the key is."

Philip turned white. "We should let the new nanny see the room. Maybe Daddy and our old nanny are in there. We can be like Superman and save them."

"What makes you say that?" The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

"I don't know," said Philip. "Once, I heard Daddy's voice in that room. Mummy said it was the TV, and not Daddy."

"Be quiet, Philip," said Hilary. "If we show our new nanny the room, she might go to China, too."

"I'm not going anywhere," I said. "Hilary, can you give me the key to the room?"

Hilary hesitated.

"I promise that I'm not going anywhere."

"Pinky swear?" Hilary said.

"Pinky swear," I replied, extending my pinky.

Hilary was gone for what seemed like a long time. She returned with a small key. Together, we made our way to the room at the end of the hallway.

I inserted the key into the lock and turned. The door swung open, and the stench was unbearable. From what I could see, there were two decomposing bodies on the bed. Immediately, I helped Philip and Hilary to exit the room. Then, I called 911.

When the police arrived, they took the bodies away. Then, they took the children and I down to the police station for questioning. When Margaret arrived home, the police also had unanswered questions for her. She broke down and confessed that she had killed her husband and nanny because they were having an affair. What the police couldn't figure out was why there were tiny fingerprints in the tissue samples taken from the corpses.

Did Margaret kill her husband and nanny by herself, or did she have help from Philip and Hilary? Could Margaret be confessing to murders that her children committed? I sincerely hoped that Margaret was the sole killer. The alternative made me want to vomit.