[MaC] Interviewing Esme

[Mel Mason]

>>>>>Perhaps Vangie was beginning to sense that the sort of help Esme's 
>>>>>sister gave to young women in the East End was not delivered in the 
>>>>>form of soup kitchens.
>>>>>
>>>>>"And she wrote to me," Esme went on, "and said that the rozzers ... the 
>>>>>police, I mean ... have been asking questions.  About ... well, her 
>>>>>customers."
>>>>>
>>>>>Esme dabbed at her eyes again.
>>>>>
>>>>>Vangie got up, went in her bedroom -- saw the mess Sweetie had made of 
>>>>>her jewelry box and said several very bad words under her breath -- 
>>>>>opened her top dresser drawer and got out some handkerchiefs, and 
>>>>>offered them to Esme. "There now. Cry it out. It's all right." There 
>>>>>were things that could be done about Marty Fitzroy, she thought grimly. 
>>>>>But not yet.
>>>>
>>>>"Thank you," said Esme.  Then she lifted her head, blinking.
>>>>
>>>>"There seems to be a lot of noise going on upstairs," she said slowly.
>>>
>>>"Indeed," Vangie said. "But I don't want to leave you alone right now. 
>>>Are you feeling up to going there?"
>>
>>Esme nodded - although Vangie could sense some reluctance in her 
>>agreement.
>>
>>"If you'll come with me," she added with slightly more firmness.
>
> "Yes," Vangie said. "Of course." Out of habit she looked around the flat 
> for Sweetie.

Sweetie for once was being kittenisghly playful.  He seemed to be batting a 
white paper bag about the narrow hall ... the sort that one obtained from 
high class grocers, greengrocers and pharmicists.  It was empty, which 
seemed to present an interesting challenge to Sweetie.