[MaC] Interviewing Esme

[Mel Mason]

> >>>>"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.

The sight of the bag triggered a faint nagging worry in Vangie's mind.
Where had she seen it before...or last? And why was she thinking that
Sweetie couldn't possibly have it...?

But the immediate need to look after Esme took precedence as she
escorted the other woman from her flat.

There were footsteps resounding in the stairway. Vangie glanced at Esme,
then headed in that direction. "Hallooo?" she called.

Florence and Lucinda appeared, hurrying down the stairs.

"I'm afraid there's been an ... "  Lucinda began, and then hesitated.  "An 
accident," she said.  "Mr Fitzroy.  We're just going to get an ambulance."

"My husband?" faltered Esme, clinging to Vangie.

"He's ... erm ... eaten something that didn't agree with him," said Florence 
tactfully.

But polite euphemisms went nowhere with Esme.

"I didn't poison him!" she declared, clinging tighter to Vangie.