[MaC] Interviewing Esme

[Pruehs, Ree M.]

> > >>>>"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.

Vangie kept her own amazed thoughts to herself. "No one is saying that
anyone's been poisoned," she said firmly, patting Esme's hand. =Where
did I leave my smelling salts...?= 

Oh. Back in that damned little clutch bag.

Whereever that was.