Creeps Suzette by Mary Daheim Page B

known to the family. Mrs. Burgess, however, was starting to regain consciousness just as Renie returned.
    â€œThey’re on the way,” she said. “I gather it’s the county sheriff’s jurisdiction.”
    Mrs. Burgess was moaning again. “Ohh…” she gasped. “Ohh…What…?”
    Judith helped the older woman sit up. “Don’t strain yourself,” she said softly. “Here’s Kenneth. He has some brandy.”
    â€œKenneth?” Mrs. Burgess regarded her grandson with a strange expression. “Oh. That’s right. You’re here.”
    â€œYes, Grandmaman ,” Kenneth replied, holding the brandy snifter to Mrs. Burgess’s lips. “Drink this. It’ll make you feel better.”
    â€œNo!” Mrs. Burgess slapped at the snifter, sending it flying out of Kenneth’s hand. It didn’t break, but brandy spilled all over the Persian carpet.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, Grandmaman ?” Kenneth asked in a pitiful voice. “I would never hurt you.”
    It was obvious that Leota Burgess was trying to compose herself. “No. Of course you wouldn’t. But…” Her gaze strayed to the inert body of Dr. Moss. “Oh, my! I can’t believe he’s dead.”
    â€œI called Dr. Stevens,” Kenneth said, still kneeling beside his grandmother. “He’ll be here right away.”
    â€œDr. Stevens,” Mrs. Burgess murmured, her gnarled fingers kneading at the folds of her deep purple bathrobe. “Yes, of course. Oh, what will he think about Dr. Moss?”
    â€œThat he’s dead?” Renie said under her breath to Judith, who was now trying to examine the dead man without touching anything.
    â€œA heart attack?” Judith whispered. “It wouldn’t be surprising. Dr. Moss must have been about ninety.” Pointing to the medical bag at the doctor’s side, she turned to Mrs. Burgess. “Did you call for him?”
    Leota Burgess’s eyes widened. “No. Why should I? I feel fine. Or did, until now. I believe I reinjured my ankle.”
    â€œWhat happened?” Judith asked. “You came downstairs and—what?”
    Mrs. Burgess held her head. “I feel so queer. I’m not exactly sure…Let me think.”
    A silence fell over the little group. “Would you like us to help you into the drawing room?” Judith finally asked.
    Mrs. Burgess looked again at Dr. Moss’s body and shivered. “Yes. Please.”
    It was Kenneth who assisted his grandmother to a sofa in the drawing room just off the central staircase. She could barely walk, and her grandson staggered slightly under her weight. After making her as comfortable as possible, Kenneth returned to the entry hall to await the emergency personnel.
    â€œMaybe I will have some brandy,” Mrs. Burgess said with a heavy sigh. “You know where the liquor is. If you don’t mind…”
    Renie went over to the bar where Kenyon had served them before dinner. Judith tried to keep her expression blank as she sat down next to Mrs. Burgess. Apparently, the old lady had no qualms about drinking brandy that wasn’t served by her grandson.
    â€œDo you remember anything?” Judith asked.
    â€œIt’s very vague,” Mrs. Burgess replied. “I was about to go to sleep when my buzzer rang. Just outside the front door is a speaker so that I can be buzzed if someone should come to call and the servants don’t hear. We put it in for Kenyon, really, because he’s gotten so deaf.”
    Leota Burgess paused as Renie returned, juggling three brandy snifters. “Thank you, my dear,” the old woman said, though her hand trembled as she accepted the drink. “Anyway, it was Dr. Moss. He has his own key—he’s had it for years, in case of an emergency—and he let himself in. Igot up and started downstairs, first turning on the lights with the switch near my door.