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Page 94
niece's face. "Gert! You feel better, don't you? Don't you?"
"Feel okay," Gert muttered. "Sleepy. Want to sleep. Auntie, lemme sleep."
The reply seemed to steady Gertrude. "Maybe we do have to tell madam, but not now when she's tired." Her eyes filled with tears. "I know something about this. My brother's boy, he took something once. We got to keep her walking. She be all right as long as she can walk."
"But Gertrude" Linda sobbed, bit her lips, and swallowed. "If it was the candy"
"No one will get nothing into this house again," Gertrude snarled. "Don't you worry about that! Listen, Miss Linda, this kind of trouble will kill madam. You know what we'll have if you call a doctor? The police, asking questions. The newspapers sniffing around all the time, yelling attempted murder. I think madam would rather be dead than have that kind of noise about her family."
"You don't seem to understand," Linda snapped, outrage replacing her fear. "If it was the candy, do you think it will stop there? Anyone who would do such a thing is crazy. That person will try again. And Mrs. Bates will be dead."
"Not if you and I watch close," Gertrude said stubbornly. "Besides, what if it isn't the candy? Maybe Gert took something before you came in. I won't have another case in my family. I can afford to have her taken care of quiet."
Linda drew a trembling breath. Gert was still walking and perhaps was even a little steadier on

 
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