London Art Chase by Natalie Grant Page A

in.”
    â€œMr. Hughes?”
    â€œYes,” Maddie said, trying to sound sure when she was anything but.
    â€œDo you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked, flipping through a book on her desk. “I’m afraid Mr. Hughes is quite a busy man.”
    Maddie fidgeted, trying to think of the right answer. Mia and Lulu always had something to say, but now, when she needed help . . . nothing? And shouldn’t Miss Julia say something? She thought of Miss Julia’s expression when Lulu toppled the guards and the sound of her voice when she’d told the girls to come back. No. Miss Julia was definitely not going to smooth this over for Maddie right now.
    â€œWe don’t have an appointment, but we really need to speak to him,” Maddie said. “It’s urgent.”
    The receptionist narrowed her eyes at Maddie, sizing her up, and then picked up the phone. “Your name?”
    â€œMaddie Glimmer. And these are my sisters, Mia and Lulu.”
    She dialed and waited. “Mr. Hughes? I have three American children here to see you. Maddie, Mia, and Lulu Glimmer . . . No, sir, they did not . . . I’m not sure. They say it’s urgent . . . Yes, sir . . .”
    Maddie shifted from foot to foot, her discomfort growing. If Mr. Hughes was the thief, there was no way he’d want to talk to them. But he hadn’t seen them at the museum, or when they’d been following him—at least she didn’t think he had. Maybe he’d think they were harmless kids. But if he wasn’t the thief, what reason would he have to talk to three kids he’d never heard of before?
    â€œYes, blonde hair, one is wearing a . . . They do have a guardian here with them. Okay, yes, sir, I’ll send her right up.” She hung up and spoke only to Miss Julia. “Mr. Hughes would like to see you, Miss . . .?”
    â€œJulia Twist,” Miss Julia said, shooting Maddie a this-is-going-to-stop-now look.
    â€œMr. Hughes thought there might be a few blonde children following him today as he walked back from Buckingham Palace. He’d like a word with you.”
    â€œOf course,” Miss Julia said.
    â€œHis office is up the stairs and to the left. The girls may have a seat on the bench over there and wait. I’ll keep an eye on them.”
    Maddie, Mia, and Lulu sat. Lulu swung her legs, obviously not a bit bothered.
    Mia elbowed Maddie. “Do you still think he’s guilty?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Maddie whispered, eyeing the receptionist.
    â€œMaybe he won’t talk to us because he is guilty,” Lulu said, her voice loud and clear.
    â€œExcuse me?” the receptionist asked.
    â€œNothing,” the girls chimed in unison.
    â€œI must ask that if you must speak at all, keep your voices down. This is a place of business, girls.”
    Good thing this receptionist wasn’t their nanny. Miss Julia might get mad every once in a while, but at least she didn’t wear her hair in a too-tight bun and have too-strict rules that even made something like waiting in a lobby uncomfortable.
    Maddie tried not to talk, listening to the tic-tic-ticking of the clock. She rubbed her arms to keep warm.
    â€œIt’s freezing in here,” Lulu said to no one in particular. “Why don’t you turn up the heat?”
    The receptionist gave her a withering look. “We are an archival office. Cool temperatures keep the paintings and documents from deteriorating.”
    â€œSo that’s what you do here? Take care of old paintings and things?” Maddie asked.
    â€œYes,” the receptionist said, deliberately looking away from them and back at her computer screen.
    â€œMaybe we can get some clues from her!” Lulu whispered, and then raising her voice again, said, “Do you know of any paintings by Renoir?” She said Renoir with a strong “r” at the end.
    â€œRen-oir!” Mia corrected, pronouncing his name