Lightning Strikes (Hudson 2)

"Don't mind her," he said. "If she doesn't get used to disappointment, she'll never have a chance in the theater anyway. You're always auditioning and often being rejected until you're a big star and you can pick and choose what part you want to play."

The speeches I was given to deliver occurred in the play after Hamlet had killed Ophelia's father accidentally. It had turned her mad.

"I'll practice with you," Randall offered. "I've seen it a few times."

Everyone seemed impressed I was given the opportunity after so short a period at the school, especially Mr. MacWaine who said, "I'll include the news in a report I'm preparing for Mrs. Hudson. I'm sure she will be delighted to hear how well you are doing, Rain."

I was eager to tell Great-aunt Leonora and especially Great-uncle Richard that night when I helped serve dinner. As soon as I arrived, I hurried to my room to change. However, I was shocked to discover that someone had gone through my things. I could tell because clothing in drawers was disturbed and it was obvious that all my garments in the wardrobe had been shoved around. Boxes for my shoes had not been closed after someone had opened them, too. Whoever had done it had not been very subtle about it. Pockets of jackets were still inside out as well. I had nothing of great value for anyone to steal. Who could have done this? Why?

Furious, I marched down the hallway determined to complain to my great-aunt and greatuncle.

Boggs, who was my chief suspect, appeared just outside of my great uncle's den and office. Before I could get a word out, he growled, "Mr. Endfield just sent me to fetch you. He's waitin' to see you," he added and nodded toward the office.

"What's going on here? Who was in my room searching my things?" I demanded.

"Mr. Endfield's waitin'," Boggs replied, his eyes steely gray.

I might as well try to intimidate one of those statues in the park, I thought. I felt like kicking him where I knew it would hurt the most. Firing back my own gaze of fury, I stormed by him and into the office where my great-uncle sat behind his desk, his back to me. Before I could ask anything, he ordered me to close the door. I did so and then he turned his chair to face me. Before him, on his desk, was an opened envelope and a letter. He held it up.

"This letter came to my office today," he began. "It's from my wife's niece Victoria. Do you have any idea why she might have written this letter?" he asked, leaning forward and gazing like a prosecutor at my face.

"No," I said. "Why? What did she write? Is it about me?" I asked quickly, expecting that Victoria had defied Grandmother Hudson's wishes and revealed the truth.

Rather than reply, he sat back and made a cathedral with his fingers. He took a breath and straightened his shoulders as if he was about to address Parliament itself.

"You've been given some wonderful

opportunities, not only here but in America, as I understand it. You attended a very expensive, prestigious school, were presented with a new wardrobe, had all your medical and dental needs provided for, were given luxurious living quarters and not asked to do anything in return but succeed and make something of yourself."

"I know all that," I said. "I'm grateful for it and I haven't taken anything for granted, so I don't need to be reminded, if that's what Victoria told you."

"No, that's not the problem," he replied.

"Is there something wrong with my work in the house? The other day you told me I was doing fine."

"I have no complaints about that."

"Then why are you talking to me as if I'm some sort of criminal? And who searched all my things?" I demanded. "My room looks like the FBI was in there!"

He remained calm, not even blinking an eyelid.

"Victoria has informed me that a very valuable family heirloom is missing from my sister-in-law's jewelry box," he said in a quiet voice. "It's a diamond brooch that once belonged to my mother-in-law." He picked up the letter. "She claims she saw it before you arrived to live with her mother and now when she went to look for it, it was gone. My sister-in-law is beside herself as well, but according to Victoria, she refuses to ask you about it," he concluded and put the letter down.

"Are you accusing me of stealing from Mrs. Hudson?" I asked, astonished.

"I'm not accusing you of anything. My niece thinks there is reason to be suspicious," he said.

"And so you had Boggs search my room?" I concluded.

"It's far better that if any investigation is conducted, it is conducted by the family and not by the police," he said. "It was for your own protection."

"My own protection? Treating me like a thief? Having that ogre go through my private things?"

"He is a trusted servant, a man of discretion. No one need know anything about this. Of course, that might be entirely up to you."

"I didn't take any diamond brooch, Mr. Endfield, and I would never steal from Mrs. Hudson," I said firmly. "You want to know what I think," I said, with hot tears in my eyes, "I think Victoria took it so she could blame me for it and now she is writing that hideous letter."

"Why would she do that?" he asked, more curious than astounded.