Page 7 of Nothing Hiding

There were several police cars parked outside the ornate steel gates, which were open, with security guards in attendance. The driveway led through manicured lawns to the house itself, which was a stately mansion, built from red brick and fronted with Portland stone.

The guards at the gate examined all their IDs carefully before allowing them through.

As they walked up to the house, Juliette could already hear angry voices coming from inside. The front door stood open.

Two police, stationed on either side, were looking worried.

From inside, a man's voice, furious and emotional, was shouting out. "How did you let this happen? How could she have gotten out? Heads are going to roll for this!"

Juliette exchanged a concerned glance with Wyatt and Sierra.

The ambassador was clearly venting his worry and grief at his daughter's disappearance. H is next words had her hustling through the spacious hallway even faster.

"This is a personal attack. Against me. Someone wants payback. I'm certain of it!"

CHAPTER FOUR

Hoping to learn more about a potential motive, Juliette hurried through the doors to the right where the raised voices were coming from. This would be an explosive situation, but at least it seemed as if the ambassador was ready to talk.

These tall, arched doors led into a formal living room, with gold and white wallpaper, and large windows offering a view of well-tended flower gardens beyond. Pacing up and down on the deep blue Persian carpet was the ambassador himself, facing a team of three stricken looking security guards who were bearing the brunt of his anger.

He looked to be in his fifties, a man of average height and strong build, with a forceful demeanor about him and craggy features.

"It's unacceptable!" he ranted to the guards. "You're all going to be facing disciplinary action for this!"

"Sir!" the policeman who was walking with them called.

The ambassador turned as they approached, frowning, his pale blue gaze piercing them from below well-groomed, graying brows. He wore a black suit and a green, button-down shirt, and Juliette guessed that he had dressed formally for his departure from Edinburgh and must just have arrived back home.

"Who's this? Are you the task force?" he demanded. "They said a special FBI task force was going to be helping with this case?"

Quickly, Juliette strode forward. "Yes, sir. FBI Agents Hart and Thompson, and our co-opted member Sierra Lowry. I'm so sorry for the circumstances. We're going to do whatever we can to find Daisy."

"Please! We need answers!" he appealed.

Behind him, for the first time, Juliette glimpsed his wife, who was sitting on one of the antique chairs, her head bowed and a Kleenex held in her tightly clenched fingers. She had platinum blonde hair and was also wearing a smart jacket and skirt, in royal blue.

She looked up at Juliette and her team and held Juliette's gaze wordlessly for a moment.

Juliette felt desperately sorry for both the parents. She needed to move on this case, and to do so, she needed facts.

"Can we ask you some questions?" she said to the ambassador.

He turned back to the security guards. "Go, now. I need to speak to the police. But I'm not leaving this matter alone. You are all to blame!"

Their faces expressionless, the guards turned and left.

In his worry, Juliette could understand his need to act out. She was getting the sense that this ambassador was a very domineering man and had a need to control his environment. But they could get nowhere while he was being loud and upset. Calm was needed.

"Can we sit down?" she asked in a reasonable voice.

He sighed. "I guess so."

He lowered himself into a chair next to his wife's, and Juliette sat on the closest couch, wanting to be able to speak to them closely, and to create what felt like a more intimate environment, but also not wanting to move any of these carefully positioned items of furniture. She had a strong sense that it would be regarded as disrespectful.

"What happened? Can you talk me through it?"

"She left the house, sometime last night. She got out down the fire escape and must have used the side gate to leave. The fire escape was open. Opened from the inside," he said. “Those damned guards were negligent. They were supposed to be guarding her! Not allowing her to walk off the property after dark!”

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