Response Team, the Rapid Start Team from the FBI, and local authorities involved with your 911 call, there’s also the Secret Service.”
Ambassador Kensington shot to his feet. “I did not want your emergency line contacted, and I do not want any more questions from local authorities.” He returned to pacing. “I want only your team involved in any further information sharing. All I need is for your press to find an easy leak and blast my familyor impede my work in the United States.”
Steven’s mind whirled with possibilities. “Who called 911?”
“My assistant, Charlotte Brown. She found the purse and became hysterical. She thought it had Olivia’s blood on it.”
“Was she close to Olivia?”
“Doubtful.”
A knock on the door interrupted the ambassador’s pacing. “I do not wish to be disturbed!”
A little sniffling voice called through the library entrance. “But, Papa, I can’t find Mum and these men following me won’t help.”
Steven had a hard time not smiling at the glowing report of the little girl’s Secret Service detail. He turned his attention to the files in his lap and waited.
Sir Walter crossed the room and jerked open the door. A little blond-haired girl in a long white sleeveless dress flung herself into his arms. He stroked her bright curls and held her tightly. “I’m sorry, Victoria dear. I’ll see if we can raise her on the phone.”
The little girl’s blue eyes filled with tears as the pair slipped behind the ambassador’s desk, and he picked up the receiver. “Eileen, I need you to attend to Victoria.” Sir Walter set his daughter on his desk chair and turned his back. “I don’t give a … Yes, I do understand. She still needs her mum. Now.”
Victoria watched her father’s terse conversation with wide eyes. Then she turned toward Steven. “Are you the one who’s going to bring my Livvie home?”
He guessed the precocious six-year-old had overheard far more than her little ears needed to know. “I’m going to do all I can.”
The little girl cocked her head. “I miss my sister. She was my only friend here in America, even if she was gone too often. Mum is dawdling on where I’m to attend school in September. Livvie was supposed to take me to lessons so we could have time together.”
Steven adjusted his tie. This little girl had no real concept ofthe storm that raged around her. But something in her China doll features made his insides knot in a tighter ball. Too bad she and his son didn’t attend the same school. James would have loved being friends with another child his age who spoke as comfortably with adults as he did.
“Are you a papa?”
Steven nodded. “I have a son about your age.”
“I should like to meet him.” Victoria was well on her way to becoming a charming hostess.
He glanced at his watch and hoped the ambassador wouldn’t continue his conversation much longer. Every second counted. At the same time, people in a traumatic circumstance needed careful attention. Even a child, especially one this verbal, could supply helpful information. If he chose his words with care.
“Where did you and Livvie like to spend time together?”
“At the parks. We would walk with those big men following and whisper about being princesses and finding a magic carpet to take us far away Like Princess Jasmine.”
“From
Aladdin
?”
Victoria’s face creased with a grin. “You watch Disney movies? I thought all adults watched dull sports or news shows.”
Ambassador Kensington ended his conversation. “Are you entertaining or grilling my youngest daughter? Neither will return Olivia, will it?”
Steven stiffened. His time would be better served interviewing the assistants, for all the help Sir Walter had offered between his succinct rants. Nonspecific answers. No possible suspects. Many diplomats had lists of enemies to rattle off at a moment’s notice. Finger-pointing and politics seemed to go hand in hand.
“If you have no further
Ambassador Kensington shot to his feet. “I did not want your emergency line contacted, and I do not want any more questions from local authorities.” He returned to pacing. “I want only your team involved in any further information sharing. All I need is for your press to find an easy leak and blast my familyor impede my work in the United States.”
Steven’s mind whirled with possibilities. “Who called 911?”
“My assistant, Charlotte Brown. She found the purse and became hysterical. She thought it had Olivia’s blood on it.”
“Was she close to Olivia?”
“Doubtful.”
A knock on the door interrupted the ambassador’s pacing. “I do not wish to be disturbed!”
A little sniffling voice called through the library entrance. “But, Papa, I can’t find Mum and these men following me won’t help.”
Steven had a hard time not smiling at the glowing report of the little girl’s Secret Service detail. He turned his attention to the files in his lap and waited.
Sir Walter crossed the room and jerked open the door. A little blond-haired girl in a long white sleeveless dress flung herself into his arms. He stroked her bright curls and held her tightly. “I’m sorry, Victoria dear. I’ll see if we can raise her on the phone.”
The little girl’s blue eyes filled with tears as the pair slipped behind the ambassador’s desk, and he picked up the receiver. “Eileen, I need you to attend to Victoria.” Sir Walter set his daughter on his desk chair and turned his back. “I don’t give a … Yes, I do understand. She still needs her mum. Now.”
Victoria watched her father’s terse conversation with wide eyes. Then she turned toward Steven. “Are you the one who’s going to bring my Livvie home?”
He guessed the precocious six-year-old had overheard far more than her little ears needed to know. “I’m going to do all I can.”
The little girl cocked her head. “I miss my sister. She was my only friend here in America, even if she was gone too often. Mum is dawdling on where I’m to attend school in September. Livvie was supposed to take me to lessons so we could have time together.”
Steven adjusted his tie. This little girl had no real concept ofthe storm that raged around her. But something in her China doll features made his insides knot in a tighter ball. Too bad she and his son didn’t attend the same school. James would have loved being friends with another child his age who spoke as comfortably with adults as he did.
“Are you a papa?”
Steven nodded. “I have a son about your age.”
“I should like to meet him.” Victoria was well on her way to becoming a charming hostess.
He glanced at his watch and hoped the ambassador wouldn’t continue his conversation much longer. Every second counted. At the same time, people in a traumatic circumstance needed careful attention. Even a child, especially one this verbal, could supply helpful information. If he chose his words with care.
“Where did you and Livvie like to spend time together?”
“At the parks. We would walk with those big men following and whisper about being princesses and finding a magic carpet to take us far away Like Princess Jasmine.”
“From
Aladdin
?”
Victoria’s face creased with a grin. “You watch Disney movies? I thought all adults watched dull sports or news shows.”
Ambassador Kensington ended his conversation. “Are you entertaining or grilling my youngest daughter? Neither will return Olivia, will it?”
Steven stiffened. His time would be better served interviewing the assistants, for all the help Sir Walter had offered between his succinct rants. Nonspecific answers. No possible suspects. Many diplomats had lists of enemies to rattle off at a moment’s notice. Finger-pointing and politics seemed to go hand in hand.
“If you have no further
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