As Snowy and Tintin walked down the halls to Thompson and Thomson's office, he noticed all the framed newpapaers had his picture on the front page. The best around, Tintin thought to himself. Really? Of course, people always told him he was brilliant, but he always tried staying humble: no one likes a bragger.

"Ah, Tintin," Thompson greeted "Right this way,"

The first thing Tintin noticed when he walked into the office, was a petite girl with short, curly hair and velvet brown eyes. Judging by the brand name and quality of her dress, she was from a wealthy family. She was weeping in the chair facing the desk. While doing so, her head was slightly tilted down and she clutched several used tissues.

"Miss," Tintin said, walking over to the weeping girl in the chair, then knelt down so their eyes met. "What's your name?"

"Antoinette DiAzio," she said with a french accent rolling off her tounge.

"Ah, you're french." Tintin stated.

She nodded.

"Tell me, Ms. DiAzio, what brings you here?"

"I told you: her father went missing!" Thomson piped up.

Tintin raised his hand to silence Thomson. "I just want to hear what she has to say. Go on, Ms. DiAzio,"

"My father..." She sniffed.

"I heard," Tintin sighed "Do you have any knowledge on where he may be located?"

She shook her head "Non, Misiour Tintin, that's why I came here; I wanted the best person looking for my father."

Tintin's face flushed with pride.

"I've seen you in the newpapers," She continued. "I've seen how magnificent you are at mysteries... solving them that is," Snowy let out a small whine and put his head in Antoinette's lap. She gave a weak smile and scratched the fox terrior behind the ear.

"Your home," Tintin started "Where are you from?"

"I was born in Nice, France," She sniffed "My father is Italian. He moved to France due to fiancial issues. That's where he met my mother,"

"You traveled from Nice to here?" Thompson asked.

"Oui, Misiour," She answered "One of my Father's workers, Stephane Atring, took me here,"

"Father's worker... DiAzio..." Tintin pondered through his thoughts until he hit him like a ton of bricks "Great snakes! The DiAzio Dynasty! Your father makes wine!"

"You've heard of us?"

"Why, of course! My friend Haddock loves your wine!"

"Captain Haddock likes our wine?" Antoinette felt a bit of joy at this fact "C'est manifique!"

"Tell me, Antoinette, where is your mother?"

She fell silent, her lower lip slightly quivered and tears streamed down her face "The police found her dead in the master bedroom... They said it was suicide... Due to grief... Overdose of pills..." She choaked up the last few words.

Tintin lifted her chin up, getting a good look at her face: she had high, round cheek bones and a little button nose. She was young and fair. She couldn't be any older than twelve. Her light, flawless skin reminded Tintin of a porcelain doll "I'm sorry I brought it up. I promise I will find your father."

She blinked away the last few tears "Oh, Merci beacoup!" She cried, then gave Tintin a tight embrace, which nearly killed him. Who knew someone so small could be so strong?

Tintin returned the embrace, then helped her to her feet "If I may, I'd like to ivestigate your home."

"Of course you may!"