Struggling Writers discussion

Hi everyone, I was hoping I could get a few opinions on part of the plot of my WIP that I've been struggling with. My book is about a notorious criminal that hires a nanny to look after his adolescent daughter, only the nanny isn't who she says she is. I want to lead the reader to believe she is a spy, but she is in fact a sort of guardian angel.

As of right now I have the book open up with the nanny, Abigail, on a plane to a small island in Scotland (the criminal lives in a castle on a tiny private island off the coast of this small island). While in the air, she reflects on something that happened to her while attempting to enter the airport in Glasgow. (The flight took her from New York to Glasgow and then to the small island, Islay--I researched the flight online)

In the flashback, wanting more information about the criminal, Killian, Abby ‘accidentally’ appears nervous while appearing before the Border Control officer (she has a Belgian passport so she is part of the EU). The Border Control officer tells her to step aside and enter the detainment center. Another officer empties and double checks her luggage, then asks her some questions. Abby reveals that she is on her way to see Killian. The officer appears frightened, panicked, and goes to speak with his supervisor. Abby watches as they talk about her, then argue. The superior officer waves the first officer away, then goes inside the detainment room to speak with Abby. He apologizes and reveals that he works for Killian. He advises her to head toward the proper gate before she misses her flight.

An alternate scene is that Abby’s passport is not Belgium, but American. This means she has to go through a different process to go through Border Control. She has to fill out a landing card. She has to approach an officer and they will ask her for her purpose entering the UK. Abby will then reveal she is there for work, in which the officer replies by asking if she has work papers. She will reply no, but adds that she is on her way to interview with Killian. Because the criminal's name is widespread and instigates such fear, suddenly the officer’s attitude changes; he wants to double check her passport, he calls his boss, Abby thinks they’re talking about her, they’re watching her. They are trying everything to catch him, get information on him. Abby is taken advantage of as an opportunity to get to Killian. But there is a man at Glasgow, a sort of henchman that's been following Abby the whole time. The BC officer gives Abby the run around until the man arrives and then the officer backs down. People at the airport are afraid of Killian, or I suggest that they’re being paid off. They won’t co-operate until the henchman arrives and suddenly they are very submissive, and Abby sees this.

I've been asking myself, however, if this flashback scene is relevant for the story. I am also aware that flashbacks are not the most ideal when writing a novel, unless done properly and is necessary.
1. The effect of this flashback is to show the reader how widespread Killian’s name is in Scotland, and the reaction it gets. But would Abby risk her mission by doing this? 'The Council', the wisest of 'Guardians', the supernatural angel-like race Abby belongs to, sent her on this 'mission' to protect the young girl from her criminal father. But would they have sent Abby on a blind mission like this? Why would they do that?
2. The other option is to not have a flashback scene at all. Abby can establish the feelings the locals have about Killian throughout the novel—when she walks through Islay and takes a trip to Glasgow.

After Abby lands in Islay, she is picked up at the airport by a young man who works for Killian. The young man, Archie, drives her to his home on the shore where he talks with her a little bit over tea and he tells her about Killian and what she'll be facing. Then he drives her in his boat across the ocean to Killian's private island. Abby then interviews for the position, and he hires her by the end of the chapter. Should the story start when she lands in Islay or while she's on the plane going there? Should there be a flashback or no? Should the book begin when she arrives on Killian's island?

I would really appreciate it if my fellow writers here in the Goodreads community could offer me their insight/opinions. I'm finding it hard to pinpoint exactly where the story should begin.

Thank you!!

Andrea

I like the thought of the book starting with a journey. But why wouldn't the Council have given her all the information? I think you could also start with the car ride to Archie's cottage as she takes in the countryside. During tea he notices she is preoccupied and asks her is something wrong. She says no, not really but something odd did happen at the airport but she's sure it was nothing. He asks for more details and watches his expression change as she tells him about the incident. Suddenly he changes the subject and adks if she'd like to be on their way. Or you could have Archie reassure her and tell her to think nothing of it and she tucks it away in the back of her mind. As for her nationality I think she should be the nation you know the most about if you're going to be in her head a lot.

Tara wrote: "I like the thought of the book starting with a journey. But why wouldn't the Council have given her all the information? I think you could also start with the car ride to Archie's cottage as she ta..."

Yeah for character development purposes I'm starting to think that it would be unlike her to risk her 'mission' by doing something so risky. Originally I had her Belgian nationality a cover--her passport would be a fake--because she's technically not human and doesn't have a 'nationality'. Guardians remember all their past lives and she would have been born in many different nations over thousands of years.

I'm also beginning to think that because I'm finding all of this very complex to write and that it doesn't flow easily, perhaps it's not meant to be. :-) Just struggling to find that perfect opening spot in this timeline.

I meant what nationality are you, the author, most familiar with. I honestly think all the scenarios you've laid out here sound plausible and exciting but if you're not feeling them focus on something different and wait for inspiration to strike. You've got a great story, though.