Rachel drove her red car up the long gravel driveway of the estate.
She was Mark's younger sister and cared deeply for her little niece.
She had not seen Claire in over three full weeks.
Every time she called the house, Eleanor made up a quick excuse.
Rachel parked her car near the towering front entrance steps.
She pulled her bright blue dress straight as she walked up.
She noticed the front double doors were unlocked and slightly open.
Rachel: Mark? Is anyone home right now?
She pushed the high wooden doors wide open and stepped inside.
The foyer was cold and strangely quiet in the bright morning air.
A soft weeping sound reached her ears from down the hall.
Rachel froze near the tall coat rack and listened carefully.
Claire: Wake up right now... clean it!
The desperate voice sounded small and full of deep emotional fear.
Rachel ran quickly toward the dark back hall near the kitchen.
Her heels clicked rapidly on the expensive polished tile floor.
She saw a tiny figure huddled under a worn cotton blanket.
Rachel: Claire! What are you doing down on the floor?
Claire flinched hard and pulled the blanket over her little face.
Claire: Don't be mad at me, please!
Rachel dropped her purse and kneeled down on the cold marble.
She pulled the soft blanket away from her niece's face.
She gasped loudly when she saw the mark on Claire's temple.
Rachel: Sweetheart, who did this terrible thing to you?
Claire: I dropped my juice glass on the carpet earlier.
Rachel: Did Eleanor make you clean this whole floor alone?
Claire looked down and squeezed her small hands together tightly.
Claire: She said I was a bad girl, Aunt Rachel.
Tears of deep anger filled Rachel's bright blue eyes instantly.
She realized why Eleanor never let her visit the house lately.
Rachel: You are coming with me right this second, sweetie.
She wrapped the blanket around Claire's trembling shoulders tightly.
She lifted the light little girl into her arms with strength.
Claire held onto Rachel's neck like a lifeline of safety.
Claire: Is Daddy going to be mad at me too?
Rachel: Your father is going to learn the truth today, honey.
Rachel turned around quickly and marched toward the main front entrance.
She heard a car door slam outside in the wide driveway.
Mark was stepping back into the house to grab forgotten files.
Rachel walked fast straight toward the open grand double doors.