David rushed out of the ballroom and into the long dark hallway.
The hardwood floor stretched out toward several closed oak doors.
He called out his daughter's name as loud as he could.
David: Lilly, where are you hiding sweetheart?
Only his own anxious voice echoed off the high decorative ceiling.
He opened the first door leading into a dusty private study.
The dark leather armchairs were empty under the dim yellow lamp.
He checked under the large mahogany desk near the bookshelf.
There was no sign of a little girl anywhere inside.
David ran back out into the main hallway with growing dread.
He bumped into Victoria near the display of old family medals.
Victoria: Why are you running through the house like a madman?
David: Lilly is missing, Victoria!
Victoria: She is probably playing a game upstairs in the nursery.
David: I checked the nursery five minutes ago and it was dark.
Victoria: Then check the back patio or the garden outside.
David shook his head because the heavy back door was locked.
He remembered locking it himself to keep the cold air out.
A strange feeling told him something was very wrong inside.
He walked back toward the ballroom where the crowd was gathering.
The guests were watching a slide presentation on a large screen.
David pushed past two men in expensive dark woolen suits.
He stood right in the center of the bright ballroom space.
David: Everyone please stop talking for just one second!
The music stopped as the butler turned off the small speaker.
Several older women gasped at David's loud and sudden outburst.
David: My daughter is missing inside this house right now!
Victoria: David, stop embarrassing this family in front of our guests.
David paid no attention to her cold and harsh warning words.
He closed his eyes to listen closely to the quiet room.
A faint muffled sound came from the far corner wall.