David pulled out his phone and turned on the bright flashlight.
He pointed the beam of light down into the narrow square hole.
Wooden stairs led down into an unknown concrete basement room.
Sitting at the bottom of the stairs was his wife Sarah.
Her hair was wild and her clothes were dirty and torn.
David: Sarah?! How are you down there right now?
Sarah: Get me out of here before he comes back!
David grabbed the edge of the opening and started climbing down.
He told Ella to stay upstairs by the hallway wall.
David: Who put you down here, Sarah?
Sarah: It was your brother Thomas!
David froze completely halfway down the steep wooden steps.
His twin brother Thomas had moved in with them last month.
Thomas was supposed to be looking for a new apartment today.
David: Why would Thomas lock you in a hidden room?
Sarah: He stole the family inheritance papers from your safe!
Sarah wiped tears from her dirty face as she spoke rapidly.
Sarah: I caught him red handed in your private home office.
Sarah: He pushed me down here and locked the heavy hatch!
David reached the bottom step and helped his wife stand up.
She was shaking terribly and clutching her left arm close.
David: I thought you drove to the airport on Tuesday morning!
Sarah: Thomas took my phone and sent you those text messages!
David felt a surge of pure anger wash right over him.
His own blood brother had betrayed him in his own home.
David: Let us get you upstairs to safety right now.
They heard footsteps walking fast across the marble upstairs floor.