Elena pushed open the heavy wooden door leading into the main service kitchen.
She locked the thick interior door behind her using the brass deadbolt.
The kitchen was quiet, illuminated by natural sunlight streaming through high skylights.
Elena set the children down on the stainless steel counter bench safely.
Elena: Listen to me, what are your names, sweethearts?
Boy: My name is Leo, and this is my sister Maya.
Elena: How did you end up inside that wall compartment, Leo?
Leo: Our biological father died last month, and we had an inheritance.
Elena realized the truth about Arthur Vance's wealthy business empire immediately.
Arthur had been involved in a contentious probate court fight over a family estate.
These children were the true legal heirs to a massive real estate trust fund.
If the children vanished, Arthur and Victoria stood to inherit millions of dollars.
Elena grabbed her phone to call emergency services immediately.
The signal icon showed no service due to the mansion's thick security shield.
Heavy pounding rattled the kitchen door behind them as Victoria shouted outside.
Victoria: Open this door, Elena, before Arthur arrives with security!
Elena searched the kitchen frantically for a way out to the grounds.
She noticed the small delivery hatch used by catering crews during events.
The hatch led out to the service courtyard behind the main garage building.
Elena popped the manual release latch on the low metal delivery door.
Elena: Leo, take Maya's hand and crawl through this opening right now.
The children nodded bravely and hurried through the small metal doorway.
Elena squeezed through the opening right behind them into the bright afternoon sun.
They emerged into the private brick courtyard surrounded by tall stone walls.
A massive black SUV pulled rapidly into the driveway near the iron gates.
Arthur Vance stepped out of the vehicle wearing a tailored dark suit.
He spotted Elena and the two young children standing by the wall.
Arthur: What on earth is going on back here right now?!
Elena pulled the children behind her as Arthur walked toward them quickly.