The space beneath the marble floor was surprisingly clean, lit by bright modern recessed lighting fixtures.
Richard took the first three steps down into the hidden room, his leather shoes clicking against the hard concrete.
Sitting on a small cot at the bottom of the stairs was a thin woman with pale skin and light hair.
Her clothes were wrinkled, but her tear-streaked eyes locked onto Richard with absolute shock and relief.
Clara: You found me!
Richard dropped to his knees on the concrete floor as tears instantly blurred his eyes.
Richard: Clara? Oh my god, Clara!
Clara: I thought I would never see daylight again.
Richard: Who put you down here?
Clara: It was your stepmother, Richard.
Richard felt his entire world shift off its axis as those heavy words echoed in the enclosed concrete room.
Evelyn Vance had been living in the west wing of the mansion ever since Richard's father passed away two years ago.
She had been the main person pushing to declare Clara legally missing so the family estate could be divided early.
Richard reached out and held his sister's trembling hands gently in his own.
Richard: How long have you been in this room?
Clara: Since the night of the estate meeting.
Clara: She tricked me down here and locked the hatch.
Richard: I'm bringing you home.
Richard stood up quickly and turned toward the top of the open marble hatch.
He called out to his lead security officer who was standing guard near his young daughter.
Richard: Lock down every gate! No one leaves!
Guard: Yes, Mr. Vance!
Richard helped Clara stand up carefully, supporting her weight as they began climbing the concrete steps.
He knew that every answer he needed was waiting just upstairs in the family mansion.