The clear glass walls vibrated as cold water rushed in through the brass floor valves[cite: 2, 3].
Six-year-old Lily pounded both palms against the reinforced glass, her white silk party dress soaked and heavy around her knees[cite: 2].
Lily: Daddy, please open the door! I'm scared[cite: 2]!
Lily: The water is up to my chest! Daddy, it's freezing[cite: 2]!
Standing outside the tank under the massive American flag, Victoria adjusted her silver sequined dress and took a slow sip of vintage champagne[cite: 2, 3].
Victoria: Let her cry. She needs to learn her lesson[cite: 2].
Patrick: Lower the intake valve a little, Victoria. Her mother’s family is arriving in an hour[cite: 2].
Victoria: Your mother isn't coming back from Chicago until midnight, Patrick. Relax[cite: 2].
Lily: Daddy! I can't breathe! Help me[cite: 2]!
Patrick: You should have thought about that before you spilled orange juice across Victoria’s designer heels[cite: 2].
Victoria: Exactly. In this mansion, little girls show respect to the woman running the estate[cite: 2].
Lily: Grandma! Somebody call my grandma[cite: 2]!
Victoria: Scream all you want, you little brat. Nobody can hear you through two-inch laminated acrylic[cite: 2].
Heavy footsteps suddenly echoed across the polished white marble hallway from the front foyer[cite: 2, 3].
Eleanor Vance burst through the double mahogany doors in her beige designer suit, flanked by two armed police officers[cite: 2].
Eleanor: What have you done[cite: 2]?!
Eleanor lunged forward, throwing her weight against the stainless steel latch and yanking the heavy access hatch wide open[cite: 2].
Gallons of freezing water roared out across the pristine floor, washing over Victoria's silver heels in an explosive wave[cite: 2, 3].
Eleanor grabbed the shivering child, pulling her dripping, gasping body tightly against her beige wool jacket[cite: 2].
Lily clutched Eleanor’s lapels with blue, trembling fingers, turning her tear-streaked face toward the couple[cite: 2].
Lily: Grandma, Daddy and that woman locked me in[cite: 2]!
Eleanor looked at her only son, a terrifying secret burning behind her eyes that would tear Patrick’s entire world apart before sunset[cite: 2].