Little Girl: You... you have the picture on your desk... the picture with my mommy.
Elena's chest tightened. She reached further through the broken drywall, gently pulling the trembling child out of the dark space and stepping into the bright light of the hallway. She wrapped her beige satin dress around the girl, pulling her close against her heart.
Elena: Who is your mommy, sweetie? What's your name?
Little Girl: My name is Maya... My mommy was Sarah.
A cold wave of horror washed over Elena. Sarah was her older sister—the woman who had mysteriously vanished five years ago after taking a job as the Sterling estate's head accountant. The police had ruled Sarah's disappearance an accidental drowning after her car was found in the river, but no body had ever been recovered.
Elena: Sarah... Sarah Sterling? You are my niece?!
Maya: Mommy told me... if I ever saw the lady with the star necklace... it was my Aunt Elena.
Elena reached down with a shaking hand, touching the small gold star pendant hanging around her neck. Tears overflowed her eyes as she pulled Maya even tighter into her arms.
Elena: Maya... oh God, Maya! I've been looking for you for five years!
Carter: Everyone leave this hallway right now! This is a private family matter!
Elena: Do not step one inch closer to us, Carter!
Carter: Elena, listen to reason! You don't understand the legal situation here!
Elena: I understand that my sister didn't abandon her life! You kidnapped her daughter and locked her inside a hidden chamber in your house!
Carter cleared his throat, pulling his velvet jacket straight as he put on a stiff, fake smile for the party guests who were watching from the archways.
Carter: I didn't kidnap anyone! Maya's mother was an employee who had severe debt issues! I took Maya in as a private ward under a legal guardianship agreement!
Elena: You locked a six-year-old child behind a dry-walled oil painting! Is that what you call legal guardianship?!
Maya: He locked me in there whenever the fancy people came to the house! He said if I made a sound, he would send my mommy away forever!
Elena: Sarah is alive?! Carter, where is my sister?!
Carter's jaw tightened. He turned his head toward the end of the hall where two of his private estate security guards stood near the double doors.
Carter: Security, escort Miss Elena and the child into the private library. We are going to resolve this without a public scene.
Elena: Don't you touch me!
Before the guards could take a step, the heavy double doors at the end of the mansion corridor burst open. Detective Miller stepped through, flanked by four uniformed police officers with their weapons unholstered.
Detective Miller: Nobody move! Hands where we can see them!