Sarah adjusted her dark navy suit coat as she walked through the marble hall.
The morning sunlight streamed through the tall floor to ceiling windows of the estate.
Everything in the grand mansion always looked pristine and perfectly organized.
Sarah had served as the chief house manager for nearly five full years.
She knew every room, every hallway, and every antique piece of furniture inside out.
Yet as she passed the formal portrait gallery, a faint sound stopped her in her tracks.
It sounded like a faint, muffled sob coming from inside the paneled wall.
She paused near the large American flag standing beside the main display frame.
The house was supposed to be completely empty until the evening charity gala.
Her heart started pounding against her ribs as the soft noise repeated itself.
She took two steps closer to the massive oil painting of the family founder.
A tiny draft of cold air rushed past her cheek from the bottom corner.
She reached out her trembling hand toward the edge of the heavy golden frame.
When she pressed against the carved wood, a quiet mechanical latch clicked softly.
The entire heavy portrait swung slowly outward like a hidden concealed door.
Sarah gasped out loud as the wall opened to reveal a dark narrow cavity.
Sitting inside the small space was seven year old little girl named Emily.
Emily was sitting on a small wooden bench, clutching a plush stuffed bear tightly.
The poor child was crying softly in the dark, shivering from total fright.
Sarah immediately dropped to her knees to comfort the crying, scared young girl.
She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her bright phone flashlight.
She illuminated the interior of the hidden room while reaching out her arms.
Emily looked up through teary eyes and immediately wrapped her arms around Sarah.
Sarah held the trembling child close and whispered soothing words into her ear.
She could not comprehend why anyone would lock a child in a wall cavity.
Before she could ask Emily anything, heavy footsteps echoed down the marble hallway.
A woman's sharp voice cut through the silence of the large empty mansion.
It was Victoria, the wealthy stepmother who had recently married into the family estate.
Victoria stood in the doorway holding a tall crystal glass of fresh sparkling champagne.
Her face went completely pale as she saw the hidden door standing wide open.