Victoria placed her hands against the cool wooden paneling of the living room doorway.
She tried to regain her calm demeanor despite her hands shaking visibly with intense nerves.
Victoria: Arthur you are letting a toddler's imagination confuse your logical mind.
Arthur: I heard her voice with my own ears Victoria!
Arthur: I spoke to my daughter through that vent shaft just seconds ago!
Victoria: That is just an old echo from the neighbor's property line outdoor sound system!
Arthur pulled his mobile phone out of his pocket with fast determined movements.
He dialed the emergency phone number for the local police department without second thoughts.
Victoria's eyes went wide with sheer terror as she realized he was calling the authorities.
She lunged forward to grab his phone out of his hands before the call connected through.
Victoria: If you call the police you will ruin our high standing in this community!
Arthur grabbed her wrists firmly and held her back away from his phone with strong grip.
Arthur: I do not care about community standing or money anymore Victoria!
Arthur: I only care about saving my daughter from whatever horror you created here!
He spoke clearly into the phone speaker and requested immediate emergency assistance at his home address.
He reported a locked child inside a hidden wall compartment beneath the main house floor.
Victoria backed away toward the kitchen hallway looking around for an easy escape route.
Arthur picked up Lily in his arms and stood directly in front of the front entrance door.
Arthur: You are not leaving this house until the police arrive and inspect every room.
Victoria: You are making the biggest mistake of your entire life Arthur!
Victoria: You have no idea what legal consequences this will bring upon your entire estate!
Arthur looked down at his crying child who held tightly onto his collar for protection.
He remembered how Victoria insisted on managing the family trust fund and full estate assets.
He remembered signing papers that transferred Maya's biological inheritance into Victoria's sole control upon Maya's declared passing.
The terrible truth was becoming clearer with every single second that ticked slowly by.
Victoria had hidden the sweet child away to claim millions of dollars in trust fund assets.
Arthur felt a cold sweat break out across his forehead at the sheer evil of the plot.