Sarah pulled her car into the long driveway of the Dallas estate.
The sun reflected brightly off the tall windows of the mansion.
She had left her seven-year-old daughter Claire with her husband's family for the weekend.
An uneasy feeling had settled in her chest during her business trip.
She decided to cancel her afternoon meetings and head back early.
The massive iron gates stood open as her vehicle rolled up to the entrance.
Sarah grabbed her black handbag from the passenger seat and took a deep breath.
Her husband David had assured her that his stepmother would take great care of Claire.
Yet Sarah could never completely shake the tension she felt around Eleanor.
Eleanor was a cold woman who cared deeply about high social standing.
She always made subtle comments about Sarah's modest background and career.
Sarah stepped out of the car and walked quickly up the stone steps.
The air in northern Texas was warm and humid that afternoon.
She adjusted the strap of her handbag while approaching the double grand doors.
Something inside her told her that something was not right.
She placed her hand on the heavy brass handle and pushed.
The door swung open smoothly into the pristine white marble foyer.
A strange, cold silence hung over the giant house.
Then Sarah heard the harsh sound of a woman raising her voice.
The sharp words echoed off the tall polished walls.
Sarah froze in the doorway as her heart began to race.
She recognized the angry tone of Eleanor immediately.
She took a quick step inside and listened closely.
A faint, weeping voice answered the stern commands.
Sarah recognized her little girl's soft voice at once.
Panic surged through Sarah's entire body as she dropped her keys.
She rushed past the grand staircase toward the main living area.
Her heels clicked rapidly against the spotless stone floor.
She rounded the corner into the glowing sunlit parlor.
What she saw made her blood turn completely cold.