Mark rushed back to the iron ladder and quickly climbed out into the bright light.
Margarethe was trying to drag a heavy wooden beam toward the mouth of the well.
Mark pulled himself over the stone ledge just as she reached the well rim.
Mark: Drop the board, Margarethe! It is over now!
Margarethe froze, her face turning gray as she looked at the phone in his hand.
Margarethe: You cannot prove anything that happened twenty years ago, Mark!
Mark: The original will and the bank transfers are all documented right down there.
Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as police cars approached the front gates.
Mark had called the Dallas sheriff department right before he went down the well.
Two police cruisers pulled up the long gravel driveway, their blue lights flashing brightly.
Officers stepped out of their vehicles and walked quickly across the lush green lawn.
Mark: Officer, she locked my daughter down in that well to hide evidence.
The lead officer looked at the terrified child, then looked at the stone well.
Officer: Margarethe Miller, you are under arrest for endangerment and fraud.
They placed silver handcuffs around Margarethe's wrists as she yelled out in protest.
Margarethe: This house is mine! You cannot take me away from my home!
The officers led her away toward the waiting police car parked near the gates.
Mark walked back over to the wooden bench where Lily was waiting for him.
He knelt down in front of his brave daughter and took her warm hands.
Mark: The bad lady is gone now, sweetie. Nobody will ever hurt you again.
Lily: Can we fill up that dark well so nobody ever falls inside?
Mark: We will fill it with solid concrete first thing tomorrow morning, I promise.
He lifted Lily into his arms and walked slowly back toward the bright mansion.
The dark shadows of the past were finally gone, replaced by light and hope.