“This must be the one,” she decided.
Softly she tapped on the panel.
“Who is there?” called a startled voice. The words were so muffled, Penny barely could distinguish them.
“A friend,” replied Penny.
Footsteps pattered across the room. “Help me get out!” the imprisoned girl pleaded.
Penny tried the door. As she had expected, it was locked.
“Where is the key?” she called through the panel. “If I can find it, I may be able to get you out of here.”
“Speak louder!” the girl protested. “I can’t hear you.”
Penny dared raise her voice no higher. She realized that the heavy paneling deadened sound and made it impossible to carry on a satisfactory conversation.
“The key!” she called again. “Where is it?”