Chapter 4 - More Than Meets the Eye

6:00 a.m. The Next Morning - Sixteen Hours Missing

"You're up early." Stacie opened the door of her apartment to see Danny standing there. To those who didn't know him as well as she did, he would look as polished as usual. But she could see the concern in his eyes and the tired sadness of his smile.

"I'm on my way back into the office." He replied. "What's your excuse?"

Standing back to let him come in, she returned his sad smile. "I never went to sleep." He looked back at her, the concern growing in his eyes. She smiled at him to reassure him that she was alright and tried to add a teasing lilt to her voice, "So, are you here to get some breakfast or does this little visit mean you have news about Maggie?"

He didn't want to tell her. But she had the right to know how the case was developing. Switching back to professional mode, he said, "I wish I could say that the only reason I stopped by was for some of your fabulous french toast, but I can't. Have a seat." Danny gestured toward the sofa.

Sensing the change in his deameanor, she remained rooted to the spot where she stood andlooked him dead in the eye. "Tell me."

"Stacie..." Danny began, but she cut him off.

"Don't patronize me, Danny." she spat out. " I am not one of those hysterical victim's family members who has to be handled with..."

"Don't you think I know that?" He came back at her, his voice louder and more emotional than he planned. "Do you think this is easy for me? After everything we've been through? Some people want me off this case because they're worried that I'm too close."

She faltered a bit at that last statement. She didn't want him taken off the case. He was the only thing she could count on in all of this. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be difficult and I definitely don't want to make this harder for you. I know you're doing everything you can."

He lowered his voice, not wanting to upset her even more than she already was, and extended his hand to her. "Just come sit over here with me." She took his hand and sat next to him, but didn't let go of his hand. He took a deep breath and began, "Bobby Harris..."

"Maggie's boyfriend? The college kid?" she asked.

Danny nodded and continued, "Bobby's little term-paper scam is just a cover for something much bigger. We got a tip from one of his frat brothers and spent most of the night confirming that Bobby Harris is running a teen prostitution ring. He uses the term paper scam to lure the girls in and..."

Stacie's hold on Danny's hand tightened and she looked at him in disbelief. "And you think Maggie is one of his girls?"

Quietly, Danny said, "We don't know that yet. But you told us she wanted money for something, which is why she started selling the papers to begin with. When you found out and she couldn't sell papers for money anymore..."

"She started selling her body?" Stacie pulled her hand away from Danny's and stood up. She turned her back on him and walked into the kitchen. She started busying herself by making a pot of coffee, but her hands were shaking so badly she could barely open the tin where she kept the coffee grounds. "So this is my fault?"

"That's not what I am saying."

"Well, as a matter of fact you are." Stacie spat out and then continued with a tinge of sarcasm in her voice. "I punished her and cut off her means of income, so she had to find a new way to get money. And the only possible asset she has going for her besides her brain is her beauty."

The sarcasm dripping from her voice did little to mask the fear behind it. Trying to reassure her, Danny said, "It's possible that Maggie got caught up with Bobby and then got in over her head. He's a cunning kid."

"My sister is not selling herself for sex!" This time the fear and sarcasm in her voice were replaced with sheer anger. She threw the coffee filter she had been taking out on the counter and glared at Danny, the anger flashing in her blue eyes. "She is a smart kid. A good kid. What you are suggesting is not possible. She would never consider prostitution." Turning to the sink to fill the coffee pot up with water, she let out a little laugh that let him know she didn't find any of this funny. "That's quite a jump you made there, Danny. From selling term papers to selling sex. What the hell has happened to you?" She finally turned to face him and says, "I mean, I know the Bureau has consumed you the way that medicine has consumed me. I see the worst of what life has to offer everyday, just like you do. But at least my job has not yet caused me to automatically believe the very worst about people."

Danny finally stood up and joined her in the kitchen. He watched her as she set the coffee pot up to brew and said quietly, "We have been working on this all through the night, Stacie. I know what this is doing to you and I would not be here telling you if we weren't sure that Maggie was involved in some way."

Stacie turned back to face him and he saw the strong resolve she was hiding behind crumble down around her. Her shoulders slumped and she leaned forward on the counter. She closed her eyes for a moment and buried her face in her hands. Helplessly, all Danny could do was rub her back. She finally looked up at him, "I've tried so hard to do everything right. But I'm a young doctor, Danny...not high up on the seniority totem pole. I have to work the hours they give me and I have had very little success at getting those hours changed. I work a lot of evenings and nights. She was here alone a lot. I've missed so much of her life." The tears began to roll down her cheeks. "We hardly knew each other when she moved in and I was numb from losing Mike and my parents. I made so many mistakes. But she's a good kid. A really good kid, Danny." He nodded in agreement and she continued, "Working in the ER, I've seen first hand what can happen to kids her age. I've seen little girls come in pregnant, beaten by johns, and strung out on drugs. And I swore that I would never let Maggie become one of those girls the way my dad never let me become one. And now look what I've done..."

Danny couldn't keep himself from taking her into his arms as the sobs overtook her. "It's not your fault." He whispered into her ear. "It's not your fault, Stacie. We're dealing with a sick guy who preys on young girls." It felt so good for him to hold her in his arms again and he had to push those thoughts out of his head. She had literally lost everyone she loved...her mother, her husband, her father and step-mother, and now Maggie was missing. He couldn't believe she still had the strength to get out of bed and face the world every morning. Let alone dedicate her life to saving others. His heart was breaking for her.

She pulled away from him after a few minutes and he wiped away a stray tear that was left on her cheek. Looking up at him, she said, "If Maggie is involved in this, it's not willingly. I know I sound like a broken record about this and I know that people always want to believe the best about their loved ones, but I know her better than anyone. I know what she wants out of life and I know she knows how to get it. If she's involved, it's because she is being forced into it. Which makes it rape and..." As that reality set in, Stacie let her voice trail off. She was quite for a moment and then said in a determined voice, "You have to find this son of a bitch, Danny."

"We will."