After grabbing her key for Carrie's house, Maggie went to unlock the front door but to her surprise found it already unlocked.
"Carrie? Carrie are you home?", she asked nervously. Cautiously entering the foyer she slipped her hand into her purse, reached for a container of pepper spray.
"Hello? Carrie?"
Upstairs Danny left Farrah's room, quietly shutting the door while his other hand went to the holster at his side. Carrie had told him she couldn't get away and he assumed she wasn't expecting any visitors.
Descending the staircase, gun drawn he rounded the corner the same time as Maggie did.
Him with his gun and her with her spray that she triggered as she let out a scream.
"AAAGGGH!", Danny howled, hands over his stung eyes. "Jesus fuck..."
"Danny?!"
"Maggie! What the, did you just mace me!", he asked, peering out between his fingers at Maggie's stunned face.
"Pepper spray, actually. I'm sorry!"
"Are you crazy, next time look before you use that shit!"
"Well you were the one skulking around here with a gun! What else did you expect me to do? I'm not a freaking black belt!", she said defensively. Grabbing his upper arm she walked him to the kitchen, pulled out a chair for him.
"Here, sit, take deep breaths. And move your hands away from your face. Blink a lot too."
Between blinks Danny saw her go over to the fridge and take out a carton of milk, getting him frowning.
"I don't think milk and cookies will help much right now."
"Well I don't plan on giving you milk and cookies. Maybe later if you cooperate.", Maggie smirked, pouring some milk into a spray bottle before walking back and spritzing his face.
"Seriously what the-"
"Milk will help calm down the burning. Then we'll flush your eyes."
"Do you do this with every guy you pepper spray?"
"Accidentally pepper spray, and no. You're the only one that's had the pleasure. So far anyway."
"Well hopefully it'll stay that way.", Danny said, getting a smile from Maggie as she brought him over to the sink, treated his eyes.
"Fresh air will help too. You want to sit outside?"
"I wish but I haven't got time."
"What were you doing here anyways?", Maggie asked curiously.
"My sister breaks your heart so you break into her house?"
"I didn't break in! I used the spare key. Why the fuck she hides it where she does I have no idea."
Danny scoffed getting a shrug.
"But no, Carrie called me."
"She did! What did she say to you?", Maggie asked.
"Half of it I could barely make out. All I know is she wanted me to come here and look for a drawing of Farrah's."
"That's why I'm here too."
"Okay..look..", Danny frowned. "Farrah's a good artist but she's not some prodigy with an upcoming museum showing. Why is Carrie so bent on finding a drawing that we'd both be sent here to track it?"
Not wanting to tell Danny who'd actually sent her over, Maggie answered his question with another question.
"Wait, you don't know what happened to Farrah?"
"No, I was away for the weekend. I was heading back to my place when Carrie called me."
"Danny, Farrah was kidnapped at the parade on Saturday."
"What?!", Danny asked, looking stricken.
"Jesus. Kidnapped?! I had no..."
"Here, you should probably sit back down."
Maggie sighed, guiding him back to the kitchen chair.
"Carrie thinks that she was taken by someone she knew. That's why we're going through her art, her room. There's a chance her brother she just drew a picture of is responsible for this."
"Farrah has a brother?"
"Yeah. Older."
"And Farrah drew him because she'd seen him?"
"Yeah, that's the working theory anyway."
"How sure is Carrie about this?", Danny asked.
"Pretty sure. That's what Brod...that's what I was told."
Relieved she'd caught herself Maggie got up, gave Danny a glass of water.
"Is this for my eyes or-"
"No. You just looked thirsty."
"Well thanks, but I can't just sit here if Farrah's been...who else knows?"
"Virgil, his brother. Some guy named Peter Quinn."
"What about Saul?"
"He's been out of town but, no. As far as I know he hasn't been told-"
"Why the fuck not? He's Carrie's goddamn mentor! He loves Farrah!"
"I don't know Danny! Don't bite my head off.", Maggie frowned.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. It's just Saul should know, am I right?"
Nervously Maggie bit her lip, unsure how to reply. Since the news broke she'd been dying to call Saul and tell him everything. Especially once she heard about Carrie's episode. All Maggie could think of was how set he was on looking after her during the last one she'd had. Bringing her chicken soup, sitting by her bed. He'd been her rock and he had been for over a decade. It felt cruel completely cutting him out for all of this, keeping him in the dark.
But then there was Brody. As much as Maggie had cringed at the thought of him being within ten miles of her sister, he'd proven himself the past few days. He'd helped Carrie through her PTSD nearly effortlessly and put his freedom at risk protecting her. When he texted earlier saying Carrie had taken her meds, Maggie was in awe.
There was also the fact that Carrie loved him, and Maggie was slowly starting to see why.
For all his faults and flaws and the fucked up things he'd been through and done, Brody brought that good guy charm in spades. He'd been respectful and done what she'd asked. It had won Maggie over a little bit.
Still torn over what to do, Maggie took some comfort knowing that as much as Saul hated Brody, he loved Carrie more. Even if he was angry, if he was eventually forced to bring Brody in, if there was anyone Saul would delay the inevitable for it would be her sister.
"Maggie? Did you hear me?"
"What, yes? I'm sorry, I got distracted."
"We should get a hold of Saul, let him know what's going on. Right?"
"Right..you're, you're right.", Maggie sighed as Danny nodded, stood back up.
"Look I found a drawing under Farrah's bed. I didn't think much of it."
"Can I see?", she asked.
After Danny reached in his back pocket, handed it over Maggie unfolded it on the table.
"So this is the guy?", Danny frowned.
"I guess so. Fucking rat bastard."
"Whoa! I'd expect to hear that out of Carrie but-"
"Hey remember I'm the big sister. Half those words I taught her myself."
"I never would've guessed.", he smiled, getting a soft one in return before Maggie went serious again.
Remembering the situation at hand, what he'd been asked to do, he refolded the drawing.
"Look I'll take care of this. And I'll get a hold of Saul too."
"No, Danny don't. I know Saul. We're friends. I think he should hear this from me."
"Okay then, as you wish."
"Wait. Are you okay to drive?", Maggie asked nervously. "Maybe I should flush your eyes one more time."
"Maggie it's fine. I'm fine. And I'll feel better once we find Farrah."
"Yeah, that makes two of us.", she sighed, folding her arms over herself as she bowed her head.
"Hey..you okay?"
"I'm fine. I just want this to be over."
"We got the best resources to track Farrah down, Maggie. Everything will be fine."
Danny said knowingly, getting a nod and another soft smile.
"Hope you're right."
"I will be. I'll show myself out."
Watching Danny leave, still smiling but unaware she was for a minute or two, finally Maggie snapped back to the situation at hand and grabbed her phone, nervously dialing Saul.
"Hello?"
"Saul? It's Maggie."
"Hi...what's going on?", he asked curiously.
"There's um..there's something I have to tell you."
