(Three months have gone since Maria disappeared) Michael sat in the park, this was Maria's favourite place, he felt closest to her here. It had been almost two weeks since Maria had disappeared. Isabel couldn't reach her, she tried for a whole week but nothing came to her. They went to Jim Valenti the day after he had came to Michael's apartment. He had gone berserk when he realised they had kept him out of the loop. He called them all kinds of idiots, eventually calming down enough to call Amy and tell her Maria was missing. Then he went about investigating only there wasn't any way of knowing what had happened, there weren't any leads. Michael was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't see Amy until she sat next to him. She put her arm around his shoulder, pulling him close to her. He didn't have the strength to fight her, he dropped his head onto her shoulder. She smoothed her hand over his hair. "I'm sorry Mrs Deluca." "Michael you've nothing to be sorry for." "But if I'd only just...." "Stop it Michael, it's not your fault." Michael lifted his head and looked at her, tears welling up inside him, he pulled away from her and stood. "Then why does it feel like it is?" He walked away leaving Amy alone in the park. TBC

Part 10