On September 1, 1982 Maria gave birth to a son who she named Juan after her beloved father.

Twenty years later Horatio Caine returned to Miami. He had to leave very quickly because his life was in danger. One investigator who had been investigating the serial killings of the Cuban women was murdered. Another person on the case died under mysterious circumstances. Someone shot out the tires on Horatio's truck and a warning that he was next.

Horatio Caine had a good idea of who was behind the killings but couldn't prove it. He was pressured to not pursue the case. To protect him, he was advised to leave town. He resigned his post at the Miami Police Department and had moved to New Orleans where he had worked for 4 years, then to New York City where he worked for 16 years. The person who was a threat to him was no longer a threat as this person had been locked up in prison for drug charges.

From time to time, he thought about Maria and how she was doing. To protect her, he had never attempted to contact her. Thankfully those trying to get to him had no idea that she'd been his girlfriend.