I***I DON'T OWN THESE CHARACTERS****

"Dad."

Danny wanted to stay asleep he didn't want to come back to reality.

"Dad." The voice persisted.

Danny groaned and pulled his blanket over his head

"Dad, Detective Lansing is here. She said you weren't answering your phone so she came to check on you." Sean stated trying to shake is father awake.

"I'll be down in a few minutes." Danny muttered rolling over.

"Okay I'll let her know." Sean replied.

Sean hurried down the stairs.

"He'll be down in a few minutes, he was asleep." Sean explained to the detective in his kitchen. He knew she used to be his Dad's old partner, but he had never met her. Her blonde hair was carefully secured at the back of her head with a dark hair tie. She had kind eyes but she scanned the room like she was at a crime scene.

"Okay." Kate answered.

Kate had scanned the kitchen when she entered. She noted that it was organized, but the living room wasn't. She saw women's flats by the door but not a classic black heel. Her conclusion; Maria just recently moved in.

"What happened last night?" Sean asked. "I saw Dad has a brace on his hand."

"He broke it." Kate replied.

"He broke his hand?" Sean exclaimed.

"Yeah, he punched a post." Kate responded.

"Do you guys have any leads?" Sean questioned.

Kate bit her lip. Would it be too much to tell Sean that Sofia was murdered last night by Angelo?

"We have a few things we are checking out." Kate answered.

Danny came down the stairs. He had dressed quickly and threw some water on his face to chase the sleep away.

"Hey Kate." He greeted.

"Why didn't you answer your phone?" Kate demanded.

"I was asleep like you told me to." Danny answered.

Kate didn't answer.

"Bye Dad!" Sean said, as Danny gathered up his stuff.

"Bye Sean, ask Grandpa if he can pick you up for Mass. I'll try and make it for supper." Danny replied.

"We found Mr. and Mrs. Lopez." Kate declared as they walked out to the car.

"Where?" Danny questioned.

"The Evergreen Cemetery." Kate answered. "Apparently Juan and Ava Lopez died five years ago."

"So, Sofia's last words were a deadend." Danny sighed.

"Not exactly." Kate disagreed. "They may have passed but their house was passed to their oldest son. Who so happens to be Angelo." Kate explained. "He sold it in 2013 but it was recently bought again by a man under the name 'John Anderson'. Who looks a whole lot Angelo."

"So what do we do with that?" Danny questioned.

"Sarge wants us to swing by the house and see what's up." Kate answered.

Maria wouldn't look at him. Her chest ached from where he had hit her last night. She was sure she had a black eye.

"Maria,I'm sorry I hit you." He apologized.

Maria stayed quiet. What was she supposed to say? "Oh Angelo, it's okay that you hit me, it's okay you have me handcuffed to a bed." Then an idea came to her mind, it was crazy, but crazy enough it might work.

She looked up at Angelo. His dark eyes poured into her soul.

"It's okay, Angelo." She said as sincerely as she could. "I shouldn't have done anything to anger you." She brought her free hand up and placed it on his cheek. She saw a spark in his eyes. She felt sick touching him, but it was a chance at freedom.

"I'm so sorry for everything. I'm sorry I forced you away, I'm sorry I left you." Maria apologized. She did her best to make tears form in her eyes.

"I forgive you." He said taking her hand in his. The spark in his eyes was turning to a fire, her plan was working.

"I missed you." Maria lied through her teeth, caressing his cheek "And I think...I think I might be in love with you." Maria felt sick saying those words. Though she wondered why she hadn't thought of this idea sooner. Maybe she was going crazy so the idiotic ideas were not sounding crazy.

"What made you change your mind?" He asked.

"Last night you reminded me what I was missing." Maria shrugged.

"I knew you would come around." Angelo exclaimed in glee. He leaned in and kissed her. She wanted to push him way but she knew to get him to trust her, she would have to play along. She kissed him back. She wanted to vomit as she thought of all he had done. She felt his hands tangled in her hair. She drew back suddenly in pain when she brushed her worn wrist against the handcuffs.

"What's wrong?" He asked. For a few seconds she thought she may have heard true kindness in his voice.

"My wrist." Maria answered. "It's bleeding." She looked at the blisters and the redness that encircled her small wrist.

"I'll get something to put on it." Angelo promised and left the basement.

"Damn it." She cursed. She had hoped he would see the problem and just remove the handcuffs. Maybe she was being too naive, maybe she could up her game. What could she do that would make him believe she was falling for him again. What if her plan backfired and itjust brought her worst fear even closer.

Angelo came back a few minutes later carrying a box of gauze and tape.

"Let me see your wrist." He ordered.

She presented it as far as she could. She winced when he touched it.

"This won't take long." He assured.

"Wouldn't be easier if you just took it off?" Maria asked.

"But then you could run." Angelo retorted.

"Why would I?" Mariaquestioned trying to sound offended.

Angelo shot her a dark look.

"Because you have a nice male cop friend out there waiting for you." Angelo answered.

"Danny?" Maria almost laughed, but it wasn't out of surprise but shock. Angelo thought she and Danny were a couple. "He's just a friend."

"Really?" Angelo scoffed. "You're living with him."

"It's not like that." Maria protested. "Look at me." She pleaded, his dark eyes were filled with pain. The spark was gone, she wondered what had chased it away.

"Angelo." She said calmly. "I don't know what I can say that will make you believe me. If you give me a chance, I promise I will show you just how much I care for you."

"What made changed your mind?" He demanded.

"You did. You reminded me of our past." Maria exclaimed. She didn't want to do it but she knew it was her best chance. She leaned closer to him and place a soft kiss on his lips. She tired to make it sincere. He kissed her back and wrapped his arms around her. She wanted to fight back, but she felt so trapped.

"If I take this off...do you promise not to run?" Angelo questioned.

"I promise." Maria assured sealing her promise with a kiss. When did she become so manipulative and sly. She heard the small click as her handcuff unlocked.

She smiled staring into his eyes. He leaned into kiss her, but she kicked him as hard as she could. He fell to the floor cursing, she sprung into action she made her way towards the stairs. She tried to move the heavy door out of the way, but it was heavier than she expected she finally got it moved and started running up the stairs when she felt two strong hands grip her waist and start pulling her down the stairs.

"NO!" She screamed, hoping someone might hear her.

"You stupid bitch!" Angelo cried throwing her onto the bed. "You really thought you could get away from me?"

She continued to scream as loudly as she could. Her one hope was that someone would hear her and call 911, before it was too late.

Danny and Kate pulled up in front of the house.

"Doesn't look like anyone's been here in years." Kate remarked.

The grass was waist high and it looked broken down.

They walked up the broken steps and knocked on the door. No answer came. Danny knocked again.

"No one's home." Kate sighed.

"Doesn't look like anyone's been home in a while." Danny added.

"Maybe this was a dead end." Kate suggested.

"Well, we can't do anything until we get a warrant." Danny huffed. "Better get to work on that as fast as possible." As much as he wanted to break the door down. He needed to make this case stick, he couldn't mess it up. They started walking back to the car. Danny was about to get into the passenger seat when they heard a woman screaming in the house. Danny recognized the voice immediately.

"Maria!" he cried taking his gun out of his holster and rushing towards the house. He broke through the front door. He was still heard Maria screaming. He figured the sound was coming from the basement. He rushed down the basement stairs and heaved the heavy door open. He saw a man forcing Maria harshly on the bed.

"No Angelo!" Maria was crying out.

"Get away from her!" Danny yelled tackling Angelo to the floor.

Maria felt something cold and hard hit her leg. She looked down and saw Danny's gun. He must have dropped it when he tackled Angelo. She picked it up, clicked the safety off, she aimed searching for a shot. Danny and Angelo were tangled up on the floor. She tried to calm her shaking hands. Then she saw a clear shot and fired. Her aim was true. Angelo fell to the floor; a bullet in his head.

Maria let out a shaky breath. Tears filled her eyes, she was free. Angelo was gone and Danny had found her. Danny looked up at her.

"Nice shot." He said softly.

Maria broke, her shoulders shook with sobs. Danny rushed to her and held her close.

"Shhh" He soothed. "You're safe now, he's gone." He smoothed her hair. He saw the bruises on her perfect skin. He could only imagine what she had gone through. She clung to him as if her life depended on it. She buried her face in his chest and cried.

Kate came running down the stairs into the basement. She had followed closely behind Danny but had taken the time to call for backup.

"Call a bus!" Danny ordered, noting that Maria's lip was bleeding, he didn't know what else could be wrong with her.

"Already did." Kate answered.

"He's gone." Danny whispered to Maria, softly .

"Danny-I need-to get-out of here." Maria pleaded in between sobs.

Danny nodded and helped her to her feet. She couldn't stand her legs were too weak. He didn't think twice, he picked her up and carried her up the stairs and outside. He sat her down on the porch wrapping his suit coat around her as the waiter for the ambulance to arrive. Other officers had started arriving on the made sure they were left alone.

They didn't talk, she just rested her head on his arm was around her, holding her close. She was safe in his arms. They both savored the fact that they were together. They had made it through. Danny now took the time to study her. Her brown hair was matted, she the bruises on her face made his blood boil. She had what looked like a hand print bruise on her cheek.

"Did he-" Danny started, Maria cut him off.

"No, he didn't." Maria answered the question that had been burning in Danny's mind since she went missing

Hey guys!

I hope you guys like this much longer chapter. I hope it makes up for the fact I won't be posting for like two weeks. I'm going on a much needed vacation with my family and I leave tomorrow.

I love you guys sooo much!

Eliza

PS. for those who want to say "Angelo wouldn't trust Maria so easily" He is desperate to be loved by her again. Even though was doubt in his mind, he wanted her to not be lying to badly he was willing to risk it. Also, he has been slowly going insane since Maria first left him, and the thought she might care him for in the slightest amount was enough to make him trust her. She never lied to him before why would she know. Hope that answer's your questions.