CHAPTER ONE

Sam walked into the office four hours later. As she entered, she could feel the spring in her step that she'd carried since she and Jack had become engaged, she could feel it wasn't there.

"He got away okay, I take it." Amanda Feldtmen spoke as Sam walked past her.

"Yeah. I'm gonna miss him though." Sam sighed removing her jacket and draping it over her chair.

"It's only for a week right?" Amanda pressed. Sam knew that Amanda cared about Sam. Amanda was one of the few people that knew about Sam's troubled childhood, and how hard it was for her to start afresh in New York when she was still a kid.

"Yeah, but you know how Washington loves to take its time with these things." Sam spoke, reading over a file on the case they were working on.

"It was coming though." Joshua Gomez walked up to his desk and placed a cup of coffee on his desk. Josh was the only member of the team that Sam found it difficult to get along with.

"What do you mean by that?" Sam turned her head to look at him.

"He broke major protocol on the Willow's case. We all know that Sam,"

"It's Samantha." Sam interrupted him angrily.

"Samantha," he emphasized, "you and I both know that interrogating Marshal on two separate occasions, without a lawyer present when he had already called for one, and, breaking into his house to find evidence was the reason he got off." Sam knew he was right but hated admitting it. This was her husband they were talking about. "Just because you're married to the boss doesn't mean that we can't offer our opinions."

Sam was about to shout at the man when they were interrupted. "I hate to intervene." Paula Van Doren stood in the opening to the office with her arms folded.

"Sorry Paula." Amanda sent a warning look to both Sam and Josh.

"Where's Agent Cato?" Paula cast a brief eye over the office.

"He'll be in late. His wife had her baby last night." Josh replied, smiling briefly.

"Remind me to offer my congratulations." Paula smiled for a moment too. "Unfortunately I bring bad news." Her stance changed. "Samantha, Jack left this morning didn't he?" Sam felt the lump in her throat appear again.

"Yeah, his flight left Kennedy at 7. He left home at 6.30." Sam stuttered. She could feel Amanda and Josh's eyes on her.

"If that's the case, it would explain why he didn't arrive at DC." Paula walked further into the office. "Jack Malone's status has been changed to missing. I'm putting the MPU on it. Samantha, it would be advisable if you pay them a visit shortly." Paula smiled weakly at the trio before leaving the office.

Sam didn't bother to look at Amanda and Josh before she fled to the bathroom. Ten minutes later, she was leaning against the door to the bathroom having expelled her breakfast. She glanced down the hallway, in the direction of the elevators, picturing Jack walking out of them and into the office. As the image passed she took a deep breath and headed in the direction of the elevators, intent on making the trip to the MPU.

Sam took the cautious steps out of the elevator and around the familiar, yet unknown world that was the Missing Person's Unit.

"Samantha Malone?" A tall Latino man walked up to her.

"Um, yeah." Sam responded.

"Danny Taylor. We're working on bringing your husband back." He smiled at her as he spoke. "Come with me and I'll introduce you too everyone." He lead her into yet another office that was a carbon copy of the one she lived and worked on.

Sam looked around the office as she entered. At the four main desks agents were on the phone pulling in favors, analyzing phone records and bank statements. There was a middle aged African-American woman standing in front of a whiteboard, looking at the photo of Jack. At the conference table, a man and a woman were cross-referencing records, laughing at something as they worked. Finally, there was a man sitting with his back to Samantha on the phone.

"Okay team, this is Samantha Malone, the wife of Jack Malone. She'll be helping us." Danny began the introductions. The team turned and looked around as Danny spoke. "That is Vivian Johnson our team leader," he indicated the woman at the whiteboard, "over there is Kelly Preston and Michael Schmidt," he indicated the couple at the conference table, "and finally Martin Fitzgerald." He indicated the man who had his desk to Sam and Danny.

"Fitzgerald as in Deputy Director Fitzgerald?" Sam asked.

"Unfortunately yeah." He smiled at her briefly.

Sam had a sudden flashback to the dream she'd had that night. He was the guy at the beach!

"Okay, do we call you Samantha, Sam, Mrs. Malone, Agent Spade, what?" Vivian asked her.

"Samantha will do fine." She tried to smile but could feel the fakeness of it and was fairly certain Vivian saw it too.

"Well, at this stage, anything that you have to tell us about the last couple of days could be helpful." Vivian smiled. She reminded her of Amanda, kind and honest with maternal qualities that made her easy to talk too.

"I don't think I'll have anything but I'll try." Sam didn't sound very convincing.

"That's what everyone says." Danny chuckled as he walked to his desk.

"Could you join me in my office and we'll talk." Vivian pointed in the direction of her office.