Chapter 3

1 year later

Martin was packing his things. He had to go to Seattle. The traces for the missing woman led them to this town. Jack decided to send him there because he knew the town and the situation. Catherine Sims was going with him. She was the new agent who came to take Sam's place. She was nice and smart girl, but she didn't fit in the team like Sam did.

The flight was rather boring. This case was really difficult. They were looking for a woman, mother of three children. Two days ago she went out to the store and she never came back home. And a few hours ago her credit card had been used in Seattle. Now they were going to check it.

"Do you think she's there?" Catherine asked.

"Who?" Martin startled.

"Linda Robertson."

"Oh, I don't know." He shook his head. "I hope so."

In the first moment he thought that she was speaking for Sam. He missed her so much. Even now he was thinking about her, not about their missing person, Linda. Martin was wondering where she was now and how she was. Catherine was saying something but he didn't even hear her. He was comparing her with Sam. Again. Catherine also was blonde but not like Sam's gold blond. She was strawberry blonde. Her eyes were blue, not green like Sam's. She was shorter than Sam. Her face was white like milk.

Martin knew that he had to stop this. It was a real torture for him to think about Sam all the time. But he couldn't stop it. To quit the drugs was easier. It was now a year and a half since he had quit them. When Sam came into his apartment to confront with him about his addiction.

These memories pounced on him all the time. Whatever he was doing he remembered her. And there was the pain of losing her. The pain which was burning in his heart.

Finally they landed in Seattle. The local agents were expecting them. The police were on location where the card had been used. It was a small shop for toys. She bought a small teddy bear. The owner said that she was with some man. He hadn't noticed in which direction they went. The shots from the security cameras showed them that she was alive. The man with her was wearing a hat. They couldn't recognize him.

Jack told them to stay there as long as they had to to find Linda Robertson. Martin was in his hotel room trying to get some sleep when somebody knocked on his door. He opened.

Catherine stood in front of him in a nice dress.

"Hey, I was wondering if you want to come with me for dinner?" she asked.

"I'm tired."

"Oh, come on. You need to eat something." She smiled.

Fifteen minutes later Martin was sitting with her in the hotel's restaurant waiting for their dinner. He didn't want to come but the alternative was to stay alone in his room and think about Sam.

"So Martin, tell me more about you." Catherine asked.

"What do you want to know about me?" he smiled.

"Everything." She answered. "I've worked with you for almost a year but I don't know anything about you."

"Well… I am 33 years old, you know that. I graduated from Harvard, you know that too. I work in the FBI's Missing persons unit and this is obvious, at least for you." Martin smiled. "There's nothing interesting."

"I can't believe that's all." She smiled back. "You're not married but what about a serious girlfriend or something like that? I… I heard something about you and my predecessor…"

"Samantha Spade…" he didn't expect that. "We… I had a relationship with her for a while, but we broke it off."

"Is that why she left the FBI?" Catherine asked.

"I don't know why she left but I don't think that was the reason." Martin bit his lip. "It was over a year before her departure. After that she helped me a lot when I was in pain."

"You were shot, weren't you?" she was very curious. "Is that when she helped you?"

"She helped me then too, but I was thinking of something different." Martin was lost in thoughts. "I had a problem after that but she helped me to realize and to deal with it. I'm fine now."

Suddenly he noticed her curious look towards him. Catherine didn't know about his addiction and he preferred for her to not understand.

"I don't want to talk about that. It's in the past."

"Ok. As I understand your relationship was over two years or so." She smiled seductively. "What about something newer?"

"A few flings. One more serious but it also ended almost a year ago." Martin smiled with relief. The topic about his problem was forgotten.

"So you are single now?" her look was naughty.

Martin was shocked how plainly she tried to seduce him. He had noticed her insinuations in the office but these were really different. Her eyes invited him to her bedroom. To sleep with a co-worker wasn't a good idea but having sex maybe would make him feel better. He hadn't been with a woman for months. Catherine was beautiful and she knew what she wanted. But Martin wasn't sure if he wanted it.

"Yeah, I'm single now." He answered.

After the dinner Martin went with her to her room. Catherine opened the door and turned to him.

"I…" He started.

She caught his tie, pulled him closer and kissed him. They went in the room and shut the door.