Benjamin notices the bright smiles on their faces and asks, “Now what is wrong with the two of you?”

“Nothing,” they both say knowing Benjamin too well. Asking about counselling will just irritate him, so they decide to let him talk at his own pace.

“Just tell me!” Benjamin demands.

“You just look different,” Fiona says promptly.

“Yeah, like you finally got something off your chest,” Tom adds as Benjamin stares at him.  “Kidding! Kidding!” Tom says trying to stop Benjamin deadly gaze.

“Come on Ben,” Fiona says as she sits down. “Don’t you want to talk to your sister?”

“You don’t usually come here for no reason. Did something happen?” Benjamin asks curiously.

“Well yes, I have some news,” Fiona says gesturing the two of them to sit down.

“What?” Tom asks looking concerned.

“I…am finally in a relationship!” Fiona says smiling while both the men look at her in utter surprise.

“What?” Benjamin asks. “With who?”

“There is this guy, we have been seeing each other for some time and now I think its going to be something serious,” Fiona says.

“I am so happy for you,” Tom says hugging her.  

“When will we meet him?” Benjamin asks.

“Depends, when are you free?” Fiona asks as Benjamin stares at her contemplating the situation.

“Friday, Dinner,” he says as Fiona smiles at his reaction. “But,” Benjamin says firmly. “I am not going easy on him.” As the three of them laugh and continue their conversation, they are blissfully unaware of the terrible turn the investigation is about to take that night.

Two days later Ann decides to go to the park to see if Benjamin is there. As she walks through the park at the same time she did the other day, she sees Benjamin walking towards her.

“Hi,” he says, this time with him carrying a packet of groceries.

“Hi, went shopping?” Ann asks.

“Yes,” Benjamin says looking at Ann. “I am meeting my sister’s boyfriend today, so she is planning on cooking.”

“Oh, she cooks?” Ann asks enthusiastically.

“No, actually,” Benjamin says looking at the groceries. “She is going to try to cook, so I went to buy instant noodles, a microwave dinner,” he says as Ann laughs. “Trust me I need it Anna.”

“Ann,” Benjamin and Ann say at the same time.

“Why do you like being called Ann and not Anna?” Benjamin asks curiously.

“Anna is my mom, Annabel,” Ann replies as Benjamin nods.

“Well, I better get going,” Just as Benjamin is about to turn and leave he is tackled to the ground by a woman.

“You murderer!!” She shouts as she hits him. “You killed her! You killed my sister you horrible, horrible man.” Ann looks on stunned by what she is witnessing. She freezes, unable to move and just then a police officer runs up to her and gets the woman off of Benjamin. “No….” She cries as she is forcibly dragged away.

“What is going on?” Benjamin says under his breath, just then Oscar and Dean come running.

“Ann, are you ok?” Oscar says noting his sister is shaken by the situation. He hugs her trying to comfort her. “What are you doing here?”

“Are you ok?” Dean asks Benjamin who is lying on the ground confused. As he helps Benjamin stand up he looks at the woman who is still screaming at a distance.

“Maria?” Benjamin says.

“Who was that?” Ann asks in a soft and shaken voice.

“That was my sister-in-law, Maria,” Benjamin answers as he looks at Dean and Oscar who are staring at him. “What happened?”

“We found her body,” Dean says after a moment of silence. “We called her sister to identify her and,” Benjamin’s face turns pale at these words. His ex-wife’s body was now found, she was dead. Before he thought she was kidnapped and assumed she would be found alive, but now the horrible reality sets in. His ex-wife is dead. Benjamin does not take the news well as he sits down on the ground looking devastated. As one tear rolls down his cheek, he is now consumed by sadness. The woman he loved, cannot come back to his life anymore…she was gone, forever.

“Mr. MacLerie,” Dean calls out. “Are you alright?”

“I am fine,” Benjamin lies.

“I am so sorry Ben,” Ann says as she tries to get close to him, only to be stopped by Oscar.

“The car is parked back there,” Oscar whispers in her ear. She looks at him as she nods. She decides to listen to her brother, not sure what happened. She turns around and leaves, with Benjamin, Dean, and Oscar now alone.