A/N: Woot! New story! This one is AU and I'm pretty excited about it. It's kind of Halloween themed since it's right around the corner and it won't be too long. It's rated M for obvious reasons so read with caution.
Summary: Punk a gritty Detective from Chicago is transferred to a small quiet town in New Jersey and is less than happy about the lack of action. A gruesome case from the past returns and Punk jumps in feet first to protect an innocent woman from a sociopath's deadly obsession.
Back Story
April walked into her home at around 9pm. After a few hours out with close friends and retail therapy April was feeling good. She needed the time away and shopping for prom dresses was just the mental escape she needed. She walked into the dimly lit house and called out for her mother.
"Mom?" she asked loudly dropping her prom dress onto the chair.
She looked around a few of the rooms and didn't find her so walked up the stairs. She checked her mom's room and saw it was empty then as she stepped into the hallway she heard her mother cry out.
"She's not here!" she sobbed.
April quickly moved back into her mother's room and stepped into the already open closet and closed the doors but on a crack. She watched as her mother was pushed into the bedroom and fell onto the floor.
"Where is she?!" a voice yelled out and April knew the voice. She covered her crying mouth with her own hand in an attempt to silence her own cries.
"She's at a sleepover!" her mother cried. Her mother knew she wasn't at a sleepover and would be home any minute. "She won't be back until morning! Just-"
The next thing April saw was a knife coming down on her mother and there was nothing she could do. She watched in horror as the life drained from her mother right before her eyes but did her best to keep quiet just like mother would have wanted her to. A police siren startled the intruder has he brutally stabbed her innocent mother and he jetted out of the bedroom and once April heard the front door open she knew it was safe to leave the room.
"Mom?" she sobbed rushing over to her.
Her mother was already long gone but that didn't stop April from running down the stairs to flag down help. Her hands were covered in blood and because she lived in such a secluded part of town finding help wouldn't be easy. The sirens had long passed her home once she was outside but she ran into the middle of the street anyway.
"Somebody help me!" she screamed. "Anybody!" she screamed waving her hands.
Phil Brooks walked into the New Jersey police station he called 'work' for the last three months. He hated working in New Jersey it was nothing compared to Chicago. He hated everything about New Jersey, the annoying people, the bad food and he hated all criminals but the ones in New Jersey just weren't as exciting as the ones in Chicago. His punishment was slowly killing him but, he figured being punished wasn't supposed to be a joy.
After shooting and killing a crime boss in Chicago, someone Punk had very public bad blood with he was shipped out and this station in a dead town in New Jersey was the only way he'd be able to stay a Detective. His partner was an alright guy but he was annoying as well, always hyper and happy, always bragging about his wife and kids. Punk wasn't sure how long he'd be able to sit across from this guy before his head officially exploded.
"About time you made it in Brooks." His partner greeted.
"Oh did some kid place a firecracker in the only mailbox in town again?" Punk mocked taking a seat behind his desk.
"Check this out." His partner Shawn Michaels said tossing a folder onto his desk.
"What's this?" Punk asked opening it and immediately came across.
"We weren't always a crime-less town." Shawn said to him.
Punk noticed a photo of a teenage girl and it did seem familiar to him.
"Did you ever hear about the April Mendez case?" Shawn asked him.
"Sounds familiar." Punk admitted staring at the photo trying to place her face.
"She was 16 going on 17, senior in high school when her hipster social studies teacher took a liking to her-" he began but Punk cut him off.
"Of now I remember." Punk said nodding. "He was insane."
"That's a nice word to call him." Shawn said to him. "He tried to make a move on her, her mom got him fired, filed a restraining order-"
"Then he killed her." Punk finished as he looked over the file. "April was there in the house if I remember the case correctly."
"She was, hiding in her closet." Shawn nodded. "That was my case."
"You got him right away." Punk remembered and Shawn smiled.
"I've arrested a lot of people but arresting him was the best moment of my life." Shawn said to him. "No one deserved to be in jail more than that piece of garbage."
"So are you showing me this to tease me with the idea of actually working in this town?" Punk asked closing the file.
"An hour ago I got a call from the mental hospital Jake Miller had been sentenced to. He escaped two days ago." Shawn informed him.
"And you're just hearing about it now?" Punk asked him.
"Don't get me started on that." Shawn said annoyed. "Anyway our new priority is April Mendez."
"This happened what? Five years ago?" Punk asked.
"Seven." Shawn corrected.
"You really think after being locked away for seven years he's going to head right back here into this small crappy town where anyone will be able to pick him out?" Punk asked.
"I'd bet my life on it but I won't bet hers." Shawn said standing up and placing his gun in his side holster.
"She still lives out here?" Punk asked standing up and reaching for his weapon as well.
"Yea she lives in the same house." Shawn said to him and Punk frowned.
"Seems weird she'd want to stay in the same home she watched her mother die in." Punk noted.
"It's all she has left of her mother." Shawn admitted. "She was all April had actually. Her father walked out on April when she was six, her mother worked two jobs to provide for her. I actually went to High School with her and April's father."
"You worked a case you were personally connected to?" Punk asked warily seeing as how that's how he got thrown out of Chicago to begin with.
"We have about 400 people living in this town, everyone knows everyone." Shawn laughed. "I wasn't too close to her mother." Shawn said as Punk followed him out of the station and to his car.
"Where's her dad?" Punk asked.
"He's a lawyer and got an offer from a big firm in LA and never looked back." Shawn said to him as they got into the car.
"He didn't come back when his wife died?" Punk asked surprised.
"He showed for the funeral, sat with April who held his hand." Shawn said bitterly. "April wanted to leave him I know she did."
"So why didn't she?" Punk asked curiously.
"Oh her daddy has a whole new life in LA. New young wife, a few younger kids. He didn't want April tainting his perfect family image." Shawn snorted. "He left April enough money to put herself through college and keep her mama's house but that's it. But this isn't about him we need to worry about Jake Miller."
"Ok I remember bits and pieces of the case." Punk said growing excited that something of interest was finally happening in this town. "The teacher crushed on her-"
"Obsessed with her." Shawn corrected. "He had journals about her, photos all over his place, he kept all of her school work, articles of clothing she'd leave behind in class- it was bad."
"Her mother finds out-" Punk started again but again Shawn cut him off.
"No April went to her mother when Mr. Miller cornered her after class demanding she have dinner with him." Shawn said to him. "April's mom marched right up to the school the next morning and when Jake was pulled into a meeting he didn't deny it instead went on and on about April. He was fired on the spot."
"Then she got a restraining order?" Punk asked.
"The one good thing April's daddy ever did for her was pull strings and get that restraining order." Shawn said to him. "April's mama told me that she was terrified for April that it was the first time she had spoken to him in years. He hadn't done anything physical to her so obtaining the RO was tough but not for Robert Mendez."
"You sound bitter." Punk noted with a laugh.
"He played football in high school and was a dick." Shawn shrugged. "So after the RO was served to him he snapped. He was positive he'd spend the rest of his life with April. He saw Kelly- who was April's mother- as his biggest obstacle and killed her."
"He stabbed her right?" Punk asked looking over the file.
"Seventy eight times." Shawn confirmed. "When he came into the house Kelly told him that April wasn't home while she hid away in her room, April watched while he did it."
"And he never searched the house for her?" Punk asked.
"He didn't think Kelly was going to sacrifice her own life for her daughter, he didn't know Kelly." Shawn said almost smugly. "April was her entire world."
"So I'm assuming you've known April a long time as well?" Punk asked.
"My eldest daughter was born the same day as April and with there being only one hospital out here-" he started.
"And probably one doctor." Punk mocked under his breath.
"Funny." Shawn laughed. "My little girl and April were best friends growing up."
"You said she lives in California now right?" Punk asked.
"Yes she moved off with her husband. Still keeps in touch with April." Shawn said to him. "I promised April the night I found her in that closet that I'd make sure Jake Miller never hurt her again."
"You're going to keep that promise." Punk assured him.
"You know I got stuck with you as a partner right? I didn't ask for the loud mouth, rude and borderline criminal cop from Chicago as my partner." Shawn informed him.
"I like your honesty." Punk remarked coldly.
"But you're not half bad." Shawn said to him. "And I read up on you and I know you'll do whatever you have to do to help keep April safe."
"I'd keep any innocent person safe." Punk said to him. "You don't know the story about Chicago."
"I don't." Shawn agreed. "But I don't care as long as you don't screw this up."
"I won't." Punk said to him looking back down at the young photo of April. "How is her mental state?"
"She's fine." Shawn shrugged. "She see's a therapist or at least she used to. She went to the community college and is an English major. Rumors have it that she's writing a book about Jake Miller but she hasn't said either way. She usually keeps to herself."
"No other family?" Punk asked him.
"Nah." Shawn said shaking his head. "Just her folks and when her mama passed she just hung around my kids and her mom's friends. She used to spend Thanksgiving with us but once Becky went to California she stopped coming around. She had a boyfriend, don't know if he's still in the picture."
"She seems to have lived a pretty normal life." Punk said appreciatively.
"She's tried. The media swarmed her for months after and didn't leave the house until long after the trial." Shawn said to him.
"Why wasn't this guy in prison?" Punk asked him. "I thought he was sentenced to life."
"He was but he obviously has mental issues. A lot of suicide attempts, a lot of attempts on his life." Shawn noted. "April was a minor he was looked at like a pedophile in prison and you know how inmates have moral codes." he snorted.
"She was just a kid." Punk agreed again looking at her photo.
Ten minutes later they pulled up to a modest size home that a small white picket fence and huge front porch.
"This is it." Shawn said parking in front. There really weren't any homes next to it and it was kind of in the middle of nowhere. "Her car is here, hopefully she's home."
Both Shawn and Punk got out of the car and opened the gate and walked up the porch. Punk looked around and saw she had a bike next to her small car and she kept up with all of the yard work. It was a clean home meant for a family but inside lived one lonely girl.
"She's not answering." Shawn frowned knocking again then looked into the window next to the door.
"You don't think-" he started then he heard barking and a large dog charged up the steps. Punk was almost terrified until the large pitbull terrier began to lick him.
"Charger doesn't greet me like that." Shawn frowned.
"Charger?" Punk asked petting the dog.
"He gets excited sorry." A sweet voice greeted and Punk looked up to see who he presumed to be was April. She looked similar to the school photo Shawn had given him but clearly she was all grown up. Her hair was still dark but had frosted tips, her eyes were painted with just enough eyeliner and thicker lashes. She was a beautiful woman.
"It's fine." Punk said with a smirk and Shawn looked at Punk amused.
"Hi Shawn." AJ smiled smiled giving him a hug.
"Hey kid how are you doing?" Shawn grinned hugging her tightly.
"Good." She said with a happy sigh. "Busy but that's a good thing. Is this a social or professional visit?"
"Have I introduced you to my new partner?" Shawn asked ignoring her question.
"Punk cop from Chicago?" AJ teased extending her hand. "I've heard all about him."
"Word spreads fast in this town." Punk smirked shaking her hand. "But I prefer just Punk."
"Detective Punk?" AJ teased.
"Just Punk Ms. Mendez." He said still smiling at her and Shawn again eyed Punk with amusement.
"Well you can call me AJ." She said to him as she unlocked her front door.
Punk noticed how there were four locks to get inside and he understood why. Charger her dog ran in first and Punk and Shawn followed behind her.
"Coffee?" AJ offered.
"Please." Shawn smiled.
"You know I don't have decaf and you're not supposed to be drinking caffeine." AJ scolded. "Becky told me all about your doctors visit."
"So why'd you offer?" Shawn laughed.
"I was talking to your partner." AJ said as they followed her into the kitchen and Punk couldn't help but stare as she he watched her bend over to place her dog's water bowl down.
"I'll take a cup." Punk said to her. "Black."
"That's the way I drink mine." AJ said putting on the coffee. "Tea?" she asked Shawn who rolled his eyes.
"I guess." He said taking a seat at the table.
"So what's this all about?" AJ asked Shawn.
"I don't even know how to say it." Shawn said as Punk remained standing.
"Two officers followed me on my walk with Charger and I kind of got an idea as to where you're going with this." she said quietly. "He's out isn't he?"
"Yea." Shawn confirmed.
Punk watched as the beautiful face that was so tanned and happy went pale and didn't even realize he had caught her in his arms as she fell to the floor.
"I'm sorry." She said standing up straight in his arms.
"It's fine. I won't let you fall." He said to her.
"We're on this April." Shawn assured her walking over to her. "I'm going to have police parked outside here every day and night until we catch him."
"What if he comes in the back way?" AJ asked him. "That's what he did last time. He knows this house."
"So maybe you leave the house." Shawn suggested. "We'll get you a hotel room."
"There's two hotels out here and he'll know." AJ said to him.
"Maybe you can go to LA and stay with your dad?" Shawn suggested. "Just until this blows over."
"No." She said shaking her head. "He's really busy and I don't want this kind of horror brought onto him and his family."
"You are his family." Punk pointed out.
"You're new here." AJ said with a weak smile. "I'll be ok I knew this would happen but just hearing it shocked me still."
"He's been out for two days already." Shawn informed her as she walked over to the table and took a seat.
"Two days? And no one told me?" She asked nervously.
"I just heard an hour ago." Shawn said to her. "You haven't noticed anything weird anything? Anyone watching you?"
"Nope just the normal amount of stares I get." She said to him sadly. "He's going to come for me."
"We don't know that." Shawn said quickly. "He might just like the taste freedom."
"He's sent me letters." AJ said to him.
"From prison?" Punk asked and she nodded. "Do you have them?"
"No I didn't even open them I brought them right down to the police station and told Harry to give them to you." AJ said to Shawn.
"He never gave me-" Shawn was growing angry now. "I need to read those letters."
"You're leaving?" she asked and Punk could tell she was frightened.
"I have to read those letters. You can come to the station with us." Shawn offered.
"I can't I have writing to do." AJ said to him.
"I'll stay." Punk offered.
"You will?" Shawn asked surprised.
"Yea you won't be long just swing by and get me when you're done. Besides I need a coffee fix. That is if Ms. Mendez doesn't mind?" Punk asked looking at her.
"It's AJ and no I'd like it actually." she said to him.
"Alright I'll be an hour." Shawn said to him. "There's only two ways in front door and back door." he told Punk who nodded. "I'll send the uniforms home for a little bit while you take over unless you think you need the backup?"
"No." Punk remarked smugly. "I'll be fine."
"Right." Shawn said eyeing him then walked away.
"Here." AJ said handing him a hot cup of coffee.
"Thanks." Punk said taking a sip. "This is really good." he laughed. "The best cup of coffee I've had out here since I've been here and you didn't put anything in it?"
"No I just get my coffee from out of town." She smirked pouring herself a cup.
"You have nothing to be afraid of." Punk assured her. "Shawn is really dedicated to catching this guy and so am I."
"That's what they told me the last time." AJ said with a weak smile.
"This won't be like last time." Punk said simply.
"No it won't because there's nothing else he could take from me." AJ said to him.
"I'm damn good at my job." Punk assured her. "You have nothing to be scared of."
"I read about you." AJ said to him. "You coming here was big news in our small town."
"Don't believe everything you read." Punk said to her.
"I don't judge anyone." She said quickly. "You don't look much like a cop."
"The tattoos, messy beard and lack of dress code doesn't scream 'I'm a cop'?" he teased.
"No not really." she laughed lightly.
"Pretty laugh." He noted fondly. "Look I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could help you. I became a cop to protect people and you are the only one in this town who needs protecting as far as I'm concerned."
"I trust you but only because Charger kissed you. He doesn't greet strangers like that ever and he's the best judge of character." AJ said looking over to her huge pitbull who was now sleeping his bed in the kitchen.
"Smart dog." Punk smirked. "You can go do what you have to do." he told her. "I can hang around here and keep busy."
"You don't mind?" She asked.
"I'm not your guest I'm working." Punk reminded her. "You told Shawn you had to work so do that. Don't let this guy take anymore time away from you."
"You're right." She said putting on a brave face. "You can watch TV or listen to music-"
"I'm working. Contrary to what you may have read I take my job very seriously." He assured her.
"Of course." she said walking past him but stopped in the doorway. "I read the man you killed was the man who hurt your sister. I wouldn't judge that." She said surprising him then walked away and he heard her creek up the stairs.
Punk spent the hour looking around her home and checking the backyard and front entrance. Her home was very cozy for a woman who lived alone but he assumed she hadn't changed much of it after her mother died. Her living room had a small TV and he doubted any cable but she had long book shelves and a few photos of her and her mother. There was one on the mantel above the fire of AJ at her graduation with Shawn and his wife and daughter. Shawn was back an hour later and Punk was now in the kitchen when he arrived.
"She ok?" Shawn asked.
"She hasn't come back downstairs yet but she's yelled down that she's fine." Punk said to him. "Did you get the letters?"
"No." Shawn said annoyed. "They're missing. Harry left them on his desk and swears he passed them off to me but I can't find them. I have to turn that station upside down."
"Did you get them?" AJ asked walking back into the kitchen.
"They got mishandled but they're on their way to me." Shawn assured her.
"I should have read them first..." She trailed off.
"No you did the right thing." Shawn promised her. "Just next time place them into my hands."
"I will." She said to him.
"We need to head out." Shawn told her.
"You have any leads?" she asked him.
"No kid, not yet." Shawn frowned. "But we're going to find some. I've got two uniformed officers outside and they're not going anywhere and we'll swing by before we head home for the night to check in."
"Thank you." She said as Shawn gave her a hug.
"You can sleep soundly April." he assured her kissing her forehead.
"It was nice meeting you Detective." AJ said to Punk.
"Punk." He corrected. "And you too, I'll see you later."
As soon as Punk got into Shawn's car he looked over to him.
"What?" Punk asked.
"You were eyeing her like a steak dinner." Shawn said to him. "This is a job not a dating service."
"Don't be crazy." Punk huffed putting on his seat belt. "And I don't even eat meat." he teased.
"I need you focused on protecting her, not on her jeans." Shawn warned him.
"You have nothing to worry about. First of all my job comes before anything and second of all she's not even my type." Punk said annoyed.
"Yea, I've known you for all of a few weeks and I know your type. Bad boy." Shawn said smugly as he drove off. "You know what bad boys love? Good girls."
"Oh come off it." Punk laughed.
"You're not denying it." Shawn laughed.
"She's pretty so yes I looked at her but seriously my job is more important." Punk said to him.
"She is your job." Shawn reminded him. "Don't get distracted this guy is a lunatic and it's not just her he'll kill, he'll take anyone out standing in his way out too."
"I'd love to see him try." Punk snorted.
"He's not some ritzy crime boss from Chicago, he's a deranged sociopath." Shawn said seriously. "He has no regard for human life or his own. He doesn't want money, he doesn't want fame, he only wants her."
"I am a Detective." Punk reminded him. "I've worked plenty of cases with deranged killers."
"Not like this guy." Shawn said to him. "Do your homework on him tonight."
"I just don't get how this guy was even a teacher." Punk said to him.
"Sociopath." Shawn said with a firm nod. "They're just like us. Also in Chicago you have a whole City of cops waiting to back you up. Our place force is two hundred. Things are just done differently out here. Having two cops sleeping outside her place isn't even going to last."
"Why?" Punk asked. "She needs the protection."
"So do the other 399 residents that live here." Shawn pointed out. "We don't have the cops to spare."
"She'll be a sitting duck at home." Punk argued.
"I'm going to stay there a few nights." Shawn said to him. "At least the nights the Captain can't spare anyone."
"I'll stay." Punk offered. "I don't have a family and you do. You should be home."
"This is my case." Shawn reminded him.
"Our case now." Punk corrected.
Punk did as his senior Detective suggested and did his homework on Jake Miller. Punk was at the station until morning reading over all of the files on the man who moved to New Jersey from Ohio and became obsessed with a young student. Punk read April's statement to her principal and the school board. The teacher was a fill-in when the old teacher went on maternity leave and his obsession with April started immediately. The teacher never denied being inappropriate but instead defended his actions by swearing she was the love of his life.
Punk also read all about April who wasn't the most popular but was genuinely liked by all of her classmates. A few of them gave their on statements in support of her claims and supported her when Mr. Miller was fired. Even April's other teachers seemed to like her, hard worker, honest, smart and a lot to offer. She was the kind of student that teachers would dream about and clearly Mr. Miller took it one step too far.
"You stayed all night?" Shawn asked dropping a cup of coffee at Punk's desk and settled into his own desk with his own cup.
"I thought you couldn't drink that?" Punk asked noting his coffee cup.
"It's decaf." Shawn lied with ease.
"Yea I wanted to read up on the case." Punk said closing the file. "I also wanted to hang around in case there was a tip."
"What are you thinking?" Shawn asked leaning back in his chair.
"I think this guy is insane." Punk said honestly. "I also think AJ is in big trouble. I'm also surprised he hasn't gotten to her yet."
"He's a sociopath but he's smart." Shawn noted.
"Yea I read about his college career. Graduated with honors, top of the class and decided to become a teacher." Punk said to him running his hands over his tired face but he looked alert and awake when he spotted AJ walking to their desks.
"Hey kid." Shawn greeted with a warm smile.
"Hi." She said with a small wave and reached into her skull messenger bag purse. "I found a few more of those letters that I forgot to bring by-"
"Jesus how many did he send you?" Shawn asked quickly taking them from her.
"I lost cont." She admitted. "Does it help?"
"Of course it does." Shawn said to her. "Give me a few minutes." he said walking off with the letters.
"How are you holding up?" Punk asked pulling a chair from the desk behind him and swerving it next to him so she could sit.
"I'm fine. Didn't sleep much but neither did you apparently." She teased lightly.
"I won't sleep until he's locked away." Punk assured her.
"Me either." She admitted. "It means a lot that you're working around the clock."
"It's my job." he said simply. "How were the uniformed officers last night? Did you feel ok with them there?"
"They were fine." She shrugged. "Stayed in the car."
"They didn't get out and check around?" Punk asked curiously.
"No but they didn't need to." she said to him.
"Right." Punk forced out. "I think I'll swing by and work the shift tonight." he offered.
"Isn't that past your pay grade?" she asked him. "Or is it that there's not enough officers to babysit me?"
"It's not like that." Punk sighed. "Ok well it is like that." he admitted and she cracked a smile.
"Ok kid I've got James looking over the letters." Shawn told her. "What are you up to today?"
"Nothing just working from home." AJ said looking up at him.
"Did you call your pops?" Shawn asked.
"I left a few messages." She said with ease and Shawn narrowed his eyes. "I should get going. I'll see you later." she said to Punk. "Thanks Shawn." she gave him a wave and walked off.
"See her later?" Shawn asked.
"Your uniformed officers didn't even scoop out the house last night." Punk remarked. "If you're going to have cops there at least make sure they're doing their job."
"Good thing we have an over excited Chicago cop on the squad now." Shawn teased.
A/N: Yay or nay?
