Cases

AJ and Dean arrived at Elliot's penthouse later in the evening. It was close to midnight by the time they landed and even skipped dinner and checking into a hotel.

"It's super late, are you sure he's not already tucked into bed with his retainer?" Dean mocked as they stepped off the elevator.

"You said you'd wait downstairs." AJ snapped.

"I said I would be quiet. Not wait downstairs." Dean corrected.

"Phil told me you'd wait downstairs." AJ argued.

"Phil lied. He doesn't speak for me." Dean shrugged as they approached the door. Dean balled his fist to knock and AJ glared at him as she pulled out her key. "You still have your key?"

"Of course I do." She said sliding it into the door.

"Don't you think we should knock?" He asked her.

"He sent some guy into my office." AJ countered and Dean nodded.

"Solid point." Dean agreed.

AJ opened the door and Elliot was literally in his living room with a female companion sharing a glass of champagne.

"April." Elliot greeted confused standing up.

"Hey." AJ greeted cheerfully.

"Nice." Dean grinned walking over to the cart that had chocolate covered strawberries.

"That's not-" Elliot began as Dean helped himself. "Forget it. Can you give me a minute?"

"Sure." His female smirked standing up and heading to the back of the penthouse.

"Your mom would have LOVED her." AJ mocked.

"What are you doing here?" Elliot asked her placing his hands on his hips and eyed her. "You look good."

"Ew." Dean gagged.

"Do you know why I'm here?" AJ asked folding her arms.

"Because you've missed me?" Elliot grinned. "Or you want to tear my family apart a bit more?"

"Your mom did all of that." AJ reminded him.

"Chicago boy not doing it for you anymore?" Elliot asked intrigued.

"Yea, that's why she bought me with her. She needs a new boyfriend." Dean remarked sarcastically drinking the champagne now.

"You sent a PI after me." AJ said to him and he looked confused. "Jasper Deveraux."

"Oh." Elliot said to her. "He's my PI but I didn't send him after you. He's looking for Richard McCall."

"He broke into my office." AJ informed him. "He broke into my cabinets and didn't even put the seat down after using my bathroom."

"Rude and sloppy." Dean pointed out to Elliot who rolled his eyes at Dean who was raiding his food cart.

"I'll speak to him." Elliot assured her. "He doesn't run by what he does daily to me though."

"Do you know how traumatizing it is that someone broke into my office seven months after your last employee abducted me?" AJ questioned.

"I get it." Elliot said seriously. "He never should have done that. He must think you're following your own leads on McCall."

"I would never leave a case like that in my office." AJ informed him.

"I know that and I would have told him that if he had told me." Elliot told her. "Was he right to snoop? Do you have a lead on McCall?"

"I'm working enough cases." AJ lied with ease.

"I find that hard to believe." Elliot smirked. "You could never stay away from a mystery."

"It's a little different when you're the center of the mystery." AJ reminded him.

"I want Mr. McCall found. I want him to pay for he did to you so that's why I hired Jasper." Elliot told her. "I mean, clearly your new boyfriend hasn't been able to find him so I thought I'd help him out."

"The Feds are working the case and you won't him found so the judge goes easy on your mother." AJ said to him.

"I haven't seen or spoken to my mother in months." Elliot confided. "My father and I are disgusted by what she did to you and Daria."

"Yea, I know, we saw the press conference." Dean snorted. "The one with you and daddy forcing tears."

"We are disgusted." Elliot said to him. "This hasn't been easy for us."

"Yea, your daddy got reelected he must be heartbroken." Dean remarked.

"He is." Elliot hissed. "We want Richard McCall found and tried for crimes so we can put this all behind us."

"How kind." AJ retorted. "Maybe you can do it by not trying to victimize me again."

"I would never do that to you." Elliot told her. "I will speak to him and he will never get in your way again. I want Richard not just for what he's done but to assure your safety."

"I don't need your help or protection." AJ told him sternly. "I want you and your cursed family to stay out of my life once and for all. I am so happy now and then you and your family drama have to blow into my life."

"You didn't have to come here face to face." Elliot pointed out. "I think you wanted to see me."

"I wanted to see you face to face because I don't trust you and I can tell when you're lying." AJ said to him.

"I think its deeper than that." Elliot said to her. "If you want to see me you always have an open invitation."

"Ugh." AJ groaned. "Are you ready?" She asked Dean. "Or are you still eating?"

"Done." He said with a full mouth.

"I'll see you soon, April." Elliot told her and she walked out of the penthouse.

"You won't." Dean said to him when AJ was gone. "She's finally in a really good place, in a healthy relationship I want you to stay out of her business."

"Richard McCall is my business." Elliot reminded him.

"He's not." Dean told him. "McCall killed AJ's mother and killed a piece of April, you walked away unscathed like you and your rich daddy always do. Every time she has to come back to this town it hurts her and I fucking hate seeing her hurt, stay out of this."

"I'm doing what I have to do." Elliot insisted.

"Well, then you're going to me me have to do what I have to do." Dean warned coldly and Elliot stepped back.

"Dean, I want to go." AJ said sticking her head back in the penthouse.

"Good seeing you." Dean remarked slapping his shoulder then followed AJ out.

Punk spent six hours in court that day and was anxious to get out.

"I heard from Dean." Renee told him as they headed out of the courthouse. "They should be landing soon. They didn't seem to want to stay."

"I'd imagine they wouldn't." Punk said to her.

"Are you sure you don't want to press charges against the PI?" Renee asked him as they walked to their cars.

"Nah, Ape takes that shit personally because she's a PI and we can't even find him. Not that I think it will be hard to he doesn't seem bright." Punk said turning his phone on for the first time during the day.

"Alright, well if you change your mind give me a call." Renee told him as they reached her car.

"Will do." He said not even looking up from his phone and dialed back a number. "Hey, babe."

"Hey." AJ greeted in a smooth voice.

"You landed already?" He asked.

"Yea but there's some issue with door or something so we're stuck on the plane for a bit." She told him. "How was your trial?"

"I look good in a suit." Was his answer and he heard her laugh. "I also think the jury believed me."

"I'd believe anything you said if you were wearing a suite too." AJ told him.

"How was Jersey?" He asked.

"Elliot is useless." AJ told him. "But we know that already. Dean ate all of his food and pissed him off."

"Good." Punk said to her as he reached his car and got into it.

"I'm tired though." She sighed.

"I bet. I'm surprised you didn't stay and sleep there." He said to her.

"I hate that place." AJ groaned. "I wouldn't be able to sleep even if I tried. I want to go to our bed and sleep for twelve hours."

"You should." He told her. "I don't have to be in court until 12 tomorrow so we can sleep in."

"I love the sound of that." AJ sighed happily. "Are you coming home now?"

"I just have to run a few errands and then I'll be there. I'm sure I'll be home before you." He told her.

"You have to walk Larry or he'll piss everywhere." AJ warned.

"He already pisses everywhere." Punk scoffed. "I've got to pick up a few boxes and bring some stuff from my place to yours."

"Ours." She corrected. "I have some boxes at my office, they're broken down in the closet."

"Perfect." He said to her. "I'll see you soon."

"Love you." She said then hung up.

Punk approached AJ's office and noted the door again opened on a crack and sighed. He just wanted to pack up a few things and go home and sleep. But now he was going to be in for a long night. Punk eased the door open ever so slightly and reached for his gun when he saw someone inside of her office sitting across from her desk.

"I've been waiting for you to show." The male voice said to her. "It's time I introduce myself to you."

"Hi, I'm Detective Brooks." Punk greeted from behind the man who practically jumped out of his seat. He turned and saw the Detective with a gun and held his hands up. "It's GREAT to meet you." he added sarcastically.

"You were not who I was expecting." The man told him nervously.

"I'm sure I'm not." Punk said to him. "Keep your hands up."

"I'm unarmed." The man told him. "I was just here to apologize."

"And you are?" Punk asked.

"Jasper Deveraux." Jasper told him and Punk rolled his eyes. "I heard from my client and he said I had to apologize."

"You're here to apologize for breaking into April's office by breaking in again?" Punk asked him narrowing his eyes.

"Sounds silly when you say it like that." The man laughed nervously. "I have my ID on me."

"Take it out slowly." Punk ordered and the man took his ID out and showed Punk who lowered his gun.

"I really am just here to apologize." Jasper told him.

"Right, because AJ confronted Elliot and embarrassed him." Punk said to him. "Even though it's embarrassing for a PI to break into another PI's office to steal her leads."

"It's called working smarter not harder." Jasper told him taping his head.

"Right." Punk said to him. "I should arrest you."

"I didn't steal anything and the door was opened. I was left in here, you should have checked before you left. I could probably sue." Jasper argued and Punk glared at him. "But I won't. I'm not here to hurt Ms. Mendez and not introducing myself was my fault."

"It was." Punk agreed. "Did you touch anything in here tonight?"

"Didn't." Jasper assured him. "I wanted to compare notes."

"Well, April isn't here and she won't be here for a few days." Punk told him. "I on the other hand am going to be here multiple times a day to make sure you aren't."

"Two great minds on finding Mr. McCall is the way to find him." Jasper told him.

"April has a GREAT mind." Punk agreed. "You not so much."

"I know April found a friend in Nashville but I don't know how." Jasper told him. "And I'm sure you don't want your little lady running off to face big bad men, if you can get me the information I'll pass it along."

"I think Ape wants to find McCall and collect the very large reward money herself." Punk said to him honestly.

"It's not about money." Jasper lied. "It's about finding a bad man."

"Right." Punk laughed and opened the closet door and pulled the folded up boxes out of it.

"If you could give her my card." Jasper said holding his card out and Punk took it from him. He had a feeling he'd need this information. "I look forward to speaking to her.

"If you walk into office again without an invitation again I swear to you I will lock you up and make up the charges, am I making myself clear?"

"Yes, Detective." Jasper said to him. "But I'll be in town a few more days."

"Great." Punk remarked and watched the man leave. "Slimy piece of shit."

Once Punk walked in the apartment door holding a two boxes that were on top of each other he dropped them and immediately AJ jumped into his arms.

"I like this greeting." He grinned as she kissed him then climbed off of him.

"Well now that you live here, get used to me climbing on you." She warned and his eyes lit up.

"I would have moved in sooner." Punk said seriously and she snorted a laugh.

"You bought some stuff over." She said clapping her hands together happily.

"Yup. I went to your office." He said removing his jacket. "Jasper Deveraux was sitting in your office."

"Really?" AJ asked surprised.

"He was there to apologize." Punk informed her. "I wanted to shoot him but I behaved."

"Good boy." She cooed. "What did he have to say for himself?"

"Nothing of use. He can't find Dickie McCall so was trying to get his tips from you." Punk said to her.

"I wonder how much Elliot is paying him?" AJ asked more herself.

"I think it's a waste of money." Punk said to her. "He doesn't seem bright. I suspect he'll drop by again. He seems to want to press you for information."

"He can press all he likes. He won't get shit out of me." AJ remarked.

"I'm sure he won't." Punk said to her. "So, nothing else went on with Elliot?"

"Do you think I went there to fall in love with him?" She asked snooping in the boxes he bought over.

"No, wiseass." he remarked then heard a knock at the door. "Do you have to be so blatant with your snooping?" He asked with a laugh as he walked to the door and opened.

"I knew that was you!" A perky female voice greeted and AJ turned her head to see a red headed goddess plant her lips on her boyfriends cheek. "You passed me down the hallway!"

"Did I?" He asked scratching the back of his head.

"Did you move in here? What happened to your place?" The female asked folding her arms and AJ rolled her eyes and stood up.

"I moved in with my girlfriend." Punk told her as AJ walked over.

"Oh, so cute." The woman smiled shaking AJ's hand. "I'm Peyton."

"You live three doors down, I've seen you around." AJ said to her.

"Yea I moved in a few weeks ago sorry I haven't been over to introduce myself." Peyton apologized. "I've just been so busy getting settled."

"Right." AJ said politely.

"I can't believe you moved in here! It's so comforting to know we have a strong man on this floor." Peyton told him and AJ tried not to glare.

"So, how do you two know each other?" AJ asked with a smile.

"We dated." Peyton told her before Punk could respond. "But like, FOREVER ago." she laughed a bit. "I never thought he'd settle down. You must be special."

"How long did you two date?" AJ asked curiously.

"Ape." Punk warned.

"It was nice meeting you." AJ said to Peyton.

"You too! We'll do coffee one day!" Peyton told her. "Bye, Punk."

Punk closed the door and looked at AJ's amused face.

"What? This is your building I didn't pick to live here." He told her.

"She seems nice." AJ shrugged.

"She is." Punk agreed grabbing one of his boxes and open a dresser drawer that AJ cleared out for him.

"So, what went wrong?" AJ asked him. "She's gorgeous and sweet."

"We just didn't work out." Punk shrugged not giving it much thought. "She needed a boyfriend 24/7. Expected me to drop everything for her."

"If I needed it you wouldn't do that?" AJ asked.

"I've already done it for you. More than once." He reminded her. "But you have real reasons. She would need me to kill a spider or go help her shop. She's a nice girl I think you two would get along."

"Psh." She huffed and began to help him unpack a bit. "It's just she seems perfect."

"Whats your definition of perfect?" He asked.

"Sweet and pretty." She nodded firmly.

"Ape, she was far from perfect and I didn't know she lived here." Punk defended.

"I know, I'm not mad." She said clearing out another drawer for him.

"You're just jealous." He teased. "I had to face down your ex countless times."

"You can't compare you and Elliot." She scoffed. "He's a troll next to you. Ugly on the inside and out. Her though, she's like an amazon."

"Ape, please." He sighed laughing. "You're ten times more beautiful. And again, Elliot may not have been a charmer but he was your first everything. He had money. He had a steady career-"

"You have a steady career." She pointed out. "And believe me him being my first is not a memory worth remembering." she cringed.

"Point is, we both have pasts." He reminded her.

"Mine doesn't live down the hall." AJ scoffed.

"You want to move?" He asked.

"No." She groaned. "I just wish she was ugly."

"You're beautiful." He again reminded her. "And most importantly I didn't love her."

"That helps." AJ blushed a bit and he kissed her cheek. "Want me to order in dinner?"

"That sounds amazing because I'm starving." He said to her.

"Maybe I'll order the food and just run out to meet with that Jasper-" She began.

"Ape, no." He laughed. "We both have a night off and those are fewer and further between. The slimeball will be around for a while."

"Ok." She agreed. "What do you want to eat?"

"You." He responded with a straight face.

"That's dessert." She scolded.

"Damn." He grinned watching her walk away.

It was nearly three in the morning and Punk was in a deep sleep snoring lightly. So was Larry for that matter and AJ couldn't turn her mind off. After dinner Punk took her to bed and they went at it for over an hour which usually tires her out but not tonight. She laid looking up at the high ceiling She decided to get up and check the locks as she normally did but felt a grip on her wrist.

"You checked the locks twice already." Punk said exhausted with his eyes still shut. Her eyes widened in shock that he was able to know exactly what she was doing without even being awake.

"I can't stop thinking." She said laying back down to face him but he didn't respond. "Phil." She groaned annoyed.

"What?" He asked rolling over so his back was to her and he kept his eyes shut.

"Who sent me that note?" She asked and he didn't respond. "We just never thought about it again."

"What note?" He asked tiredly still trying to fall back to sleep.

"The note of where my mom was." She insisted and his eyes flew opened. They had kind of brushed that off. "It had to be somebody with full knowledge, right? They knew where she was they knew to clean their prints."

"Maybe it was Dickie sending you there to set you up." Punk reasoned rolling onto his back now.

"He wouldn't take that chance." AJ scoffed. "That guy wouldn't have killed me anyway. We assume somebody sent me there to set me up but what if they were just trying to help? What if this person worked with Dickie? What if they can help me find him now?"

"The note is in New Jersey because that's where the crime took place." Punk said opening his eyes and running his hand over his face.

"I know there were no usual prints on it but maybe the feds can look it over again?" She asked. "I should call the agent on the case." She said reaching for his phone.

"It's three in the morning, babe." He reminded her sitting up slightly now. "Call tomorrow."

"Oh, right." She said laying back down but looking up at the ceiling. "I do this sometimes, my brain starts running and I can't shut it off. Are you sure you still want to live with me?"

"For some reason, yes." He groaned.

"I bet Peyton wasn't like this." AJ said to him and he had to laugh a bit.

"Let it go, Ape." He ordered and she sighed and felt his arm around her now. "Sleep." He encouraged.

"What if that note was given to me to set off this whole chain of events? Did Eliza piss someone off?" AJ asked.

"Babe." He nearly cried.

"Right, sorry." She said trying to get comfortable.

"I promise you I'll let you bounce theories off of me tomorrow but tonight I need sleep I won't be helpful." Punk said to her.

"I get it." AJ said to him. "Something is wrong I can feel it, that's all."

"We'll figure it out." He promised. "Just not tonight."

"Not tonight." She agreed.