Union

The next morning AJ was out of the house before Punk was awake again and already looking into Peyton's case. She spent hours searching records and was surprised at how easy it was for her to potentially track down where her ex and son, Jack, were currently. According to what she was looking into they were still in Illinois. Just all the way across the state. AJ knew it was the middle of the year and Jack would have had to been put into school and sure enough she found records for Jack Winslow in Union Illinois. She was still trying to get an exact address.

"Hey, I got your message." Peyton greeted stepping into AJ's office.

"Come on in." AJ waved her in. "So, I haven't gotten an exact address but so far it seems like they're in Union Illinois."

"Union?" Peyton asked giving it thought. "I don't think he has family there."

"He wouldn't go somewhere you'd remember he had family." AJ explained. "Jack was registered into the local high school."

"I just don't understand why he would pick up and leave." Peyton said shaking her head. "Don't get me wrong I've made my mistakes but I wasn't looking to take Jack away from him. It's why I think he's trying to hide something."

"He might be." AJ agreed. "Look, I'm going to be honest when there's a kid involved I look into both parents. Especially the parent who hired me to make sure they're not some monster and you don't even have a parking ticket. You volunteer at the local shelter, you work a steady job, you don't have any enemies- you seem all around great."

"Well, I appreciate that." Peyton sighed. "What about Jacks father?"

"Jason Tray is a different story." AJ admitted. "He was arrested one year ago for disorderly conduct, his ex girlfriend filed a restraining order against him two years ago, his family business of dealing cars got shut down when his father was arrested for illegal activities at the building. Mostly poker games and weed sales."

"Oh my god." Peyton said shaking her head.

"I think he was afraid now that you were prepared to meet him that you'd want custody and any judge would give you custody over him." AJ told her.

"I didn't!" Peyton defended. "I mean, now is a different story of course. I just want what's best for Jack."

"Well, you should start weighing your options." AJ informed her seriously.

"I can't believe this." Peyton said to her.

"You seem like you're put together, your parents seem supportive now." AJ reasoned.

"I didn't want to upset Jack's routine." Peyton said to her. "I wasn't ready for him when I was a teenager and it wouldn't have been fair to him when he was six to take him out of his home. Plus I had signed over my rights. Now would be different. I'd love to get to know him and to be honest, protect him. I had no idea Jason had gotten into so much trouble."

"He was last working at a mechanic shop so I'm calling around every mechanic shop in Union to see if he got something there. I have a recent picture of him and I'm going to drive down there and look in case he's using a different name." AJ explained.

"I'll go with you." Peyton offered without hesitation.

"Oh, no." AJ laughed. "I don't want him to see you. This is part of what you're paying for me, I do the hard work."

"I want to help." Peyton insisted.

"Help by staying here." AJ said to her. "I'll go down and check it out it's only an hour away I'll be back before you know it."

"Well now I'm all anxious." Peyton said to her nervously. "What if he's hurting Jack?"

"I saw no files on Jack. No child protective files, nothing from police files as far as I can see Jack is healthy and well." AJ assured her. "And he's in school so that's important."

"Right." Peyton agreed. "I have to do something. I can't just sit here."

"Here." AJ said opening her filing cabinet. "You want to put these closed cases in alphabetical order?"

"Seriously?" Peyton asked and AJ shrugged.

"Phil has been promising to do it and he find an excuse out of it every time." AJ told her.

"I love to organize. I'll do it. It will keep me sane." Peyton said to her.

"And by the time you're done, I'll be back." AJ told her and Peyton nodded.

AJ drove to Union Illinois and began checking out local mechanic shops. There was one that confirmed a Jason worked there but she couldn't be sure it was true. Why would he pick up and leave and not even change his name? She was parked across the street from the mechanic shop and looked at the recent mugshot of Jason and peered into the gas station and saw someone who resembled him for sure.

"Huh." AJ said getting out of the car.

AJ walked around to her car and pulled the pocket knife she kept in her purse and popped one of her own tires. She waited a few moments for the air to visibly lower then put the knife back in her purse and headed across the street.

"Excuse me." AJ announced sweetly and three men turned their heads. "My car is out front and like it's making noise." she explained in a confused voice.

"Let's take a look." One man offered walking over but she locked eyes with the man she assumed was Jason and he caught it.

"I got this one." Jason said not taking his eyes off of AJ as he subtly licked his lips at her and she blushed to play it off.

"I'm sorry I'm not sure how cars really work." AJ remarked as he followed her over to her car across the street.

"What kind of noise is it making?" He asked walking over to the classic convertible.

"It's really more of when I'm driving it, it sounds like it's coming from the back." She said and he inspected around the car and saw the flat.

"Well, that'll do it." Jason chuckled kneeling down. "You've got a flat."

"I do?" AJ gasped.

Jason stood straight and pointed.

"See? Right there." He gestured and she bent over to eye it.

"Oh, wow yea." AJ frowned. "That's crazy."

"What's crazier is that it looks slashed." Jason said to her. "You piss anyone off lately?" He asked.

"Oh, no." AJ laughed a bit. "Maybe someone in my neighborhood. You know what it's like around here, everyone thinks they own their parking spot."

"Sure do." Jason said to her. "I can get this fixed up for you."

"Could you?" She asked hopefully. "I have an appointed at 4."

"I think we have these tires in stock." Jason said eyeing them. "They look brand new, what a shame."

"Yea." AJ agreed. "How much is this going to cost?"

"Well there might be a discount in it for you if you let me buy you dinner." Jason offered.

"How about coffee?" AJ countered. "I don't really have the time for dinner, I also have a boyfriend."

"That breaks my heart." Jason said with a light laugh placing his hand over his heart. "But I'll take you up on the coffee. Just let me get the car inside."

"Great." AJ said passing him her keys.

AJ was in a crowded coffee shop with Jason as her car was getting worked on by the other guys in the shop.

"So, you own the shop?" AJ questioned innocently.

"No." Jason laughed a bit. "The guys just owed me one. They do the work and I take the pretty lady for coffee and try to convince her that her boyfriend is no good for her."

"You couldn't possibly know that." AJ said to him with a light smile.

"You look so familiar." Jason said amused and AJ realized that he had probably seen her face on the news a few months ago.

"I get that a lot." AJ shrugged. "So, how long have you lived out here?"

"I've lived in Illinois my whole life." Jason told her. "Just me and my boy."

"Your boy?" AJ questioned.

"My son." He clarified.

"How nice." AJ smiled. "How old is he?"

"15. I know, I look way too young to be the father of a 15 year old." Jason laughed a bit.

"A tad." AJ agreed. "So are you stepping out on his mother by asking me to dinner?"

"No. She passed away a long time ago." He lied with ease and AJ's eyes saddened to go along with his story.

"I'm so sorry." She said placing her hand over his.

"Thank you." Jason said to her. "It was a long time ago and she's in a better place."

"That must have been really hard on you." AJ noted. "Raising a child alone is never easy I'm sure."

"It's my full-time job." He told her as if he had repeated these lines a hundred times. "But it's rewarding."

"Good for you." AJ said to him. "It's very honorable."

"Is your boyfriend as honorable?" Jason questioned.

"He is." AJ smiled a bit.

"Where are you from?" He asked her.

"I live in Cook county." She informed him.

"I lived out there for a bit." He told her nodding. "What are you doing down here?"

"I'm looking at properties, my boyfriend is considering taking a job out here." AJ told him and he nodded.

"You would pretty this town right up." Jason grinned.

"You don't know when to quit, do you?" AJ asked sweetly. "I'm a very loyal honorable woman."

"I can see that." Jason said to her. "But what your boyfriend doesn't know won't hurt him."

"It would hurt me." AJ said to him. "So, raising your son alone and dating has to be challenging."

"It is." Jason told her. "But he's a great kid, he understands that dad has to have a life."

"I'm sure." AJ said to him sipping her coffee.

"Are you sure we haven't met?" Jason questioned her. "I really feel like I've seen you."

"I would remember meeting you." AJ flirted lightly to get him off this and like a fish in water he took the bait.

"You have to let me buy you a real meal." Jason insisted leaning over the table. "I'll be the perfect gentleman."

"I'm sure you would be." AJ said to him knowing what a creep he was deep down.

"And I won't tell your boyfriend." Jason assured her.

"My boyfriend is a police officer." AJ told him honestly and Jason frowned. "Don't like cops?"

"No, not that. I just don't like that the woman I plan on perusing dates a man who carries a weapon." Jason remarked slyly.

"I carry weapons myself." AJ remarked coyly.

"I suppose in this crazy world a woman as beautiful as yourself would have to." Jason said to her. "I like a challenge, April."

"Yea?" AJ asked and her phone beeped. "My car is ready." she smiled and stood up and walked out of the shop before Jason could respond.

AJ was back at the office close to six and was surprised to see Peyton still there.

"You stayed the whole day?" AJ asked and looked around at her now clean and organized office.

"I couldn't sit still." Peyton sighed. "I cleaned, I took messages, I put everything in order and I fixed your jammed window so you can get fresh air in this stuffy office."

"I feel like I should pay you." AJ said looking around the office impressed.

"Did you see Jack?" She asked AJ hopefully.

"I didn't. But I met Jason and he spoke about Jack." AJ told her removing her jacket.

"How did you pull that off?" Peyton asked.

"He fixed the flat tire I gave my car." AJ grinned proudly sitting behind her desk. "He kind of grosses me out."

"Oh, I'm sure he was all over you." Peyton said to her. "You should shower."

"I plan on it." AJ said to her. "I'm pretty sure Jack is for sure there and I plan on going back and making sure I see Jack."

"When? Tonight?" Peyton asked hopefully.

"No it'll be this week though. I told you these things take time." AJ reminded her.

"No, I totally get it." Peyton assured her. "I appreciate you doing this much. I'm confident Jack is alive and well."

"I am too." AJ said to her. "You're going to see him soon I promise."

"That's a relief." Peyton said to her.

"And thank you for what you did around here." AJ said to her.

"Well if you need help around here I don't mind." Peyton told her. "You should have someone else here you had a lot of calls today." she said pointing to the messages.

"Yea I guess I did. Phil has been on me to hire someone to help out." AJ said reading through the messages.

"They're color coded." Peyton pointed and AJ nodded fondly. "I used to work in my dads office before I realized working with family isn't the brightest."

"I mean, I know you work." AJ said to her. "But if you could work here a few days a week while I'm out on cases-"

"I'll do it." Peyton said to her. "I've been dying to get out of the diner I'm working in now."

"I can't pay you much. Just by the hour and minimum." AJ warned her.

"I don't even make minimum now. I'm blessed to have my parents help me with my apartment." Peyton told her.

"Great." AJ smiled and the office door opened and Punk walked in.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Peyton told her and AJ smiled.

"Get home safe." AJ told her.

"Hey, Punk." Peyton waved as she walked out of the office.

"What's that all about?" Punk asked watching her leave.

"I hired her." AJ told him and he was stunned. "Look how she cleaned my office." she gestured.

"Yea she was a bit OCD from what I remember." Punk said to her.

"She even color coded my messages." AJ pointed happily.

"Messages?" Punk questioned. "Where were you all day?"

"Working." AJ said to him. "Mama has to those bills." she teased. "I just walked in so I can't go home yet."

"I finished court early, walked Larry, showered, and napped." He told her. "Then I decided to come find you because I'm bored."

"How was court?" She asked.

"Tomorrow should be the last of it." Punk told her and saw the receipt for a new tire on her desk. "I just put new tires on your car." he huffed and AJ avoided his eyes. "Ape- you were in Union?"

"Work related business." She reminded him snatching the receipt from his hands. "What? I didn't leave the state." she defended.

"It's fine." Punk laughed. "I'm sure you're being safe."

"I am." She said to him and her phone began to ring and saw a number she didn't recognize. "Mendez." She answered as she saw Punk looking at more paperwork slyly and snatched it away as well.

"April Mendez, you left your spare key behind at the shop." The voice said to her. "This is Jason Tray by the way, the man of your dreams.." he said and since the room was quiet Punk heard it and glared at her.

"Oh, did I?" She asked innocently fully knowing she left the key behind. "My head is all scrambled."

"That's understandable, you had a long day I'm sure." Jason said to her.

"I'll be by tomorrow morning to pick it up." AJ told him.

"Oh, we're closed in the morning, could you by after 6? I can swing by that time but I can't during the day." Jason lied with ease.

"Sure." AJ said to him.

"Wonderful, it's a date." Jason said quickly then hung up.

"Ape." Punk warned.

"Relax, I'm not going alone." She said to him.

"Oh, I get to come?" Punk asked her.

"Nope." She said to him. "You do realize I'm good at what I do, right? I can't have you be like Elliot and constantly worry and follow me around-"

"I trust you." Punk assured her. "But I worry, I can't help that. I don't follow you around and I wouldn't do that. Your safety is my priority and you have to understand that I'm a cop, I've seen it all so my mind thinks differently. I believe in your profession and I believe you're the best at what you do."

"I don't want to have to hide cases I'm working on from you." She said to him. "I thought you and I were similar in that way. I can vent to you and you can vent to me. If I ever feel I'm in over my head I'll tell you."

"I know." He said to her. "You're right. I just have to get used to it that's all."

"Good." She said to him.

"So, tell me about the case." He said to her.

"I can't because you personally the client." AJ shrugged and he glared at her. "Any other case I'll tell you about."

"What other cases are you working?" He asked her.

"None I delayed them, this one is priority." AJ said to him. "And hey, I hired someone to help out."

"I do like that." Punk admitted. "Peyton is nice, she'll work out well here."

"I think so." AJ agreed. "I mean, she obviously has good taste."

"Let it go." Punk warned her.

"I will. Eventually." She mumbled.

"But just tell me." Punk said to her. "Without telling me case details, did you slash a brand new tire I bought you for a case?"

"It is getting late." AJ said avoiding his question. "I'll return the messages tomorrow, want to go to the movies?"

"No I want to know if you slashed my tires." He said to her.

"I'm actually hungry. I didn't even have lunch, I feel faint." She told him dramatically and he glared at her.

"Did you have to actually slash it?" He asked her.

"Phil, I can't be found out." AJ said to him. "Be happy I'm a method actor. And it got me to where I needed to be."

"Fine." Punk said to her.

"But I really didn't eat lunch." She pouted.

"My poor girl." He teased.

"Poor me is right." She said turning the lights off around the office and Punk watched her check the office bathroom before they left. "She even moped the bathroom floor!" AJ squealed.

"Good." Punk said to her. "Burgers?"

"Yes!" She cheered as he opened the door for her and he followed her out after locking up.