Coming Out

"Hey, quick question… the mayor always does his stupid briefing broadcasts on Friday mornings, right?" Punk asked, arriving at the diner where Dean was later that night.

"Odd question." Dean raised a brow, "That I don't know the answer to."

"He does." Renee crept up behind Punk with a coffee pot, "Sorry, to interrupt. Eddie always has the TV on from when we open at 8. Mayor Swinson is usually on at 9am." Renee nodded to Punk, filling up Dean's coffee.

"Thanks, Renee." Punk smiled, sliding into the booth.

"Do you want some coffee?" Renee asked.

"I'd love some, thanks." Punk nodded to her as she poured him some into a fresh mug and walked off, "You're officially useless, by the way." Punk nodded to Dean.

"Sorry I don't know the TV times. I'm usually busy at work." Dean scoffed, "Why do you wanna know anyway?" He shook his head.

"Ok, try this on for size. I didn't even realise this until today. April has this thing with the news. She always watches it on a Friday morning. Only a Friday." Punk said, "And it's the mayor doing his briefing for the week on air." He said, "And she watches it like she's shooting laser beams from her eyes." He shook his head as Dean sighed to himself.

"I thought we were dropping this? And I thought I told you to stay away from her for a while?" Dean asked.

"I had to let her know how sorry I am. I want her to know that I still care about her and that the case… the case wasn't anything to do with how I felt about her." Punk said, "But it was after our conversation I realised, she's always watching that damn briefing every Friday morning."

"Maybe… she likes the mayor." Dean shrugged.

"Her mom used to work for him. She doesn't look like she watches it to enjoy it." Punk said, "Do you see where I'm going with this?" He asked.

"You think the mayor killed her mom?" Dean raised a brow, "Ok, you've officially lost your mind." Dean nodded.

"I'm not saying he did but… it's weird, right?" Punk said, "I wanna go and ask him some questions about Teresa and her time working there." Punk nodded.

"Is that such a smart idea?" Dean asked.

"The guy likes me. He likes me for putting away Hennig. He likes me for speaking out about things." Punk said, "So… I'm gonna use that park and go ask him about Teresa." Punk decided.

"I don't know, man. That's kinda risky." Dean said.

"No, it's not." Punk scoffed, "I'm just gonna ask about her time working there, how well he knew her, what year she was working there." He shrugged, "He could bring up something worth knowing, you never know."

"So I told you to not talk to April and to park the breaks on this case and so far you've spoken to April and you're pursuing the case?" Dean asked, "I'm glad you value you my advice."

"Hey, I do. I just… I had to talk to her." Punk shook his head, "I need her to know that how I feel is real and legit. She still doesn't really wanna talk to me but when I told her I loved her I saw it in her eyes. I think she feels the same but… she doesn't wanna say."

"You're playing with fire here." Dean said.

"Oh and what? I'm gonna get burnt?" Punk scoffed, "I care about her, Dean. I'm not prepared to just lose her and forget about her. I think she thinks that's all she's worth and I hate that. I love her and I'm gonna make it right." He promised.

"She's in that hospital, dude. As long as she's in there, and you're out here… I don't see how this works out well for you." Dean shook his head.

"Well I'm not giving up." Punk made clear, "And I'm going to see that dumbass mayor tomorrow." He vowed.

"Can I get you a drink?" Billy asked, inviting Punk into his lavish home, walking through to one of the very large sitting rooms as Punk followed.

"I'm ok, thanks." Punk nodded.

"I'm glad you called before dropping by. I had a meeting tonight but I… I postponed it until tomorrow morning." Billy assured him, pouring himself some whiskey in a glass as Punk watched.

"Sorry for any sort of inconvenience." Punk said.

"Not at all." Billy shook his head, "Sure you don't want a drink?"

"No, thank you. I'm not much of a drinker actually." Punk said.

"I noticed at dinner the other night." Billy nodded, "What can I do for you then? I'm assuming you didn't come just for a chat about nothing?"

"No, I actually wanted to ask you about one of your maids from years ago." Punk said, "Uh… let me get this…" He pulled the picture of Teresa out of his back pocket, "Teresa Mendez." He showed the mayor who looked at the picture.

"Oh, yes. I remember her." Billy nodded, "Fine young girl." He said.

"Mhm." Punk looked at him, "Well she was murdered around ten years ago, in her apartment, pretty aggressively. Way too aggressive for a woman of her status." He said, "We're looking back into it and we're trying to tie up some ends that maybe the cops back then didn't." He said, "I was just wondering if you could tell me a little bit about her time working here." He nodded.

"Oh, well she worked here a long time ago. I'd have to be thinking hard." Billy laughed a little as Punk nodded, "She barely spoke much English when she worked here."

"Oh, really?" Punk asked as Billy nodded.

"Yeah. She was from… Puerto Rico I think." Billy thought to himself, "This was her first job here in the states. I was happy to help." Billy nodded, "She was good. Good worker. Friendly. Sweet." He said as Punk nodded.

"Yeah, well that certainly matches everyone else's statements." Punk nodded, "Anything suspicious about her? Did you see her with anyone? Everyone seems to think she was quite a loner."

"Oh, no. She had friends." Billy nodded, "She was just a young girl when she worked here. I wouldn't consider her a loner by any means." He shook his head, "God, it was that long ago it's hard to remember." He admitted.

"So she worked here before she had her daughter?" Punk clarified.

"Yeah… yeah, unless she went home to a secret kid." Billy laughed a little, "It was just her on her own." He nodded.

"Why'd she leave?" Punk asked him.

"Leave the job?" Billy asked as Punk nodded, "I think she must have gotten a new one. Suited her better. Closer to where she stayed." He nodded.

"And you never saw her again?" Punk asked as Billy shook his head.

"No, why would I?" Billy shook his head with confusion as Punk looked across at him.

"Would you know if anyone was out to get her, so to speak?" Punk asked him.

"No. Look, she was the maid. I barely spoke to her much." Billy shrugged, "She came in, did her job and then left. Like I said, she barely spoke any English, no point in having a conversation with her." He scoffed arrogantly as Punk looked across at him.

"Right." Punk said unhappily at his comment, "Well, if you do remember anything worth noting, be sure to call me." He said as Billy nodded.

"I sure will." Billy said, "Say, why are you digging back into it? Happened ten odd years ago, did it not?"

"It did but… cold cases make me nervous." Punk nodded to him, "Thanks for your time. Please, do call me if you remember anything that could be of use." He said as Billy nodded, watching him leave the sitting room and head for the door.

Punk was covering a night shift later that night as he had the early morning and afternoon free. It was a relatively easy shift. He'd spent most of it on the phone with Dean talking to him about his visit with the mayor.

He was sitting in his office, looking at the cameras when he heard a bedroom door opening and closing. He sat up a little, watching the camera as he saw AJ walking down towards the sitting room, with a book in her hand.

He got up from his chair, walking out of the office and looking down at her getting comfy on the couch and opening her book. He wanted to give her space she deserved, but he couldn't help himself. He wouldn't rest until she knew he was sorry, and that he cared for her.

He walked down the ward and into the sitting room as AJ looked at him and sighed to herself.

"What are you doing?" AJ sighed, "Please… please, just leave me alone. This is harassment." She shook her head.

"You're reading again." Punk smiled, sitting down on the couch beside her.

"Well spotted." AJ mumbled as he looked at her.

"Why do you watch the news every Friday?" He asked her. He wasn't going to beat around the bush with it. If the answer was simple, he was sure she'd give him it.

"What?" She shook her head, looking at him unhappily.

"Friday morning. You always watch the same news channel and it's… it's always the mayor giving his weekly briefing." Punk shook his head, "And since I don't have to pretend anymore, I found out your mom used to work for him when she was younger, when she first came here to the states." He said as AJ stiffened, looking across at him.

"You're seriously pissing me off now." AJ shook her head, starting to feel her palms sweaty as she realised he was a lot closer to her past than she ever imagined.

"Why can't you tell me?" Punk shook his head as AJ looked at her book, refusing to look at him.

"It's just the fucking news, Phil. Everyone watches it." AJ said angrily.

"Nobody gives a shit about what the mayor has to say. Look, I've been looking into this case for a while now and… I don't know, call me crazy, but I feel like I know your mom. She was the kind lady who worked hard for her daughter. Did what she had to do. Minded her own business." Punk said as AJ looked across at him.

"You did not know my mother." AJ said protectively as Punk looked at her.

"I've asked everyone I can about her… you're the last one." He said, "April, do you know what happened to her?" He asked as AJ looked across at him.

"What part of leave me alone aren't you getting?" AJ spat, "I don't wanna talk to you, certainly not about this."

"What's the deal with the mayor? Why do you listen to him talking every Friday?" He asked, "Are you waiting on him making some sort of announcement?" He asked. He felt like a kid annoying their mother. He knew he was making her mad and he hated it, but the more he saw her reaction, the more he realised she knew way more than she was letting onto.

"No." AJ said.

"Then what?" Punk shook his head.

"He raped my mom." AJ narrowed her brows at him as he paused, "And nine months later I was here." She spat, standing up and shoving her book into his chest as he took hold of it, watching as she walked past him and down the ward as he sat in silence, not knowing what to say or do.

A/N: Lots more to come!