Friendly Neighbors
Punk opened his apartment door after constant light knocked and it was only 7am. He was ready to murder who ever was waking him up at this time and swung the door open. He saw nothing and squinted his eyes then heard someone clear their throat.
"Down here." Petra said looking up at him.
"Oh, hey kid." Punk greeted running his hand over his sleepy face. "What are you doing?"
"I read six times last night and you haven't read it at all." Petra said holding out the comic he helped her reach yesterday. "But I'm going to want it back." she warned cutely.
"Wow thanks." Punk chuckled taking it from her. "I'll bring right it back. This is very nice of you, thank you."
"We're neighbors and neighbors help each other out." Petra shrugged.
"You're very wise for such a tiny person." Punk teased.
"I'm 5 and I'm tiny because my mom is tiny at least that's what my daddy tells me." Petra told him honestly.
"Yea I guess she is tiny too." Punk smirked. "Is your dad home? I'd really like to meet him." Curiosity was getting the best of the Punk now.
"Oh he's not here." Petra said simply. "He's home."
"Where is home?" Punk asked.
"Pe-" AJ started opening the front door but stopped upon seeing Punk.
"Hi mommy. I was giving Mr. Punk my comic to borrow because he hadn't read it." Petra told her running back to her.
"Next time you leave tell me? Also maybe wait until after 7am in the future before waking people up." AJ smirked at her daughter.
"Early bird gets the worm." Petra shrugged.
"It's fine." Punk lied. "I appreciate the comic." He said holding it up.
"No problem." Petra nodded then walked past her mother and back into the apartment.
"Sorry about that." AJ said embarrassed. "She's a morning person."
"Really it's fine." Punk assured her. "So I didn't get the chance to ask but are you from around here?"
"I'm from New York." She lied. "Brooklyn."
"Really?" He asked skeptically.
"Really." She said eyeing him. "You're obviously from Chicago?"
"I am." He confirmed. "Born and raised. So if you need help finding your way around or if anyone gives you a hard time let me know. It's an iffy building to move into by yourself with your daughter."
"I don't know how long we're staying for. It's just a pit stop." She said to him and he nodded.
"Do you know where you're heading?" he asked her.
"No." she said simply.
"You sound like someone on the run." Punk teased but he was actually being completely serious. The more he got to know AJ or June as he thought her name was, the more he knew she was hiding something.
"I'm not on the run. I'm just trying to provide the best possible life for my daughter." AJ said to him.
"Good for you." He smiled. "Well again if you need anything, anything at all I'm right across the hall."
"I appreciate it." she then headed back into her apartment.
Punk again took a moment to think about the woman clearly running and hiding out across the hall from him but instead of calling in the tip or questioning her more he decided to leave it alone. The woman he could tell was fiercely protective of her daughter and obviously hiding from her husband. Punk knew what that meant and for now was going to let it go and focus on his own case which he considered to be a lot more important than a battered wife on the run.
AJ wanted to start looking for work but she couldn't work with Petra home and she needed new ID's for the two of them. She had no idea where she was going to find them out here but she was going to have to register Petra for school eventually as well. But she didn't want to do any of that until she was sure Seth wouldn't find them here. She sat on the park bench watched Petra run around with a few other kids she just met and smiled. That's all she wanted for her daughter to see her happy. AJ pulled out her prepaid phone and decided to check in with Celeste.
"Hey." Celeste answered on the first ring.
"Hi." AJ greeted. "I just wanted to let you know we're ok and we're safe."
"Yea and I know Seth hasn't found you yet because his buddies are literally parked outside my house and following Nick and I." Celeste informed her.
"I'm so sorry." AJ sighed.
"Don't apologize. I consider it a good thing. It means they have no clue." Celeste said to her. "How is Petra?"
"She misses Seth." AJ admitted. "I don't blame her but I feel bad at the same time."
"You're doing the right thing." Celeste said to her. "It would be Petra getting beat next."
"Would it? Or did I just jump the gun?" AJ asked.
"All the nights I wrapped your ribs or iced your face you're going to ask me that?" Celeste asked. "He would have killed you and Petra."
"You're right." AJ said forcefully. "I'm doing this for my daughter."
"Absolutely." Celeste said to her. "I miss you both so does Nick."
"Yea I know what you mean, we miss you and other people in general." AJ confided.
"You have each other out there and that's all you need." Celeste reminded her. "You'll make friends."
"I don't trust anybody." AJ admitted. "I never know if they're friends with Seth."
"You're a smart woman. Use your judgment and trust it." Celeste said to her.
"Look where that got me with Seth." AJ cringed. "He wasn't like this in the beginning."
"I know. I went to school with you two, remember?" Celeste asked. "Greed and power got to him."
"Did he ever love us?" AJ asked her.
"How could you hurt someone you loved the way he hurt you?" Celeste asked softly. "Or what he would have done to Petra? There's no love there."
"Petra loves him so much." AJ almost cried. "What am I supposed to tell her? How do I tell her we're never going home? How do I convince her to lie to her teachers when she starts school and to all of her friends?"
"That's a tough one and I'm sorry but I have no answers for you." Celeste said to her. "You'll figure it out because you always do."
"I think I'm all out of idea." AJ snorted.
"I doubt that." Celeste insisted. "You're the bravest person I know."
"Alright thanks but I can't stay on the line too long." AJ said to her.
"Of course." Celeste said to her. "We love you two please call me again next week."
"I promise and we love you both too." AJ said to her then hung up.
"Mommy!" Petra giggled running towards her with open arms.
"What's up?" AJ smiled. "Having fun?"
"Yes I am but you promised me ice cream too." Petra pointed out.
"I guess I did, didn't I?" she said standing up and taking her daughter's hand. "Let's go."
AJ and Petra were online waiting for ice cream at the nearest truck. Petra was growing impatient as she bounced on the heels of her feet and looked around to pass the time.
"We're almost next." AJ assured her.
"Sure thing mommy." Petra said then looked over. "Oh hey Mr. Punk." she pointed out across the street.
Sure enough across the street was their friendly neighbor with some not so friendly people. AJ could tell by just the way they stood that they were trouble. She watched as Punk shook one man's hand and clearly slipped him something and the other man smiled and slapped his shoulder.
"What's he doing? Do you think he wants ice cream?" Petra asked.
"He's with friends and no I'm sure he doesn't." AJ said trying to get Petra's attention.
"I hope he didn't ruin my comic." Petra frowned.
"I'm sure he didn't." AJ assured her.
She watched as Punk lingered for a moment and looked around before heading down the street and into his car then sped off. She knew something was off about the neighbor but he had seemed alright to her and Petra. She was now not too sure if Chicago was the best fit for them but where else could they go? She was running out of options and Petra was running out of patience.
"Mommy they're calling us!" Petra said pointing out they were next in line.
Later that night AJ heard a knock at her door and froze. She turned off all of the lights she had on and crept towards the door and peeked through. It was only Punk and against her better judgment opened the door on a crack.
"Yes?" she asked keeping the chain up.
"I'm returning your daughter's comic." Punk said sliding it through the door.
"Thanks." She said quickly taking it.
"And these are a few of mine she can keep them. I don't think she's read them yet." he said also passing them over.
"That's not necessary." AJ insisted.
"Just take them it will save you a few bucks." he insisted.
"Ok sure." She said quickly taking them. "Anything else?"
"Is something wrong?" he asked tilting his head.
"No." she lied. "It's just Petra just went to sleep and I don't want to wake her."
"I thought her name was Harley." He smirked.
"She likes to change her name sometimes." AJ shrugged ready to kick herself for blowing this already. She was so worried about Petra slipping up but it was AJ who did instead.
"Look what you're doing here isn't my business even though I have a pretty good idea as to what's going on but you don't have to be afraid of me." he assured her. "I'm just trying to be nice to your daughter."
"I saw you on the street today." AJ told him bluntly. "Passing money or drugs-"
"It was a business card actually." Punk said honestly.
"And what is it you do?" she asked him.
"I'm a bouncer at a night club out here." He lied. "I make a few extra bucks if I bring in clients that's all."
"I don't believe you." AJ said to him with a sarcastic smile. "You know people you've lived here your whole life you work the streets."
"You seem to think you know me pretty well." Punk said to her. "Look I'm not going to bother you anymore." he said stepping away from the door. "Good luck with whatever it is you're doing here."
"Wait." she pleaded and he turned to see her step outside the door and close it behind her but left her hand on the handle. "Do you really know people? People where you can get things from?"
Now Punk's police instinct kicked in. Was this woman he thought was just a good mom trying to take care of her daughter really some sort of drug addict? Was that what she was looking for? He'd have zero issues arresting her if that was the case.
"I do." he said folding his arms. "Is this the kind of conversation you really want to have in the hallway?"
"No." She said about to open her door then looked back at him.
"If I wanted to hurt you or your daughter I would have done it already." he said sensing her hesitation to let him in.
"Ok." She said opening the door and he followed her inside. He saw that the crappy little apartment was decorated and painted to give it a warm welcoming feeling. If this woman was into illegal stuff he never would have guessed it.
"So what is it you need?" he asked her.
"I need ID's." AJ said to him. "And before you say you can't do it the man three floors down told me you helped him out with it."
"Oh." Punk said slowly nodding. "For you and your daughter?"
"Maybe." She said to him.
"Do you mind if I ask what you're running from?" he asked her.
"Yes." She said honestly. "I have the money." she said to him. "I'll pay how ever much it is."
"It could be pricey. Kid ID's are always a little more." Punk said to her. "But getting ID's made are always a quick way to get caught as well."
"I don't have a lot of options here." AJ admitted feeling like the world was closing in.
"Tell me what's wrong and maybe I could help." he offered. He just really didn't want to add her name to his report.
"No one can help me." She said to him.
"It's your husband, right?" he asked. "Your daughter told me he doesn't know where you two are. He beat you or something?"
"Or something." She muttered.
"How bad?" he asked frowning.
"I earned a couple of over night stays in a hospital." She told him honestly. "Me I could handle but he was going to do it to my daughter, he almost did." She told him almost desperately. "I had to get her out of there."
"I respect that." he said quietly.
"I'm only telling you this not for pity but for help." She said to him. "You have a reputation around this building of getting people what they need. I'm not into drugs or sex or whatever the hell else it is you could get, I just want an ID so I can enroll my daughter in school."
"Do you mind me asking why you never went to the police?" Punk asked curiously casually walking around her place and looking around.
"He is the police." She said to him and he froze and turned around to look at her.
"What was that?" he asked slowly.
"He's a cop." she said holding back tears. "I don't even know why I'm telling you this! Forget I asked for anything and forget you met me and my daughter-"
"I'm not going to rat you out." Punk promised her. "Trust me that's not my intention. It's just hearing a cop did this to you is a little disturbing. They're supposed to protect you."
"Don't you hate cops?" AJ asked curiously.
"I don't hate cops." Punk said to her. "I respect people who put their lives on the line like they do. What I don't like is cops who take advantage of the badge and power."
"I tried to file a report." She confided as they both sat on the couch. "I was laughed out of the station."
"Did you at least consult an attorney before you did this?" he asked her. "You could be arrested for kidnapping."
"He's not going to arrest me if he doesn't want to go to prison." AJ said to him. "I know a lot about what he's done. He steals, he probably kills- the money I have is from whatever he took and kept hidden in our shed I also documented my injured just in case."
"Why didn't you go to the cops and try to get him arrested first?" Punk asked her.
"I tried." She said sadly. "Again laughed out of the station. He's a high ranking officer where he is. I figured if he tried to have me arrested in another state those cops would listen to me."
"You were in a very tough spot." Punk said looking at his hands.
"Are you going to turn me in?" she asked him.
"Absolutely not." he said looking over to her. "I respect you wanting to keep your daughter safe but I'm kind of just taking your word for it."
"Get up." She said quietly and he eyed her. "Up." She said standing herself.
Punk watched as she lifted the couch cushion he was sitting on and pulled out a marble notebook and handed it to him.
"If showing you this helps me get my ID's then so be it." She said and he opened it.
Punk looked at the pages of the books that had pictures of her body where she had been injured and in her hand writing exactly what was broken or bruised. The most alarming part was how many pages long it was. He couldn't bare to look passed the fifth page and closed the book and handed it back to her.
"Don't ever lose this." he said looking her right in the eyes.
"I won't." She said surprised by how serious he is.
"If you get picked up by the police, if he tries to have you arrested for kidnapping and the police out of state see this it's going to be the difference between jail time." he said to her. "This is the most important thing."
"Ok." She said taking it back from him.
"I mean it June." he warned her and she slightly rolled her eyes.
"Call me AJ." she said to him.
"What state did you come from?" he asked her.
"New Jersey." She told him.
"Does he know you're here?" Punk asked her.
"No. I assume if he did I'd be dead already." she scoffed.
"You told him you have this?" he asked and she nodded and watched as he shook his head.
"I thought he'd stay away." She said to him.
"Have you spoken to him?" Punk asked her
"Yesterday briefly. Petra wanted to to him." AJ admitted. "He told me he'd kill me and I have no doubt he would."
"He's not going to kill you as long as you stay here across from me." Punk assured her. "Hide this better." he said to her.
"How much do you need?" she asked him.
"For what?" he laughed.
"The ID's and silence?" she asked him.
"I'm not ratting you out." he repeated. "I'll work on the ID's and see what I could do for you. But I suggest you talk to attorney."
"And tell him where I am? No way." She said to him.
"Listen to me." Punk insisted coolly. "You need to protect yourself because even though you have a hell of a convincing story and this journal a lot of that could be staged."
"It's not staged." She said to him.
"I believe you." he told her honestly. "What's your husbands name?"
"I've shared far too much with someone I don't even know." AJ laughed. "Why do you care?"
There was no way he could let it slip that he was a cop working a case because than his undercover case would be blown because deep down he didn't know this woman from a hole in the wall and couldn't trust her anymore than she trusted him.
"I'm just curious. What about family?" Punk asked her. "A boyfriend? No one can help you out here? Get you an attorney at least? I'm assuming money is difficult."
"It's not." She said almost smugly.
"I have no family, my friends already helped me get out of town and I won't ask for more but the money isn't a problem." she said to him. "My husband kept a lot of cash around the house-" she then froze. "I really shouldn't discuss my money with the criminal from across the hall." she laughed.
"I don't need your money." Punk smirked.
"I also don't have a boyfriend because while my husband was running around with his mistresses I was at home raising Petra." she told him.
"This building you're in now isn't safe either." Punk said to her. "If you have the cash maybe you should look for something better?"
"Petra likes it and I can't get a job or anything so money has to be wisely spent." She insisted.
"Ok." Punk nodded. "There's issues with women and kids disappearing off the streets around this area." he told her. "They pry on hookers and homeless women for the most part but anyone who is unattached is fair game. Don't tell anyone that your husband isn't here." he ordered her. "Don't tell anyone where you live and don't let Petra out of your sight."
"You don't sound like a criminal." AJ noted with a smirk.
"I really don't like that word." Punk smirked back.
"I'm really worried you're going to turn me in." AJ admitted. "I'm probably just going to leave anyway but thank you for letting me talk your ear off and for the advice."
"What would I get out of turning you in?" Punk asked her. "I turn you in and I bring police to this building and knocking on my door."
"Not to the police but to my husband." She said to him.
"I don't like men who abuse women or kids." he said bluntly.
"A criminal with a code of honor." AJ laughed.
"I'm just trying to get by." He corrected. "I don't hurt women or children."
"That's all I need to hear." she said to him.
"You're going to be ok." Punk assured her. "I have an attorney I'd like you to meet with." he said using a piece of paper that was on the table and grabbed a pen. "This is his number give him a call tomorrow after 3 and he'll consult with you. You need to find out if your husband has reported Petra as missing. If he hasn't that's good because he doesn't want to involve the police."
"But it's bad because if he doesn't plan on involving the police he has other ideas that aren't so legal." AJ said to him.
"Which is why you call the attorney." Punk instructed. "If you'd just give me your name I can check it out for myself."
"How?" she asked.
"I have connections." Punk lied.
"Connections? With I'm assuming dirty cops and I'm sorry that's too close to comfort. I just need one to slip up and give Seth a call." AJ's face went pale as she realized she accidentally revealed her husband's name.
"Relax." Punk said slowly. "I have other connections."
"I'm sorry I appreciate your advice and all but all I need from you are these ID's." She said to him.
"Alright." Punk said standing up. "But please call the attorney and consult with someone. You seem like you love your daughter-"
"I love her more than anything." AJ corrected.
"This will protect her and you. You went through all of this trouble to keep her away from her father the last thing you want is for him to get custody." He pointed out.
"I'll think about it." she said walking him to the door. "Thank you."
"No problem and if you have any trouble let me know." he insisted.
"I will." she smiled opening the door for him.
New Jersey...
"She's not a fucking ghost!" Seth yelled in his private office. "She's obviously taking Petra out and to shops."
"We've gotten tips but they're from all over." Roman said to him.
"A few came from Newark." Dean informed him.
"AJ left the state. Petra said it's hot." Seth reminded him.
"I got another tip from a buddy in Chicago." Dean said to him. "Swears its your girls but they aren't sun bathing in Chicago at this time."
"Then they're not there." Seth said simply.
"We've gotten no tips from the warmer states." Roman said to him. "They're lying to you."
"Petra doesn't even know how to lie and if she did she wouldn't know how she wouldn't lie to me." Seth said almost proudly.
"AJ has got her brainwashed." Dean shrugged. "Regardless I'm going to check out that Chicago tip so cover with the captain for me. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Well shit, I guess I'll have to cover for you yet again." Seth scoffed.
"You want your kid back?" Dean asked him.
"Of course I do." Seth said to him.
"So shut the fuck up and cover for me." Dean said simply. "If they're there I'm only bringing Petra home."
"Don't scare her." Seth warned him.
"She loves her uncle Dean." Dean remarked smugly. "What do I do with AJ?"
"Get rid of what she has." Seth said to him. "Or better yet call me. If we get Petra tell her not to do a thing or she'll never see her again. I'll take care of the evidence and AJ for that matter."
"Divorce?" Roman asked.
"I don't know." Seth admitted. "I didn't want that but she's crossed a dangerous line taking my daughter. I'll be thinking more clearly once Petra is back home because until she is the things I want to do to my dear wife aren't very appropriate."
"Or legal?" Roman asked.
"Definitely not." Seth said to him. "Look enough about this. Getting Petra shouldn't be difficult because AJ is completely on our own where ever the hell she may be. She can't get away from me on her own."