Chapter 25: Guilty Men
Punk and AJ arrived at the police station hand in hand. She was feeling nervous about giving a formal statement but with Punk at her side she was more at ease. She had gone over statement but she could tell even the police were hesitant by AJ's 'dream' vision.
"So are you saying you don't believe her?" Punk asked growing angrier at the police officer taking the statement
"It's not that" The officer assured her
"They admitted to it" Punk reminded him bitterly "They were holding it over her head and threatened- that piece of shit was in her home again!"
"We spoke to Frank" The officer said to him
"Is he here?" AJ questioned
"Not anymore" the officer said to her "He came in and willingly gave a DNA sample"
"Really?" Punk asked annoyed
"Really" the officer confirmed "Guilty men don't just walk into a police station and hand over their DNA"
"Why would I make this up?" AJ questioned
"I'm not saying that" the officer said kindly to her
"So what are you saying?" Punk asked harsher
"He told me you two have a past" The officer said to her "He's also friends with your boyfriends ex-girlfriend"
"So?" AJ asked with a shrug "Our past is just that and I don't hold any hurt feelings about it. I haven't even thought about it until the dreams started"
"Exactly just dreams" the officer said to her "We're going to wait on the DNA results before we formally arrest him but if it doesn't match there's no case"
"Bullshit" Punk spat
"Phil" AJ warned under he breath
"What about Amy?" Punk asked "Did you talk to her?"
"She denies it all. No distract attorney is going to charge a man based on dreams" The officer said to her
"They were memories" Punk clarified "What about him being in her house?"
"He wasn't there" The officer said to him "Ms. Mendez's place had a broken window but nothing was missing and Frank has an alibi for during that time"
"So they just walk free?" Punk asked "Some justice system" he said standing up
"Wait" The officer insisted "I want to help and I'm going to continue working the case but I need your help" he said now looking to AJ "If the DNA comes back and it doesn't match Frank which I'm assuming it will not it means someone else was in your place that night"
"Test Amy" Punk said to him "Maybe she was there"
"She spoke to the Atlanta police department and also gave a sample" The officer told him and Punk just shook his head "Maybe you two aren't the ones with the bad feelings maybe they are and they're messing with you. Taking credit for something they didn't do but maybe wished they had"
"I guess that makes sense" AJ agreed lightly but Punk just rolled his eyes
"The point is your attacker could still be out there and maybe he was the one who broke into your new home" the officer said to her "I just want to help"
"Yea you're doing a fantastic job by the way" Punk remarked "Come on AJ" he said to her
"We're leaving?" AJ asked surprised
"I wanted to ask a few more questions" the officer told him
"We're leaving" he said to AJ "And if you need to get in touch with her again you can call my attorney because she's moving out of state. She'll be in a City that actually protects people"
"Good luck" the officer said to her and she just smiled towards him and stood up and followed Punk out of the station
As Punk drove AJ could see his hands tightening against the wheel.
"It wasn't the cops fault" AJ said to him
"He sucks at his job" Punk said bitterly "They're all useless"
"Maybe he's right" AJ said with a shrug
"You think Amy and her stupid friend are taking credit for committing a crime just to take a dig at you?" Punk mocked "No chance in hell even Amy isn't that stupid"
"If the DNA comes back and it's not Frank's then he is right" AJ said to him "I jumped the gun I shouldn't have ever said anything without making sure"
"Always go with your instincts" Punk said firmly looking over to her "And there is no way that Amy didn't play a part in this"
"There's no way to prove that" AJ said to him
"I don't need proof I know" Punk said to her "And that's all that matters"
"You can't do anything" AJ reminded him "Do not go out there and seek justice on my behalf" she warned
"I know what I'm doing" Punk said to her
"Phil" she warned then noticed they were going in the wrong direction of the beach house "Where are we going?" she asked him
"Making a stop" he said coolly
"Oh no Phil" She said shaking her head once he pulled up to AJ's old building
"You said James and Frank have a connection I just want to figure it out" Punk said to her innocently "You can wait here" he said unbuckling his seat belt
"No I'll go with you" AJ said jumping out of the car
"Its best if you wait in the car" Punk insisted but AJ just shot him a look "Or come up with me" he said as AJ glided right past him into the building
Punk and AJ stepped off the elevator and headed towards James' door.
"Just stay behind me and let me do all the talking" Punk said to her
"How about you stay hidden to the side since there is no way he's going to let you into his place again" AJ countered
"Good point" Punk agreed staying along side the wall so James wouldn't see him
"If you get you in though you have to promise you won't hit him" she warned
"I promise to not hurt him" Punk whispered
"That's not what-" AJ started but Punk knocked on the door for her and signaled her to be quiet.
"AJ" James said opening the door. His eyes were lit up but his body was tense.
"Hi James could I come in?" she asked sweetly
"Um" James started "Yea but-" before he could finish Punk pushed AJ and stormed into the apartment
"Thanks James" Punk smirked as AJ stepped in behind him
"I know why you're here" James said closing the door
"How much money did Frank or Amy for that matter pay you to pass off AJ's key?" Punk asked him before AJ could speak
"Nobody paid me" James said to them "I don't even know a Frank or an Amy- well I know an Amy but she lives on the 3rd floor…"
"No more games!" Punk yelled even startling AJ slightly "I want answers!"
"I don't know them" James promised "I really don't" he said looking towards AJ with hopeless eyes
"Don't look at her" Punk warned stepping in front of her "I'm talking to you- not her!"
"I don't know them" James repeated
"You're lying" Punk seethed and James could see out of the corner of his eye his fist now clenching tightly
"I'm not" he stuttered
"I can't see it in your stupid face" Punk said moving in closer on the already nervous man who backed up as far as he could go, hitting into the kitchen counter behind him "Tell me" he said in a low and dangerous voice
"I don't know them" James said avoiding eye contact
"How did Frank get the address to my new place?" AJ asked from behind Punk
"Answer her!" Punk screamed and James shut his eyes tightly
"I have no idea!" James yelled feeling himself being bought to tears- he was terrified but he knew the truth would surely get him beaten.
"Phil it's enough" AJ said tugging on his arm trying to pull him away "He obviously doesn't know anything or he's just not talking"
"I'll get him to talk-" Punk started
"He's crying" AJ whispered to Punk who looked at the man in front of him with disgust
"You're pathetic" Punk spat at the man
"I really don't know a thing" James said to him frantically
"Phil please" AJ insisted
"You're lucky she's here" Punk said stepping away from James "Don't call her again" he warned her former landlord "Don't show your face- stay away from her"
"I swear" James agreed quickly
"You're not even a man" Punk said eyeballing him from head to toe, James didn't even bother to respond he just watched as Punk and AJ left his apartment.
Once they got back to the beach house AJ watched as Punk started tossing her clothes into empty boxes that were still left over from her last move.
"We don't have to rush this moving" AJ said watching him pick up a pile of her clothes and just dumping them in a box
"Something is very wrong here AJ" Punk said not even looking at her "Someone is lying and they're playing games at your expense and I can't have you here"
"I think the games are over" She smirked
"It's not funny AJ" Punk shot at her "I'm sorry I don't mean to snap I just- I don't know what's going on and I hate that"
"Ok" she said walking over and grabbed the box he was dumping her clothes into and started to fold them "At least let me fold them"
"Sorry" he mumbled taking a seat on her bed "I just want you back in Chicago with me where I know Amy or her rat pack can't just walk up to the door-" he stopped himself mid-sentence
"What is it?" she asked
"She has a key to my place" Punk said annoyed with himself for not even remembering that
"You can just change that" AJ said to him "No biggie" she shrugged "Besides I don't think she's going to swing by"
"I don't know what she's capable of anymore" Punk said to her seriously "But I have friends and family in Chicago and she doesn't"
"She does" AJ reminded him
"Not anymore" Punk informed her "She's not welcome there"
"In Chicago?" AJ smirked "I'm pretty sure you can't control that"
"Sure I can" Punk said simply "Besides we're going to be working a lot with the next tour coming up"
"Christmas break is coming up" AJ reminded him
"Yea but I really want to stay in Chicago for that" Punk said then looked over to her "I didn't even ask if you had plans to go to Puerto Rico for Christmas…."
"I prefer my Christmas's cold" she smirked "As long as you don't mind having me?"
"You're going to be living with me" Punk chuckled "You're apart of everything now"
"Good" She said to him "But my brother might want to see me during the break. He has leave for the holidays and he was going to come to Tampa-"
"The more the merrier" Punk said to her with a shrug
"He's not alone- wife and child are part of the deal" she warned
"So? It will be fun. I can't wait to meet a member of your family" Punk said to her
"That's the one you really want to meet?" AJ laughed
"Why?" Punk asked her
"Robbie is my big brother" AJ pointed out
"Ok" Punk said not following
"And you're the man violating his baby sister every night" she teased but he wasn't laughing, he hadn't even thought of that before
"Oh shit" Punk mumbled "He's built right?"
"He would defiantly give you a run for your money" she warned "He's in the army, he works out and he knows how to use a firearm" she said to him and saw his face fill with worry "Relax" she laughed "He likes you"
"He doesn't even know me" Punk said seriously "He probably really does only see me as the thug violating his baby little sister"
"You're not a thug" she laughed
"I'm just imagining if Chaleen moved in with her boyfriend who I had never met and looked like me" Punk said to giving it thought
"I'm sure you'd be nice because you would know how important that man was to your sister" AJ said as she continued to fold clothes
"I'm the most important man in her life" Punk defended seriously then it hit him "Oh my god he's going to think that about you!"
"Oh stop" She couldn't help but laugh "But out of everyone in the family we are the closest" she noted "That's why he's opting to spend the holiday with me and not my sister or parents. I'm sure you'll charm him"
"I'm going to try" Punk said to her
"He's a wrestling fan" AJ said to him "You have that going for you"
"He likes me as a wrestler?" Punk asked hopefully and she just shrugged slightly
"What?" Punk asked "Do not even tell me he's a Cena fan-"
"He likes him but he likes you a lot better than Cena" AJ assured him and he felt better "But he's a huge Randy Orton fan" Punk just glared at her
"I'm kidding!" she laughed "I couldn't help myself" she said still laughing
"You think this is funny?" Punk asked her "You're making me nervous"
"He doesn't really get to follow wrestling but he knows who you are and is a fan" she smirked "Don't worry, just don't grope me in front of him"
"Done" Punk said too quickly "Or I'll try" he added
"Also if he asks we sleep in separate bedrooms" She said and his face fell again "I'm kidding" she added again and gave him a sweet smile "You have nothing to worry about"
"I'll just have my sisters distract him or Colt" Punk said to her "No big deal"
"Just be yourself" she said to him seriously "You love and protect me and that's all he wants for me"
"Great so he'll love the fact that I let his sister get assaulted" Punk noted bitterly
"You didn't let that happen" AJ reminded him "And stop beating yourself up about it I am now looking forward to Christmas" she said to him eagerly
"Yea I was too…" he trailed off
"My nephew is the best" AJ said to him with a smile "I haven't seen him in a year though so that's what I'm really looking forward to"
"How old is he?" Punk asked
"He's 8" she told him
"Perfect Natalie's son is around that age" Punk said to her "They could hang out"
"Are you sure don't mind having some of my family?" she asked him
"Your family is always welcome in our home" Punk said to her "Now stop chatting and making me nervous and start packing" he said to her standing back up
"Yea, yea, yea" AJ mumbled "I am so sick of packing" she huffed
"It's the last move you'll ever have to make" Punk promised
"We're going to live in your townhouse forever?" she asked
"You don't like it?" he asked surprised
"I do but is that really where you want to be forever?" AJ asked him
"Well maybe down the line we can move to some cabin in the woods" Punk shrugged "I'd actually like that"
"You are so anti-social" AJ noted with a chuckle
"I just want you all to myself is that a crime?" Punk asked
"No I'd like that" AJ said to him happily "So am I allowed to change or add anything to your place?"
"Its our place" Punk reminded her
"Oh you're going to let me chip in with the mortgage?" she asked hopefully
"My place is paid off" Punk informed her smugly "I don't like bills"
"So you'll let me pay rent?" she asked
"Most women would fall all over themselves to live in an multi-million dollar home but you my strange little girlfriend always wants to pay" Punk said shaking his head in disbelief "Can't you just say 'thank you'?"
"I would love to say thank you" she said cheerfully "By paying you"
"No AJ I don't want your money- it's a pride thing" Punk said to her "I'm the man I pay the bills" he said in a firm voice
"You are sexist" AJ shot at him "And do I really need to remind you that I'm not most women?"
"No you remind me everyday" Punk smirked
"Well don't expect me to be the little lady and cook and clean" AJ warned
"I actually like to clean" Punk informed her "So that's fine and there's plenty of takeout places around me so we're set for life."
"Good" she said to him "I really do appreciate you being so good to me and I don't want you to think I'm using you for your money or anything like that-"
"Trust me I don't" Punk said almost annoyed "You fight me tooth and nail on everything money wise and I appreciate you want to chip in but it's not necessary" he said to her "Besides I know the real reason that you're with me"
"And what is that?" she asked curiously
"My body" he said with a serious voice causing her to laugh again "It's not like it's a secret"
"Oh you figured me out" AJ scoffed "I just want you for your body"
"It is perfect" Punk said casually
"How does your head even fit through doorframes?" She asked him
"Actually it's another part of my body that has trouble fitting-" Punk stopped when AJ held up her hand to silence him
"Don't even go there" she warned trying to hold back a laugh
"You started it" Punk defended innocently
"Less chit chat and more packing" she said mocking his own words tossing him an empty box.
"What do you want in here?" he asked
"All my figures and make sure you mark the box fragile" she warned and he just nodded standing up with the box and started to walk out of the room
"Oh and uh- before I forget in case I didn't say it today, you're making me very happy by moving in with me" he said genuinely then winked at her and walked out of the room