A/N: So, some of you may have noticed I deleted The Big Chill, I felt the story was all over the place and will revisit it once it's properly re-written and re-vamped. This is a little more together and interesting and I feel much better about this. Anyways, sorry for those who were following the Big Chill but I hope you enjoy this. I know I wanted to do some sort of a murder mystery that will lead to plenty of action, adventure and romance for our OTP.

Disclaimer: The story is rated M for language and writing structure. I own none of the characters except for the crazy killers I create.

Summary: This is the biggest case of his career. This was the biggest loss she had ever suffered. A nosy journalist & a high strung Detective clash as both want answers as a dangerous man stalks the streets. (A/U)

Introduction

Punk was sitting in his office. The life of a Detective was very consuming especially when there were 13 women who were killed in the last three months. Their pictures covered his office. Crime scene photos, ID photos of these women- suspects. Nothing was panning out. This was probably one of the most dangerous killers that had been on the streets in Chicago during his entire lifetime. Having to meet with the families and and hold their crying mothers haunted him.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" his partner Kofi Kingston questioned.

"I'll sleep when we get this guy." Punk said eyeing the crime scene board. "13 women in a span of 3 months and we have nothing to go on."

"We have a pattern." Kofi noted. "Women ranging from the ages of 25-30, living alone, usually from out of town."

"Do you know how many women move here?" Punk asked amused. "He could be taking out victim number 14 while we speak."

"Look, we're doing everything we can but we have no witnesses." Kofi reminded him.

"How is that even possible?" Punk demanded slamming his fist on his desk. "He's keeping them alive for days, torturing them. Are they not screaming? Are they being taken out of town and he just dumps the bodies here?"

"I don't know man." Kofi sighed.

"There is no evidence on their bodies except for semen which is the only reason we know this is a guy." Punk said standing up. "Is it just one? Does he have a partner helping him?"

"The Feds are going to be flying to help." Kofi told him.

"I don't even care. I just want this guy caught." Punk said to him eyeing the board closely with his hands on his hips. "I'm missing something."

"You probably are. That's because you need sleep. Go home." Kofi ordered. "Fresh eyes tomorrow will help."

"You're right. I just can't sleep." He told his partner.

"You've gotta try." Kofi insisted tossing Punk's jacket at him. "These women deserve us at our best and you are not."

"Yea I guess." Punk said running his hand over his tired face. "I'll be back first thing in the morning."

Punk walked outside of the station and zipped up his jacket. It was snowing lightly as Christmas was right around the corner.

"Excuse me." A beautiful dark haired women who was shivering greeted Punk. "Detective Brooks?"

"That's me." Punk said looking down at the fairly short woman.

"You're working the case on all of those murdered women, right?" the woman asked.

"I have no comment to the press." Punk snorted and began to walk away.

"Wait!" the woman pleaded. "I'm with the New Jersey Post." She told him. "Two of the girls killed were from my town. I'm doing a story-"

"I know what you're doing and I have nothing to say." Punk said to her. "I said everything I had to say during the press conference today."

"But you said you knew nothing today." the woman argued and he turned around and glared at her. "The people have a right to know-"

"The people and media, such as yourself need to stay out of my way so I can do my job." Punk told her harshly.

"Your job? Women are dying! And the families have no closure! What are you doing to ensure this doesn't happen again?" the reporter yelled.

"Go home." Punk told her. "Go back to New Jersey."

"I'm not going anywhere until I can give the families something. Just a small smidgen of hope that the man who killed their daughter or sister is going to be caught." she argued passionately.

"Nobody wants this guy caught more than me." Punk told her in a much calmer voice. "Look, I'm sorry but I'm doing everything I can. If you want you can quote me on saying the FBI is on their way down as well and with their help we'll get this guy. I won't stop until we get him." Punk promised her.

"Ok." the woman said tucking her hair behind her ear.

"What's your name?" Punk asked her.

"April Mendez." She told him.

"You look like you're 17." He noted. "And you're from out of town so I really hope you didn't come down here alone."

"I'm just trying to write a story and I'm not leaving until this guy has been arrested and the victims families can look him in the eye." AJ told him sternly. "So get used to me because I'm going to be around."

"Wonderful." He mocked.

"Everyday I'll be outside the police station with the rest of the media but I'll be first in line." She announced sitting on the curb behind the media line. There were a lot of news vans and such outside but nobody was standing outside in the cold.

"You're going to freeze." He told her. "Nothing is going to happen between now and 7am. You're from New Jersey? Were you friends with one of the girls?"

"No." She replied stiffly. "I'm just a concerned journalist."

"Alright." Punk said to her. "You can't sleep out here though. Go back to your hotel or wherever it is you're staying." he said grabbing her by her arm and lifting her to her feet.

"Fine." AJ said to him. "Promise me if anything happens you'll call me." She said passing him her card.

"That's not how this works." He told her amused. "Are you really a member of the press?"

"I am." She said unzipping on her jacket and showing her press pass which he inspected.

"Do you have a way back to wherever it is you're staying?" He asked her.

"I'll just take a cab." She told him.

"You didn't bring a cameraman or anyone out here with you? There's a killer on the loose and your boss sends you alone?" Punk asked.

"I'm from a small town in New Jersey, nobody wanted to come. I volunteered." she informed him and he smirked.

"Ambitious." He remarked.

"I just want what I write to matter and I want to be able to go home and tell everyone that this case has been solved because they need closure. One of the girls is from my town." she confided.

"I get that." he frowned. "I'll give you a ride back to your hotel."

"That's ok." She said to him taking a step back.

"I'm a cop. It's considered a police escort." He smirked. "Out of all the things you should fear in this City- me isn't one of them. Let me do my civic duty and get you home safely so I can try to have a decent night sleep?"

"Fine." She said and followed him to his car.

AJ told him where she was staying and he knew the motel. It was all the way across town so it was decent car ride.

"Can't you just put on the sirens and go through all of these lights?" She asked Punk seriously who snorted a laugh. "Or do you not have sirens since this isn't a patrol car?"

"I do have sirens in my lights." He told her. "I'm not abusing my power."

"How long have you been on the force?" She questioned.

"Are you going to write about this in your article?" He asked her skeptically.

"No." She shrugged. "Strictly off the record."

"I've been a cop for 10 years." He told her. "I became a Detective five years ago."

"Five years is all it took to get you off the beat?" She asked.

"You are a curious little thing." He remarked with a smirk. "I'm capable of doing my job and finding this killer."

"I'm sure you are." She shrugged.

"How long have you been a journalist?" he asked.

"Since middle school." She answered quickly as if she was expecting the question. "I was the editor and chief of my school paper in middle and high school and college."

"Impressive." he noted fondly.

"It's my first year working for this paper. I only graduated six months ago." She confided.

"I knew you looked young." He said to her. "And you're really planning on staying out here?"

"I am." She told him stubbornly.

"You really should rethink it." He warned her. "It's not a safe place at the moment."

"I'll be fine." She said simply. "I carry mace."

"That'll do it." He mocked lightly. "Have you ever been to Chicago for?"

"Nope." she said to him. "Never been out of New Jersey before."

"I really think it's best if you just go home." He said to her. "I don't need another girl going missing in this City."

"I'm not just a girl." She told him. "I'm a reporter."

"How many people subscribe to the paper in your town?" He asked with a laugh.

"The people in my town depend on that paper. They love it. It's very old-fashioned." She informed him.

"I can tell that by the fact that you have a flip-phone." He said to her. "I also know you're nervous because you've had your hand in your purse this entire ride and if I had to guess you were holding your mace."

"Maybe." she said eyeing him.

"Look, I think it's great you want to be here and report, this just isn't the case for you. This guy is paying very close attention to the media and it's dangerous." He warned her. "Go home." He said pulling into the parking lot of where she was staying.

"I plan on going home." She said taking her seat belt off. "As soon as you catch this guy."

"I'm going to catch him." Punk told her. "You can tell that to your small town."

"I will." She told him.

"Here." Punk said reaching into the divider between the two seats and passed her his card.

"Does this mean I get exclusives?" She asked hopefully.

"It means you're staying in a shit motel and you're all alone out here and you seem to have a habit of sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong, call me if you get in over your head." He told her. "I also don't think you're here for an exclusive. You want to these women to have justice I can tell by the questions you've asked. You're personally invested and that's messy."

"I'm just a reporter." She shrugged getting out of the car.

"Right." Punk remarked with a scoff.

"Thanks for the ride Detective." She said and closed the door.

Punk waited until he saw her climb the outside stairs and walk into her room safely. The last thing Punk needed was an overly involved reporter sticking her nose right into the middle of this case. He had enough on his mind. He put his car in drive and took off.

AJ was peering outside her window and watched as Punk pulled away. She took her jacket off and opened up her laptop on her bed. The laptop already had every single written about this case. She then closed all of the articles and before pulling up a blank document looked at her computer wallpaper. A photo of AJ and another girl in their cap and gown. AJ held back tears as she looked at victim number 11. Tiffany Walker. AJ's best friend since childhood. Tiffany came to Chicago three months ago when she picked up a gig singing nightly at a swanky club. Tiffany had a beautiful voice and dreams of becoming a singer but knew she would need to take jobs like this in order to accomplish that goal. AJ didn't think the last time she would see Tiffany would be at her going away party. It was kind of bittersweet to think back to it now. Everyone that had met or loved Tiffany said goodbye to her that night but it wasn't enough closure for AJ.

AJ began working at her local newspaper a few weeks out of college but they didn't pay for her to come out and cover this case, they didn't even approve her leaving. She quit and made sure to take her press pass with her. She wanted to be close and cover this case even if it was just for her own blog. She didn't want a typical 'cover' where the innocent women would simply become 'victims' with numbers attached. She wanted each girl who was taken too soon to have their story told and that is the job AJ took on. Her blog would only get a few hits a day and she was sure it was from her parents and brother but that wouldn't stop her. She would tell the stories and cover the case fairly. She wouldn't let this man take anymore away from these innocent women.

Punk walked into his apartment and as soon as he walked in he was too wired to sleep. The apartment was clean and decently well kept but that's because he hardly ever spent anytime there. He opened his refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water and a left over salad he had half of yesterday. He didn't have time for a lot of friends as his life was consumed with his work. He always seemed to stumble upon the hard cases and he was a greatly respected detective. He didn't feel like he was missing out on anything because when he was lonely at night, he'd call up an old 'female' friend and have fun. He was a no strings attached kind of guy and the women of his life understood that.

This case was really getting to to him. He was the Detective on-seen for the first victim. She was found in a dumpster outside a popular club. Originally it was thought to be an isolated murder but the next victim showed up only six days later. Both had marks around their wrists and ankles indicating they were handcuffed. They were sexually assaulted and the one most obvious common discovery that linked all the victims? Each had a bald spot in the same spot. The killer was ripping chunks of hair out of each girl as a trophy. Punk's entire focus was on finding this guy. More victims usually meant more clues but this man was smart. He was going after women with limited ties to the community so many didn't even notice they were missing to begin with. Autopsies proved the women were being kept alive for days at least. They were being starved but given water. He couldn't wait to find this guy and be the one to lock him up for life and hopefully escort him to his execution.