Seeking Assistance

Jack continued to investigate the murder, but he was hitting a dead end on every lead he followed. He had no witnesses, no suspects, and no clear motive. The victim seemed to be an ordinary woman with no criminal record, and there was no obvious reason for anyone to want her dead.

As the days passed, Jack became increasingly frustrated. The autopsy was still going on and it was suspected substance was used which was hard to get a hold of. He spent hours poring over surveillance footage, examining every piece of evidence, and questioning anyone who might have seen something, but he was getting nowhere. The case was quickly becoming a cold one, and he knew that he needed help if he was going to solve it.

That's when he thought of Alex. Despite his initial reluctance to work with the special ops officer.

He called Alex to set up a meeting, and they agreed to meet at a coffee shop near the station. When Jack arrived, he saw Alex already seated at a table, his face buried in a book.

Jack approached the table and cleared his throat to get Alex's attention. "Hey," he said, taking a seat opposite him.

Alex looked up, his eyes meeting Jack's.

Alex turned to face him, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Detective. What can I do for you?"

Jack hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. He had never asked for help before, and it went against everything he stood for as a detective. But he swallowed his pride and decided to be honest with Alex.

"The case is a bit cold." he said, gesturing to the evidence bags at his feet. "I don't know where to go from here. I was hoping you might have some ideas."

Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You want my help?"

Jack nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "I know it's not ideal, but I don't see any other way."

Alex grinned, his blue eyes twinkling. "Well, well, well. Looks like the tough guy needs my help after all. I thought you'd never ask."

Jack bristled at the teasing tone in Alex's voice, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of attraction as well. He tried to push those feelings aside and focus on the case.

"Great," he said, forcing a smile.

Jack ordered them both coffee, and they sat down at a small table in the back corner of the shop.

"So, what do you have so far?" Alex asked, sipping his coffee.

Jack began to explain his findings, laying out the evidence in front of them. As he spoke, Alex listened intently, occasionally interjecting with questions or ideas. Jack found himself impressed with Alex's insights, his easy confidence and intelligence. He also found himself struggling to keep his focus on the case, his eyes wandering to the way the light caught Alex's hair or the curve of his lips as he spoke.

As they talked, Jack began to feel a sense of camaraderie with Alex. Despite their initial tension, they were working together seamlessly. He also couldn't help but feel a sense of attraction growing between them, a slow burn that he didn't quite know how to handle.

Jack took a sip of his coffee, gathering his thoughts. "Listen, I know I was skeptical before, but I could use your help on this case. I'm hitting a dead end on every lead I follow, and I could use another set of eyes."

Alex raised an eyebrow, his eyes studying Jack. "I thought you didn't need any help," he said, his tone teasing.

Jack rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, I was wrong. This case is a mess, and I need all the help I can get."

Alex smirked. "I thought you'd never admit."

Alex had a flirty, carefree attitude that Jack found both annoying and charming, and he couldn't help but feel drawn to him.

But he quickly pushed those thoughts aside. This was a professional relationship, and he couldn't afford to let personal feelings get in the way of his work.

They worked together for the next few weeks, following up on leads and interviewing potential suspects. They made progress, but it was slow going even with Alex's channels. Jack was starting to feel the pressure of the case, the weight of the victim's family's expectations bearing down on him.