Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 54: Meeting Intelligence

Hayley makes her way to the top of the steps, as a couple members of Intelligence glance up in seeing her return from being downstairs. 

Kim felt a bit questionable in catching her attention, having noticed the change in her demeanour. It was the same type of smirk she normally had on her face when she returned from a weekend away with Alex, or was set to spend time with him soon. It was the NASCAR off-season. There were no events to be going away with him. Unless they were set to take a vacation together. Unless there was something else big that had happened with him. 

The couple of eyes looking at her increased as a second pair of footsteps could be heard behind hers. The eyes of Intelligence looked to see up to see who had joined her, half-expecting it to be Trudy. Who had she gone downstairs to see? 

Seeing the individual alongside her brought forth a mix of reactions throughout the bunch. They all recognised him - they would be crazy not too. He was a famous racecar driver, for starters. They had also investigated a case that involved him, which is probably how this friendship began for the pair before them. Oh, and there was the fact Hailey had identified to each of them that was why she was making her trips away from the office on the weekend.

Adam looked at him with a bit of a questioning glance, repeating the question he had been wondering about since he heard about the connection. What did she see him? What did he see in her? Why did they want to be together? What made them work together? Why was he the perfect fit for Hailey? Alex didn't seem like the type of person for Hailey, based on what he knew about her from working together and dating her for a bit.

"Alex!" Kim lets out with surprise laced in her voice, now knowing she had picked up on that vibe from Hailey for the right reasons. Though she could not help but feel a bit of worry. Nobody just showed up at a police station randomly. Was there a reason he was there? Was he connected to their current case? Was he bringing something else to their attention? She could not help but think back to the first case they looked into involving him.

"Kim, right?" He questions, earning a nod from her as he walks over with her desk being closest to the stairs of everyone's in the room. It seemed almost perfect to introduce himself to her directly first. He had heard enough stories from Hailey about the friendship the pair had together. It also brought forth anxiety for Alex, though. This was Hailey's best female friend. Girls liked to gossip about stuff together. How much had Hailey shared with Kim about the weekends they had spent together? What picture had that painted for Kim about him and the relationship? "It's nice to meet you." 

"So this is the man that has caused one of my best detectives to take surprise vacation days," Hank comments as he comes out of his office, eyes focused on the young man that stood by Kim's desk. 

He was very protective of his detectives. He treated them like his children in several ways, espically Erin, Jay and Hailey it seemed. Perhaps it was because Erin moved in with him at the age of 15, and the other two just connected. Perhaps it was because something about them, their backgrounds, and personalities caused him to gravitate closer. No matter the reason, he was keeping an extra eye on the man that had came upstairs and interrupted their work. 

"Hank, it is nice to see you again..." Alex makes his way between the desks of the fellow detectives, sharing a quick handshake with both Kevin and Adam as he did. It was then followed by a hug for Erin and Jay, with having not seen them since earlier that year. Who knew a fateful trip to 34 Raceway and a wreck for him would be their last time crossing paths? 

He then finally reaches where the boss stood just outside of his office. This did not feel like the last time they had discussed things with regards to the case he was involved in, and the conversation to the happenings about it. This did not like feel like the time Hank came to check up on him at the hospital after he was kidnapped with Jay. This felt totally different, and Alex wasn't sure if that was a good thing with the look he was getting in return from Hank. 

"I want to thank you for working with Hailey in allowing her to spend time with me," Alex states, figuring that was a good place to start. He was very grateful in having heard detectives did not get much freedom in vacation time, especially those under Hank's direction. He knew there was special reasons attached as to why he did it, and he was not about to overlook those. They probably were the reason he had a set of eyes locked on him right now. 

"Mhmmm...." was all Hank stated in response, not moving in his stance as he kept his eyes locked on Alex in awaiting to see what he would say or do next. He only looked away for a brief second, seeing how Hailey was reacting to the stand-off that was happening right now. 

"Jay, do me a solid and go stand next to Alex for a moment," Adam's comment breaks the silence that had come over the room. Jay was afraid to do so, having been on the other side of a familiar look from Hank before and knowing what it could result in. Why couldn't Adam be normal for once and followed in suit with everyone else? However, he followed the request of his fellow detective. 

"You're right," Kevin says quietly as he tilts his chair back a bit in watching the pair together. "They do look a lot of alike. Similar height, build, facial features. Are you two sure you weren't separated at birth?" 

"Really, that's the first comment?" Hailey questions with a bit of shock in their approach right now. Adam nods his head as he stands up and walks by where she was standing by the entrance still.

"So you can't have one, so you go for the look-a-like to satisfy your dreams?" Adam whispers in her ear just loud enough for her to hear. A look of pure horror and shock washes over her face as she punches him in the gut instantly. 

Though as she took another glance towards Jay and Alex, the thought did not leave her mind.....

Was that what this relationship was about?