During one house call, Kayla is attacked by a junkie and drives herself to the hospital, where Alex comes and comforts her. When Kayla visits North Carolina, she decides to move there, seeing that she can do more good where she was born. Cross is heartbroken, as he knows that their relationship would end, but supports her decision. He later regrets not telling her how he feels. After solving his wife's murder, they see each other again, just before she moves. She tries to convince him to move with her, but Cross declines, believing he can't leave Washington, DC behind. They part on good terms. During his time investigating Mary Smith in "Mary Mary", Alex and another detective named Jeanne Galleta, who shows interest in him, date once. However, the two just remained friends. It is revealed that Alex had a relationship with a woman named Eleanor Cox in college, before Maria. Alex states that Eleanor might have been his first love, but before he could find out, their relationship ended. Many years later, Alex discovers that she and her entire family were murdered by a new killer called "Tiger", in "Cross Country". He avenges her death by taking down the Tiger. In "Cross Country", Alex works with a reporter from The Guardian newspaper named Adanne Tansi, in Nigeria. While the two investigate a mercenary and murderer named Tiger, Adanne takes interest in Alex. When she takes him to meet her family, she says she likes him and they share a kiss. They remain friends, although Adanne continues to show interest in Alex. The Tiger has her family killed as they get closer and has them arrested by the police. As Alex watches, the Tiger kills and rapes her dead body in front of him. Alex avenges Adanne by taking down the Tiger and his associates. After retiring from the FBI and his tearful break up with Kayla, Alex meets detective Bree Stone at a retirement party for a fellow officer, and quickly starts a relationship with her. By the beginning of "Double Cross", they have fallen deeply in love. Bree is portrayed as a beautiful, calm, fun, sexy woman by Alex and also a strong-willed, "stone" detective in the department. She helps him with the Audience Killer and Kyle Craig, who escapes from prison. From "Double Cross" to "I, Alex Cross", they grow more in love and she moves in with him. Bree views his family as her own and cares for Nana Mama when she nearly dies.