They stepped into the bullpen, and Ella suddenly felt every muscle in Lucifer's body tense. She had already sensed that something was going on between him and Chloe, but this was clearly more than an argument if he was reacting like this. She saw his eyes quickly scan the room. Dan was sitting at his desk, intently reading a file, and hadn't noticed them yet. Chloe was on the phone but saw them come in. The big smiles on their faces and the fact that they had arrived arm in arm told her that the Devil and the lab technician had done something they clearly shouldn't have. Lucifer's hair, which was somewhat disheveled, could point to two things. The first thing she thought of was sex; this was Lucifer after all. But she quickly ruled that out. Lucifer wouldn't leave the house even after a wild sex party without making sure his hair was in perfect order. Her second thought was the right one. Ella was likely still cruising in Lucifer's exorbitant Aston Martin, and the two of them had engaged in some illicit activities during their journey. Since Lucifer's car, the Corvette, was a convertible, that would explain the state of his hair. She saw Ella say something to the Devil before she headed off to her lab to get everything up and running before coming to say her usual good morning. She raised a hand to Lucifer, who only responded with a brief nod of his head. He proceeded to the office where Captain Monroe had temporarily relocated following the Pierce/Cain scandal, vigilantly monitoring everyone in the precinct as they awaited the appointment of a new lieutenant. The captain was not about to appoint just any lieutenant to this post without first turning that candidate's life upside down. Chloe saw Lucifer knock on the door and then enter. She suddenly felt her heart pounding in her throat. She knew that Lucifer must feel incredibly hurt and betrayed by her stupidity. She only hoped that he had not made a hasty decision and was now here to tender his resignation.
Captain Monroe
Lucifer knocked on the door of the office where Pierce/Cain had worked, before all the trouble started. He heard the captain growl and entered. Monroe looked at Lucifer as he stepped inside and immediately realized that this was not going to be a good conversation. She had never seen the eccentric club owner so tense. Her mood changed from snarling to concerned, and she asked:
"Mr. Morningstar, what can I do for you?"
When Lucifer called her by her rank instead of her first name, Olivia, she knew something was wrong.
"Good morning, Captain, I was wondering if I could take a few minutes of your precious time to discuss something important."
The captain merely nodded and pointed to a visitor's chair on the other side of her desk. At the same time, she said a quick prayer that Lucifer was not there to tender his resignation. Not only did she owe her captain's stripes to him, but she was sure that he would continue to support her in her quest to reach the absolute pinnacle within the LAPD. Her quick prayer was not entirely selfish, however. She was well aware of how much Lucifer did for the entire police force. His more than generous contribution to the main police fund. The fund that supported the widows and orphans of officers who had died in the line of duty. She personally knew of a number of children who, thanks to the club owner, were now attending an exclusive private school or had entered college on a full scholarship. But also how much his unorthodox ways affected the morale of the officers in that precinct and far beyond. His flirtatious behavior masked a deep, heartfelt concern for the welfare of everyone he met on the job, regardless of rank. Any cop worth a damn could see that his flirting was a cover. Something Lucifer used to protect himself from too much emotional exposure, but which also allowed him to genuinely care about the welfare of others. The club owner sat down in the designated chair and played nervously with his cufflink. He said quietly but firmly:
"Captain, I think I need a new partner. At least if the LAPD wants to keep me on as a consultant."
She looked at him for a few seconds and asked:
"You have problems with Decker. Problems so big that you think further cooperation is no longer possible?"
He looked her sternly in the eye and said:
"You could put it that way, Captain. I am afraid I cannot continue to work with the detective."
"First, let me be absolutely clear, Mr. Morningstar. How deep does this inability to cooperate go? Depending on how much cooperation is no longer possible, I will have to make a decision."
Lucifer looked at her, not really understanding. She sighed, knowing the sometimes unworldly nature of the club owner. So she said quietly:
"Lucifer, there are gradations. Is it just another partner, but can you still be in the same building with her without the atmosphere there going into an ice age? Or is the relationship so dysfunctional that the only way to maintain a sustainable atmosphere at work is to transfer one of you? In the first case, there are options. In the second case, there are also options, but they are much more limited. Do you understand?"
He pondered her words for a moment and said:
"Don't worry about an ice age, Captain. It's not so bad that I won't be able to function if she's in the same building."
Olivia Monroe looked at him sharply and asked:
"What kind of trouble are you having? You know there is a pool where people bet on a date that the two of you would end up together. I was just stunned that after a few days you two hadn't filled out the HR paperwork yet. And now this breakup?"
Lucifer nodded and said:
"I am aware, yes. I have indirectly created this pool myself. Existence in this boring building without any aesthetics could be spiced up a bit."
This answer sounded more like the Lucifer she knew, she noted with a smile:
"And it had nothing to do with a covert motive such as making a certain detective's existence a little more pleasant by toning down the hostile feelings that lived towards that detective and shifting attention from Palmetto to that detective's possible relationship with an attractive, eccentric, enormously wealthy club owner?"
A smile slipped around the Devil's mouth for the first time, and he said mischievously:
"Well, I am the Devil, Olivia, and I have been known to distract people with thoughts of the more carnal pleasures of life."
She nodded:
"That's true, but that still doesn't tell me anything about the problem. Does it have anything to do with Pierce?"
She leaned back in her desk chair and said:
"What a mess that is. In every possible area. Skeletons keep falling out. Internal Affairs still has a thing for Decker, and that's not going to stop any time soon, you know. Pierce, a police lieutenant and a criminal mastermind at the same time. He and Detective Decker were about to get married when the lieutenant was found dead at a crime scene that still gives us headaches because we just cannot figure some of the strange evidence out, and then Decker disappears from sight for a few weeks. Believe me, it gave the IA guys heartburn. Does this have something to do with Pierce, and if so, is it business or personal, your problem?"
He nodded and said:
"IA can look and get heartburn all they want. The detective is on the outside of everything and only found out that Pierce was a criminal through me, after which she broke off the romantic relationship with him. So no, not business; she is absolutely not part of the Sinnerman network. The problem indeed has to do with Pierce, but it is of a more personal nature."
Monroe felt that he didn't want to say much more about this and accepted his explanation about Decker's innocence and the nature of the problem they were having.
"Okay, so how do you want to do this? You need a partner, Lucifer."
"I am well aware of that, Olivia. With your permission, I would like to approach Daniel and ask him if he would give a partnership a chance. I don't think I would or could work with anyone else. But that is something we might have to figure out if Detective Espinoza refuses."
The captain stood straight behind her desk. This signaled that this conversation was over and that she had made a decision. When Lucifer also stood up, she said:
"Go talk to Espinoza, Lucifer, and let me know the answer as soon as possible, please."
"Of course, Olivia."
Lucifer already had the doorknob in his hand when he said without turning around:
"Thank you, Olivia."
Chloe
Chloe had been quietly observing the proceedings in Captain Monroe's office. Deep down, she felt that what was being discussed would not be good for her. The conversation was far too serious. Lucifer seemed far too calm; there was no trace of his eccentric self. When Chloe felt Monroe's eyes on her a few times, she knew for sure. This was not going to be a good day. For her. A few minutes later, Lucifer left the office, came down the stairs awkwardly, and paused in front of her desk. If she needed any more proof, this was it. Lucifer, standing right in front of her desk instead of plopping down in his chair beside it. He looked at her sternly and said politely:
"Detective, I think we need to talk. In private."
She could only nod and stand up. She wanted to start walking ahead of him towards the interrogation rooms, but he stopped her with his next words:
"No, this needs a more private setting. Please follow me."
She walked silently behind him, and he stepped with his long legs up to the Aston Martin. For once, not the usual half-step behind her or matching her pace. He opened the door and got behind the wheel. Chloe unlocked the passenger door and took her place. Before Lucifer could speak, she said quickly:
"Lucifer. I know I've done something stupid. But that's no reason to resign."
He looked at her piercingly and said a little coldly:
"I have no intention of resigning, detective. I enjoy my role as a consultant with the LAPD very much. The work, catching and punishing criminals, gives me too much satisfaction to just give it up."
"So... what did you want to talk about?"
He sighed deeply and said:
"I did a lot of thinking last night. I looked back on our relationship over the past few years. I have come to the conclusion that I need another partner. That I can no longer work with you."
"But why Lucifer? Yes, I did something incredibly stupid. But didn't you say that you could understand me?"
He looked through the front window, nodded, and said:
"I did say I could understand. But understanding and going on as things were before are not the same. That is not possible for me at this time. In the future I hope we can become friends again, but things are different. I know I've hurt you in the past, Chloe, and I really didn't mean to. I think I bear a lot of the responsibility because of my idiotic behavior. But that doesn't take away from the fact that you're not blameless either. After Malcolm killed that crazy imposter preacher and left him in Lux, you drew your gun and pointed it at me to arrest me. You didn't give me a second to say anything; you didn't ask a single question. At that moment, I was just a suspect to you, not your trusted partner. If you had had the chance, you would have simply handcuffed me and only started asking questions when I was cuffed to the table in the interrogation room."
Chloe changed color, turning a little paler. He had spoken the words softly, but they hit her like a sledgehammer as she realized that Lucifer was right. Before she could say anything, he continued:
"Since the beginning, you've been telling me to change, to act more mature, that I'm acting like a little child. I realize that you are partly right from your perspective. But I am who I am, and I am comfortable with who I am. I'm Lucifer Morningstar; I run one of the most successful nightclubs in the city, maybe the country. I have an investment portfolio that most people would find intimidating. I support-I don't know how many charities-because I think their causes are noble. If you've ever wondered why I find your paperwork so damn boring and can't be moved with a stick to do my bit, here's the answer: I am the employer of a small army of people. Not just at Lux, but also at other projects I own or co-own, not to mention all the paperwork that crosses my desk every day from suppliers and the charities I support. I have more than enough of that crap to write and fill out every day to make sure all those people get their paychecks on time every week so they don't get into trouble. Lux and all these other projects are more than a full-time job, not a little game in the sandbox. The work I do for the LAPD, for free, is on top of that. While I am willing to contribute to investigations and work with suspects, I am adamant about not accepting any additional paperwork. My behavior? I also thought about that. I spent tens of thousands of years in an emotionally suffocating environment on Hell's timeline. The circles of Hell and the Demons down there do not deal well with emotions. For them, emotions represent a vulnerability that they can exploit to gain an advantage. Emotions in Hell are a risk, dangerous. When I surfaced, it was like a drowning man suddenly breaking through the surface of the water and breathing again. I immersed myself in pleasure, having fun and making sure the people around me had fun too. Did I go too far with alcohol, drugs, and sex? Yes, probably. I need to find a healthier balance. But I am not going to change myself for the sake of someone else, because then I will no longer be Lucifer Morningstar. As Dr. Linda said this morning, don't change; grow. But the thing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth every time I think about it is that you called me a liar, knowing full well that I don't tell lies. Even if you had never known who I really was, the fallen Archangel, the Devil, and that I never lie because I am destined to be my being, my part of the Demiurge, the personification of truth and justice. Even then, you should have known that when I say it is the truth, I am indeed speaking the truth. It just proves that deep down you don't trust me as your partner because you have never given me the absolute benefit of full trust. I always have to prove conclusively that what I do is right and that what I say is the truth. I trusted you completely as my partner, Chloe. I am vulnerable around you, as easily killed as any human. Yet I have stayed by your side, risking my existence-I don't know how many times. I would've sacrificed my existence on Earth for you without a second's hesitation and spent the rest of eternity in hell, as long as you and the Urchin were safe. You were aware that I would have willingly put my life in danger to ensure your safety. You didn't think about that for a second when you ran. Tell me, Chloe, when you and that Kinley started your little plan to send me back to hell, did you think about that for a second?"
He didn't look at her, but he could see in the reflection of the front window that tears were streaming down her cheeks. He took a deep breath and said:
"That's what I thought..."
Without another word, he stepped out of the Aston Martin, and his long legs carried him back to the police station at a fast pace. Neither Lucifer nor Chloe had noticed during their conversation that a tiny blue light was somewhere hidden on the dashboard. The high-end electronics in the exclusive car were connected to an electronic device outside the car.
Ella
The little Latina was enjoying the peace and quiet of her lab. The huge adrenaline rush she had gotten from her little race with Lucifer was starting to wear off. She had seen Lucifer enter Captain Monroe's office, and later she had observed him standing in front of Chloe's desk. His body language just said that he was extremely tense. She thought it had something to do with the change in dynamics between the two of them. A minute later, when the two of them walked towards the car park exit and there was no trace of their usual gait, Ella raised her eyebrows for a moment. A few minutes later, she was looking at a slide under a microscope. Suddenly the music disappeared from her earbuds, and in its place she heard the voices of Lucifer and Chloe more than clearly. She suddenly realized that her earbuds were still connected to the sound system in the Aston and that the Devil and the Detective must have gotten in the car to talk privately. She was about to pull the earbuds out so as not to have to listen to the conversation, but Lucifer's next words froze her:
"I have no intention of resigning at all, detective. I enjoy my role as a consultant with the LAPD very much. The work, catching and punishing criminals, gives me too much satisfaction to just give it up."
Ella couldn't tear herself away from the conversation, even if she wanted to. The more she heard about Chloe's past behavior, the angrier she became. That anger turned into a Southern rage when she heard that Chloe had been plotting with some Kinley to send Lucifer back to Hell. She grabbed a glass mug from one of the worktables and tossed it against a wall. Ella had to do her best not to scream and immediately go after Chloe. She took a few deep breaths. What was she going to do now? What could she do now? She didn't know the whole story. Suddenly she remembered her conversation with Alexander earlier that night:
"Don't pull on Lucifer. Give him time to come out with the story himself..."
So Alexander knew what had happened; this was the story he had said it was not his place to tell. After taking a few more deep breaths, she considered her next move. It was a quiet day; no new case, not yet, so no new evidence that needed to be processed urgently. That meant she could leave on time, probably a few hours early herself. She needed to talk to Alexander as soon as possible. Meanwhile, she had seen Lucifer enter the bullpen again and saw that he was standing in front of Dan's desk.
Dan
Lucifer stood almost rigidly in front of Daniel Espinoza's desk, playing nervously with his cufflink. The man caught the Devil's eye, looked at him strangely for a moment, and said:
"If you are disappointed that there is no pudding to steal from the fridge, you are out of luck, Lucifer. I haven't had time to go and get it. Trixie had a bit of a hard time getting out of bed this morning, and I was only just able to get her to school in time."
Lucifer blinked for a moment. He had meant to ask something else, but now he asked about Beatrice's well-being because it seemed more important:
"Why was the urchin struggling? Is she ill? Is something wrong?"
Daniel had always secretly found it funny that if you dropped Trixie's name, you could get Lucifer to slam on the brakes no matter what he was doing or how crazy he was acting. It was like using a huge neon stop sign. Now that he also knew that Lucifer was the Devil, he found his reaction even funnier. He looked him straight in the eye and said:
"Trixie's fine, Lucifer. Just a very short night after a very exciting few hours and the birth of Lucas, which she was so looking forward to. She's just tired; that's why she had a bit of trouble getting out of bed."
There was relief in his eyes that the girl seemed to be all right. The next moment, however, his gaze was deadly serious again, and he spoke:
"Detective Espinoza, could we talk privately for a moment? In the interrogation room, for example."
Daniel was immediately suspicious. No Detective Douche or Dan? Very formal, Detective Espinoza, and no sign of Chloe anywhere. In his head, the alarm went off at volume 11. He nodded and said:
"Let's talk then."
Lucifer led him into one of the empty interrogation rooms, and as the door closed behind the two men, Daniel asked:
"Detective Espinoza? No Douche? What's going on, Lucifer?"
"First of all, let me say this: no, I didn't hurt the detective, well, not this time, and no, I didn't do any idiotic things that could reflect badly on the detective or the LAPD. Well, not this time."
Daniel considered Lucifer's words at the speed of light. If the Devil was trying to reassure him that this time he was not responsible for whatever had happened, then the reason for this conversation had to be extremely serious. Daniel knew of himself that he always jumped to the conclusion that Lucifer was responsible, because more often than not he was. So in this case it didn't seem to be so, which didn't make the situation any rosier. He said thoughtfully:
"Okay, let's have it..."
Lucifer nodded, and as he began to speak, there was no trace of his usual bravado, and the alarm bell in Daniel's head began to ring a little louder:
"I have just told Captain Monroe that the detective and I can no longer work together. However, I would like to continue my work as a consultant. The captain made it clear that this could only happen if I had a new partner."
Daniel took a deep breath through his nose and said:
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Lucifer looked him sternly in the eyes:
"I'm sorry, but I'd rather not. Let's just say that the vision that the detective and I have of life and how I should be in life are way too far apart for us to move forward in a healthy way."
Dan knew that Lucifer could sometimes annoy Chloe immensely with his idiotic behavior. But he also knew that it had to go much deeper and that something had happened between them that had made the rift so wide that it seemed irreparable. Suddenly, he remembered his marriage to Chloe and her efforts to mold him into the person she believed he should be. He began to understand that the same must have happened with Lucifer, but that Lucifer's lifestyle had caused much harsher clashes. He thought for a few seconds and then asked:
"Is this what you were discussing with her when you disappeared from the bullpen just now?"
Lucifer just nodded. Daniel sighed deeply:
"Okay, I'm not Chloe. What you do in your own time in your own house is your business. Nobody has anything to say about that. I want to try a partnership with you, but I have a few conditions that are not up for discussion."
Lucifer looked at Daniel with surprise. This was a side of the man he did not know, and so he took this very seriously, without falling into his role of the Devil trying to negotiate some kind of deal:
"I'm listening..."
"One: you are no longer disappearing without telling me something. Now that I know the truth, there is no more reason to hide things or not want to discuss them. Is there something that makes you have to leave for a while or do something related to your old job? Then you give me a call, and we'll discuss it in private. Two: You are Lucifer, and there is no way in this universe that you will not think of or want to do something stupid. Remember, I am not Chloe. If you have an idea, plan, or anything else, regardless of how unconventional or foolish it may seem, feel free to discuss it with me. I am fully aware that your idiotic ideas and plans have very often brought the solution to a case in the past. Hence, I will always be open to whatever you have to say. But if I veto it, then you hold yourself to that. Because if I am going to veto a plan, it is because your plan may bring risk and trouble on fronts you may not have thought of in all the excitement, and I will make my reasons absolutely clear. And three: this is the most important one, so pay attention, Devil! Because things are no longer going to work out at work with Chloe, you will probably have little or no reason to interfere in her private life. That doesn't mean you should shut Trixie out as well. I don't know why, by God, but Trix has seen something in you since day 1 that Chloe and I did not see for a long time. That girl loves you, Lucifer! Keep her away from your...hmmmm, extracurricular activities and consumables you have lying around in Lux! And most importantly, if you dare hurt her by disappearing from her life, you won't be safe from me even in Hell. Understand?"
Lucifer stood looking at Daniel with wide eyes and an open mouth for a moment and finally said softly:
"These conditions are absolutely acceptable, Daniel, especially the last one. The Urchin is always welcome, and if I can do anything for her, anything at all, she knows where to find me, or you know where to find me, and it will happen."