A few minutes later, Chloe, Lucifer, and Trixie walked out of the school together. The sun had shifted lower in the sky, painting the street in warm afternoon light.
A familiar car pulled up near the curb.
Dan Espinoza stepped out, looking tired and irritated before he even reached them. His eyes landed on Lucifer standing beside Chloe.
'What's he doing here?' Dan thought.
Trixie brightened immediately.
"Hi, Daddy."
Chloe folded her arms and gave Dan a deadpan look. "Wow. Shocker. You're late."
Dan sighed as he walked closer.
"Gimme a break, I'm putting a case to bed."
"Right, like I'm not working a case too. You remember, the one you tried to steal from me?"
"You mean the open and shut one. You did open and shut it, right?"
Chloe went quiet for half a second.
That silence told Dan enough.
Lucifer leaned closer to Chloe with visible interest. "Have you been going rogue, dear? Exciting." He said with a smile.
"I'm not going rogue. I'm just being diligent. I need to get this right, Dan. It's a high-profile case."
"Exactly. Which is why you need to be smart about it-"
Lucifer noticed Trixie standing beside them with both fingers plugged into her ears. He looked at Dan with open disapproval. "She is smart. You're a dimwit. But perhaps you should refrain from arguing in front of the child. It's common sense to not fight before kids, or don't tell me you don't have one."
Dan stared at him.
Then he looked at Chloe and asked, "Who's this idiot? New boyfriend? I thought we agreed not to..."
Lucifer stepped forward and grabbed Dan's hand in a firm handshake.
He leaned close enough that Dan could smell the expensive cologne beneath the cigarette smoke.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm a man who could make you see things that would drive you blind. Or pull your spine out through your mouth. Your choice. But I wouldn't do any of these things in front of the child. You know why? Because I, for one, have excellent manners."
Dan stared at him for a long second.
"I don't know whether to laugh or shoot you."
Lucifer smiled.
"Surprise me."
Trixie looked up at Dan with complete admiration.
"Isn't he funny, Daddy?!"
Chloe stepped in before Dan could answer.
"Hey, can you drop Trix at my mother's? Thanks! Gotta go!"
She crouched in front of Trixie and kissed her forehead.
"Gimme a kiss, Trixella! Mommy loves you so much! And... good job standing up to the mean girl!"
Trixie hugged her tightly.
"Thanks, Mommy!"
Then she asked Chloe with sudden curiosity. "What's a hooker?"
Chloe slowly looked over her shoulder at Lucifer.
Lucifer turned his face toward the street and studied the clouds as though they had become deeply fascinating.
Chloe looked back at Dan with a smile.
"Daddy'll tell you."
Dan's left eye twitched a bit as he gave Lucifer a look that promised future problems, then took Trixie's hand and guided her toward the car.
Trixie turned around one last time.
"Bye, Lucifer! Nice to meet you!"
Lucifer gave her a warm smile and lifted one hand in a small wave.
"Bye, little human."
Trixie climbed into Dan's car, still looking pleased with herself.
Chloe watched them pull away, then turned toward Lucifer with a face that carried more surprise than she wanted him to notice. "I think she likes you."
Lucifer looked entirely unsurprised. "Of course she does. What's not to like?"
...
...
[15 minutes later]
[Dr. Linda Martin's Office]
The waiting room smelled faintly of lavender.
Chloe sat with a file open across her lap, scanning the notes from Delilah's case while her foot tapped quietly against the carpet.
Lucifer sat beside her with one ankle resting over his knee. He studied the framed therapy certificates on the wall, the bowl of mints on the reception desk, and a flyer about childhood emotional development.
After a few seconds, he asked, "Was your offspring planned or a mistake?"
Chloe slowly lowered the file.
"Excuse me?"
Lucifer looked back at her with complete seriousness.
"Planned. Sort of."
Chloe stared at him, trying to decide whether he was joking.
"Hmm," Lucifer continued. "Explain to me the human desire to procreate? Never understood it. Children are hideous little creatures. Terrible, taxing burdens. Just like that mean schoolgirl. And her friends who support her bullying endeavour. And before you know, they end up with drugs, alcohol and in jail."
Chloe gave him a look sharp enough to slice through the room.
Lucifer noticed it and lifted one hand.
"Oh, your kid's fine. She knows how to stand up for herself. And she looked slightly guilty for what she did and she has a sense of responsibility. So, there's nothing to be embarrassed about."
For a moment, Chloe only stared at him.
That had almost sounded thoughtful.
Then the rest of what he had said caught up with her.
"Are you at all aware of how dickish you sound?" She asked.
Lucifer looked mildly offended.
"I am painfully aware of many things, Detective. It is one of my greatest burdens."
Chloe went back to her file, though the corner of her mouth nearly moved before she stopped it.
Lucifer watched her for another moment.
"Speaking of dicks," He said smoothly, "why was that dumdum you were married to pressuring you to close the case?"
Chloe did not look up.
"No reason."
Lucifer frowned.
He turned slightly toward her and let his gaze settle on her eyes. He tried to use his power one more time, just to be sure.
Chloe only looked annoyed.
"Strange," Lucifer muttered.
"Yes, you are."
"No," Lucifer said, studying her more carefully. "I'm still not affecting you."
Chloe shut the file with a soft snap.
"Actually, you're making me nauseous."
Lucifer blinked.
The office door opened. A blonde woman in a fitted professional dress stepped into the waiting room, her expression warm and composed.
"Okay, Detective, I'll see you now."
Chloe stood immediately.
Lucifer followed.
Dr. Linda Martin's office looked exactly like Karl expected a Beverly Hills therapist's office to look. Soft lighting filled the room. Shelves held carefully arranged books about trauma, relationships, addiction, grief, and self-worth. A large window overlooked the street below, while a pale couch rested across from two armchairs.
Linda sat behind her desk with perfect posture, her pen poised over a notebook. Then she looked at Lucifer. For the briefest second, her calm professional expression slipped. She felt an unusual desire to have sex with the man before her in every position known to humankind.
Lucifer noticed at once.
He took a seat beside Chloe, crossing one leg over the other as if he had been invited there personally.
"You're thinking about it, aren't you?" He asked with his signature smile.
Linda blinked. "What?"
Lucifer smiled with complete understanding. "It's not a good idea. I'm like walking heroin. Very habit-forming. Never ends well."
Chloe looked between them.
"I'm sorry, do you two know each other?" She asked.
"No," Lucifer said. "But I know that look."
Linda quickly looked down at her notebook, trying to regain her composure. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Chloe did not seem convinced, though she was far more interested in the case than whatever strange game Lucifer was playing. "Dr. Martin, we know Delilah was having a clandestine affair with a wealthy married man. Just tell us his name and we'll be on our way."
Linda's expression tightened. "I'm sorry, I can't do that."
Lucifer leaned slightly toward Chloe and whispered, "She's one of the complex ones."
Chloe ignored him.
"Doctor, Delilah was nearly killed last night. Someone hired a gunman to shoot her outside Lux. If this man has something to do with it, you could be withholding information that might save her life."
Linda looked troubled, but she did not answer.
"I understand," she said quietly. "But patient confidentiality exists for a reason."
Lucifer watched her closely. He could feel the desire she was trying so hard to bury beneath professional rules and logic. It was not subtle to him. Nothing ever was.
He leaned forward and started using his mojo.
"Linda, darling, tell me."
Linda's fingers tightened around her pen.
"I can't."
"You want to."
"I know."
Lucifer's smile widened slightly.
"Then why deny yourself?"
Linda let out a breath that sounded halfway between frustration and disbelief. "Mumm Oh, darn... it's really juicy, too. Hahaha You're the devil."
"Correct," Lucifer said pleasantly. "Now tell me, Dr. Martin. I know you want to."
Chloe stared at both of them before asking Lucifer, "Did you ruffie her? This is unbelievable."
Lucifer turned toward her, genuinely offended. "It's not her fault. She's just reacting to me. Watch and learn."
Chloe folded her arms.
He shifted his attention back to Linda. "The answer is yes. We can take a trip to pound town if we must. But you have to tell us, Linda."
Linda closed her eyes for a second. She fought it. Chloe could see that much. Then her shoulders dropped. "Mmmokay," She said, giving up with visible annoyance. "It's Grey Cooper."
Chloe's pen stopped above her notebook and she looked surprised. "Grey Cooper? Seriously? That is pretty juicy."
Lucifer looked disgusted.
"The actor? The one married to Amanda What's-her-face? Oh, he's horrible. So square-jawed and handsome. So vanilla. I'm really quite disappointed in Delilah. Truly terrible taste in the opposite sex."
Chloe stood, slipping her notebook into her jacket pocket.
"Thank you, doctor. We'll be in touch." She turned toward Lucifer. "Let's go."
Lucifer rose more slowly.
"Of course, but I made a deal. I need to hold up my end of the bargain."
Chloe stared at him. "You're not actually talking about having sex with her?? Now?"
Lucifer looked at Linda.
Linda sat back in her chair, her earlier composure mostly gone. She looked like she had just spent ten minutes arguing with every professional instinct she had built over years of training.
"I do a lot of yoga," Linda said, attempting to recover some dignity. "I am freakishly flexible... wanna see?" She spread her legs open wide without caring about Chloe. She was wearing blue panties.
Lucifer paused.
For once, Karl's old human panic nearly broke through the Devil's confidence. His brain briefly considered every possible way this situation could become more awkward.
Linda then realized what she just did. She gave an awkward smile. "Wow, really tried to keep that in."
Lucifer straightened his jacket.
"You tried," He said kindly. "That's what matters."
Linda blinked. 'Please, please, please, please, don't leave me soaking wet.'
Lucifer smiled at her. "I do apologize, but I'm going to have to take a rain check. I will be back."
Linda watched him with a faint smile.
"I certainly hope so."
"My word is my bond."
Chloe shook her head as she walked toward the door.
Lucifer followed her out, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
...
The moment they reached the hallway, Chloe stopped and turned toward him. "What the hell was that?" She asked.
"An interview," Lucifer shrugged.
"How did you do that?"
Lucifer's expression shifted for a moment.
"I told you," he said quietly. "People tell me things. It's just that my mojo doesn't work on you." He looked into his eyes. "You're special, Detective Decker."
Lucifer then began to walk toward the exit.
"Come along, Detective. We have a handsome, boring actor to interrogate."
..
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