She had left him at around midnight with a kiss on the cheek and now, still with slightly bleary eyes Chloe watched Lucifer stroll across to her desk. He was bearing coffee, a smile and another expensively sharp suit.
"For you" he said, beaming at her and putting the cup down.
"Thank you" she smiled. For some reason, these last few months, their relationship had developed an ease about it. Maybe it was because he was not holding back any more; maybe because she had learned that there was more to life. Maybe because he had also refrained from taking every opportunity to jump her even though one of these days she might just welcome it. There were even times he was less ebullient, less suggestive and part of her missed that side him if she was being truthful. She could, however, see he was making an effort and was grateful for it.
"Any overnight developments?" Lucifer asked as he sat perched on the edge of her desk and raising an eyebrow. She might have taken the question two ways.
Instead, Chloe shook her head as she breathed in the sweet aroma of caffeine. "Nothing. No emails, not notes, no nothing. Nada" she concluded.
"I had a thought about our diamond" he offered. He had meant to mention it last night but he quickly realised that work was off the menu. For once it was him wanting to talk about their day, whereas she was fixed with anything but so he considered his new outlook on life and refrained. "Do you fancy a little trip out?"
Chloe was immediately suspicious as she drew the car up to where Lucifer had told her to go. They stepped out and she hesitated, making sure the car was firmly locked. She knew this end of town and day or night it was not one the police were welcome with its run down factories, graffitti and air of suspicion towards law enforcement bleeding out of the cracks in the pavement. Her face was well known and even though her gun was firmly on her hip, she was sure there were eyes everywhere watching her every step. She saw Lucifer send a quick text message before he paused and she felt him take her hand, just gently.
"Do you trust me?" he asked, concern etched across his face. He knew this part of town too and he knew why she may not feel safe.
"Of course I do", she replied. If there was anyone to be with in the worst, most lawless dump of a neighborhood, it was the very Devil himself. She nodded again in an attempt to reassure him that she actually felt rather safe as long as he was within reaching distance, although she would never quite admit it out loud. She knew a tenth of his capabilities and for now, that was all her emotions were prepared for.
"Follow me then" he smiled, holding out his elbow. Still keeping a very keen on her surroundings, Chloe allowed herself to be led across the road. Despite the fact he had her arm linked in his, Chloe was nervous as he took her down into a narrow alley way lined with garbage bins and, even in daylight, a suffocating darkness.
"Lucifer?" She asked, stopping. He turned, releasing her arm.
"You said you trusted me", he responded, voice low and yes, it was accusatory and he sounded hurt. It was so simple in his eyes. If you say something, you mean it. Simple. If she trusted him, why was she hesitating?
"I do. Very much so", Chloe replied desperately trying to convey in her voice that it was the truth. Trouble was Lucifer Morningstar had a radar for that type of thing and she was nervous.
"Well then", he smiled, gently patting her arm. "Come on".
Ten or so steps further down the rapidly darkening alleyway there was a door. Lucifer knocked twice and there was a metallic thud that reverberated through to door and it popped open with an unearthly and vaguely rusty creak. Lucifer nodded his head towards her and she followed him in.
"Mr Morningstar! How wonderful it is to see you again!". The man that greeted them was short and round. He wore a dark suit and his head was adored with a kippah.
"Saul..." Lucifer started, letting go of Chloe's arm and stretching out a hand to the older man. "Shalom Aleichem"
"Aleichem Shalom" the older man responded, gently pressing his palms together. "And to you" he said, nodding his head at Chloe who smiled back. Clearly they knew each other well. "Now Lucifer you always bring a beautiful woman to see this old man in his dotage and you have excelled today. Tell me what I can do for you?"
Lucifer nodded at Chloe for her to step forward, giving her a gentle shove. She was rather overwhelmed at the diamonds, gold, and everything that sparkled around her. She also tried not to react to the beautiful woman comment. Just exactly how many women has he brought here to charm with diamonds or a necklace, earrings or even a ring? Chloe blinked and dismissed the nagging thought that was knocking repeatedly in her head deciding to taunt her. Who was she kidding? She had seen with her own eyes just how many Lucifer Morningstar could plough through and equally, just how generous he was as well. Maybe it was just that. She decided not to judge him.
"I" Lucifer began, realising that for some reason the cat had got his partner's tongue. "Well, we, were wondering if you could have a look at this". Chloe passed the jeweller the evidence bag. "We were wondering about its origins".
"Hmmmm" he replied, turning the bag over. "Now a blue diamond. Interesting. A very rare thing. If it is, of course, real and it takes a good eye to determine so".
"Could you tell?" Chloe asked, keen for his opinion and suddenly finding her voice.
"Could I tell?" the man laughed, bumping Lucifer with his elbow in jest. "My dear angel, if Solomon Eisen cannot tell a true diamond from an imitation, Solomon Eisen ought to hang up his loupe". He took the small magnification device from his waistcoat pocket and gestured at the pair with it. "I must find some better light. Feel free to browse". He left with a wink to Lucifer that Chloe did not see and departed through another door behind the counter.
Separating they wandered over to a cabinet each on either side of the room. The one Lucifer was perusing held a vast collection of watches, and Chloe had found a rather attractive necklace. Rose gold, morganit and diamond the note next to it said. If she had a spare few thousand throwaway dollars sitting in her bank account and a need to treat herself, then she might just... "That would suit you" Lucifer offered leaning over her shoulder as he had seen her interest. "Simple and elegant" he observed. "Would you like it?"
"No Lucifer" Chloe replied immediately; a laugh in her voice. It was her natural reaction. She didn't need presents like that; no matter how much money he claimed to have. She did not object to the odd time he turned up with as coffee or do-nut for her or picked up the tab at an expensive restaurant but jewellery was a different matter. The bullet necklace, that was sitting underneath the cream blouse she was wearing, was perhaps where she drew the line. If Trixie was here she would be screaming at her to let Lucifer buy it and undoubtedly he and the urchin would tag team her into it, despite her better nature. Chloe turned to him. "Just because I say I like it, doesn't mean you have to buy it for me or that I should have it. It's an enormous waste of a lot of money that could be spend on so many other things. Useful things".
"Well I think if you want express a desire for something you should have it" Lucifer replied. He had tried to understand this human way of depriving yourself of the pleasure of things that were 'a waste of money' or 'had too many calories' but he would never, ever, truly see why.
"Well I don't, so no, I don't want you to buy it for me, now or ever" she insisted. "You know I'm resistant to your mojo Lucifer". Her voice was not harsh by any means but she hoped she made her point as she rested her palm on his abdomen to quieten any thoughts of buying it for her. It was probably a drop in the ocean for him - five thousand dollars she thought she had seen on the tag - but that was not the point even though he looked rather disgruntled at her words. Chloe walked away to the other side of the room, to a cabinet filled with equally as sparkling and expensive wares. "How do you know him?" she asked quietly, careful the jeweller would not hear her.
"I met him a good few years ago. Nothing sordid" he added before she could insinuate something or other. "I was simply making a purchase for myself and we became friendly" Lucifer replied, wandering across and running his fingertips over one of the cabinets. He was still perplexed at her refusal to let him buy the necklace and his inability to persuade her otherwise.
"Oh", Chloe replied, eyes wandering around place. There must have been millions of dollars on display. "When?"
"You are full of questions Detective", he smiled as she bent down to get a proper look at a ruby ring.
"It just seems strange that if it he is legitimate that we have to creep up a back alley to get here" she said, leaning further over and seeing him rest back on the cabinet she was inspecting, hands shoved in his trouser pockets.
"It's just private" he offered simply. "Nothing more nothing less. We can go past the front of the shop on the way back if you don't believe me".
"No, no", she responded, deciding to accept his explanation. She could not say more as the jeweller reappeared. "Hello Mr Eisen" she smiled, being handed back the evidence bag. "What do you think?"
"A good imitation" he began, plaiting his hands together and resting them on his rather rotund belly. "But no. It is a fake, my dear. Color has been added in somewhat of a slapdash manner and whoever has created it, did not do such a sufficient job to get past these eyes of mine. It's a synthetic. Worth very little unfortunately, perhaps twenty, thirty dollars if that".
Chloe signed, folding the bag back into her pocket. "Thank you Mr Eisen."
"Pleasure my dear" he smiled. "Now are you sure I cannot interest you in a piece? I do have a rather exquisite set of drop diamond earrings that I would happily negotiate on the price for Mr Morningstar if he wishes..."
She smiled. "No, thank you, Mr Eisen. We must be going, but thank you again". She almost pulled Lucifer from the shop and back into the alleyway as he said his good byes and they left, the heavy iron door clunking shut behind them. She did not want to have to refuse again in front of a stranger.
"He didn't ask who I was or where the diamond - well the fake - was from" Chloe observed. He had not even asked her name.
"He never asks questions" Lucifer responded as he took her hand again and fed it through his elbow. "Come on, let's get out here".
They made their way quickly to the car, diving in and Chloe sighed before she pressed the ignition. "If it was her engagement ring, or any ring, I hope she wasn't deceived into thinking it was genuine". She paused feeling genuinely upset for its former owner, whoever that may be. "What I am thinking? We don't even know it's connected to her yet. It could be some furious fiancée throwing her ring out of the car window when she realised it was fake. It could have been dropped, a thief thinking he had made the steal of the century."
Lucifer took the bag and the stone from her and held up to the sunlight; not that it was going to give him any answers. "Maybe we are just wrong Detective..." he signed.
Chloe huffed and released the handbrake on the car. "Let's get back". There may have been more developments.