Summary: upon investigating the murder of the singer Delilah, Olivia Quinn was introduced to Lucifer Morningstar. Will her former career as a hunter of the supernatural be enough to accept the nightclub owner being the King of Hell?
Twenty seven year old Olivia Quinn slowly stirred her coffee, staring at the caffeinated beverage swirling around in the mug. She jumped when a small hand touched hers. It was her young niece, Beatrice 'Trixie' Espinoza. "You ok, Aunt Libby?" she asked.
"Yeah, Trixie-belle. I'm fine", Olivia replied giving her a smile but it wasn't quiet genuine, it didn't reach her eyes and Trixie knew it.
"You're thinking about him again, aren't you?" Trixie stated.
Olivia nodded "yes I am", she admitted.
"Try to put him out of your mind auntie. Focus on something else", Trixie suggested.
"That is a very good idea sweetheart", Olivia agreed. She took a big swig of her drink "why don't you go say goodbye to your mommy and I'll drop you off at school?"
"Ok", Trixie said hopping off her chair and bounding upstairs to her mother's bedroom where the woman in question was still in bed on the account of catching the flu. As soon as the girl had gone, Olivia's phone rang.
"Quinn", she said answering it "yeah. Got it. Thanks Lieutenant". Olivia hung up and stuffed her phone back into her pocket. She scooped up Trixie's school bag, slinging it on her shoulder and waited for the youngster to come back down which she did a couple of minutes later. "See you later Chloe! Take it easy!" she called up to her cousin before leaving the house with her niece.
As soon as she'd dropped Trixie off at school, Olivia headed to the crime scene. She pulled up as close as she could and got out of the car. Olivia walked over to the police tape, donning a pair of blue latex gloves as she did so. She ducked underneath and made her way over to the sheet covered body. Olivia pulled back the sheet to reveal a fairly pretty looking young woman, her face speckled with blood. The brunette shook her head, it was always as shame when the victims were young. So much potential…so much life left to live and yet it gets cruelly taken away through acts of violence such as this.
In this young woman's case, she had a chance to be a sensational singer but now she'll never get the chance because she'd been gunned down. Olivia replaced the sheet and wandered over to the mangled car, bending down to eye the dead man inside, taking note of the fancy watch on his wrist "You know, karma can be a bitch sometimes and you completely deserved it", she murmured.
"Hey Liv", said a voice that she really, really didn't want to hear. She straightened up and turned to face Daniel Espinoza, her cousin's ex-husband.
"Well, well if it isn't Detective Espinoza", Olivia said with as much sarcasm as she could muster. The man wasn't exactly in her good books seeing as he was the reason for his and Chloe's current separation "what the hell are you doing here?" she asked "this case was assigned to me even though I'm currently flying solo on the account of my cousin/partner having the flu".
"I know the case was assigned to you", Daniel said "but before you say anything, I'm not trying to take it away. I'm just here to make sure you don't take too much time as there's going to be a lot attention on this case".
"I will take as much time as I want to get the truth", Olivia retorted.
"Trust me Liv, it's a really easy one. You won't need to spend much time on this at all", Daniel said "That's our bad guy" he pointed to the dead man in the back of the car wreck "Eddie Deacon, he's a low-level drug dealer. I found these in his pocket" he showed her a couple of packets of drugs "this in Delilah's purse" he held up another identical packets with his other hand "so obviously drug related. She probably owed him a bunch of cash or something. She not exactly selling out stadiums these days".
"Just because Delilah has his drugs in her purse doesn't mean that the reason she was killed was drug related", Olivia argued "what if he were hired to kill her by a former lover? And the drugs were just a coincidence?"
Daniel gave her an unimpressed look "you're over thinking this one Liv. He shot Delilah" he pointed to Eddie "and his car collided with a bus. Its open and shut".
"To you maybe. I'm still going to thoroughly investigate this", Olivia said "So were there any witnesses to the shooting?"
"Yeah, one. The owner of that nightclub", Daniel replied nodding to the building nearby: the nightclub named Lux. Olivia turned and headed into Lux. She walked over to a piano where a smart suited man, the owner of the establishment, was playing.
"Excuse me", she said making the man look up at her "I'm Detective Olivia Quinn with the LAPD. I heard that you were a witness to the shooting outside and I'd like to ask you a few questions".
"Of course", the man said with a British accent, continuing to play on the instrument.
Olivia took out a notepad and pen "May I have your name?" she asked.
"Lucifer Morningstar", the man replied.
Olivia raised her eyebrows at the name. With her former career, she was well versed in all things supernatural, including the fallen angel whom is known for running all of hell. Never had the pleasure of meeting him, no one she knew has. However, with all the troubles she and her former friends had with demons, she would like nothing more than to give him a punch in the face for it.
Easy Liv she thought as her mind started going back to her old job that is not you anymore. You've moved on. She internally nodded, yes she had moved on. Hunting the supernatural was no longer a part of her life. She was an LA homicide cop; Chloe Decker's cousin/work partner and an aunt to Trixie, nothing more. "As in the Devil?" she asked, trying to make it sound off handed.
Lucifer smiled "the one and only", he said proudly.
"Tell me a bit about Delilah", Olivia instructed as she jotted down his name.
"Well, she used to work here a few years back. I would occasionally accompany her while she sang", Lucifer explained "Then she became a big star and someone decided to end her life".
"What about the shooter?" Olivia asked "do you know him?"
"No", Lucifer replied "but we did have an interesting little chat just before he kicked off".
"Oh? And what did he tell you?" Olivia questioned.
"It was for money", Lucifer answered.
"Of course it was", Olivia muttered, writing it down "oldest and most used reason there is".
"He also said 'I just pulled the trigger'" Lucifer continued, making Olivia look up at him. His statement seemed like her suggestion of Eddie being hired to kill Delilah might not be so farfetched after all. And Daniel thought I was overthinking it the brunette thought. She couldn't wait to prove to him that this case was far from 'open and shut' as he assumed. "Delilah gunned down and then her killer gets dies in a car accident. That's quite a neatly wrapped little present for the LAPD don't you think?" Lucifer commented.
"Yeah. Almost too neatly wrapped", Olivia muttered to herself.
"So what will your corrupt organisation do about this?" the angel asked "Will you find the person responsible? Will they be punished? Will this be a priority for you? Because it is for me", Lucifer said.
"While I don't appreciate your tone, I will do everything I can to find the person responsible", Olivia assured him "So thank you for your time, Mr Morningstar".
After going through Eddie's phone, Olivia discovered that the last person he called was some rapper named 2Vile. And so she headed off to the guy's place to have a chat with him. However, when she got there, she was thoroughly surprised to see Lucifer. "Detective, welcome to the party!" he said cheerfully.
"What the hell are you doing here?" the brunette demanded.
"The same thing you are. Finding out who was responsible behind Delilah's murder", Lucifer answered.
"But how did you know that the dead guy has a connection to 2Vile?" Olivia questioned.
"How do you?" Lucifer countered.
"I ran the dead guy's phone", the brunette explained "and you?"
"Well, I've been busy, my dear", Lucifer told her, being extremely vague.
"Talk to me about Delilah", Olivia said to 2Vile.
"We've been over that one, Detective", Lucifer cut in but she just ignored him.
"And why you called the shooter two days before she was murdered", Olivia continued.
"Fine. Yeah, I called Eddie 'cause he hooks me up sometimes", 2Vile admitted "he met Delilah through me. Whatever. Don't make me a killer, do it?"
"No, but it does make you a suspect", Olivia countered.
"What, so everyone on Eddie's phone's a suspect?" 2Vile scoffed "are you joking? You gonna drag half of Hollywood downtown. Be like the Oscars or somethin'".
"If that's what it takes to find out the person behind Delilah's murder then that's what I'll do, starting with you", Olivia said pointing at 2Vile.
"You'd be wasting you time with him, Detective", Lucifer spoke up "I've just threatened his life…he's not our guy. He would've said, trust me".
Olivia raised her eyebrows "I'm sorry…you did what?"
"Yeah, isn't that illegal?" 2Vile pointed out.
"Yes, it is", Olivia confirmed. She took out her hand cuffs "you stay there", she said to 2Vile "you, you're coming with me" she told Lucifer before she cuffed him.
"With pleasure", he said as she led him out of the room "though I'm not quite sure why I'm being arrested", he added as they walked.
"Because despite my assurances to do what I can to find the person responsible, you still took it upon yourself to interfere with the case", Olivia stated "and threatening that man? Big no, no. So that's why I've arrested you", Olivia stated opening the back door of her car. Before she could get him in the vehicle, he already had the handcuffs off. "Figures you'd be one of those people to get out of handcuffs", the brunette remarked "now get in the car".
"Look, you're wasting your time taking me to the station. We should be out there solving a homicide and punishing those responsible", Lucifer said.
Olivia raised an eyebrow "'We'? You're insane if you think I'm going to let you assist me especially after you threatened 2Vile's life".
"I don't disagree that I can be insane sometimes", the angel confessed "But that's not the point. I can help you", Lucifer said.
"Pray tell me, how can you possibly help?" Olivia asked folding her arms "what do you have that would be on any use in this case?"
"I have a certain skill set", Lucifer answered "I can be very persuasive with people and tend to see things that others cannot".
"So, you're psychic or something?" Olivia questioned. It wouldn't be the first time she'd encountered a psychic, though it was the first one who had name linked to the devil.
"No, I can't read people's minds. I'm not a Jedi", Lucifer said "people just like to tell me things".
"So people just tell you things", Olivia repeated "like what?"
"Their forbidden desires", Lucifer answered "the more simple the human, the easier it is. The more complex, the more challenging and exciting, really" he leant forward "tell me, Detective, what do you desire more than anything else in this life?"
"That's your big trick? Asking people what they desire?" Olivia asked and Lucifer nodded "well… what I desire is for you to shut up and get in the damn car".
A dumfounded expression appeared on Lucifer's face "You're not, like, a Jedi or something are you?" he asked. No, I'm just a tad immune to certain psychic powers she thought to herself. Aloud she just repeated her request of him to get in the car. She reached for his wrist when he quickly pulled it back and said.
"No, no, no, no. Look. I know something you don't know"
"You probably know a lot of things concerning nightclub ownership but police work? Yeah, I think I got you beat on that", Olivia said.
"But its rather vital to your case", Lucifer pressed.
"Tell me", Olivia said.
"Not saying unless you take me with you on this", Lucifer said "please? I got to 2Vile didn't I?"
Olivia sighed "fine. But if your clue doesn't pan out, these cuffs are going on…" she showed him the cuffs "and they're going to stay on".
Lucifer smiled at her flirtatiously "is that a promise?" he asked. The brunette rolled her eyes and shoved him in the backseat of the car, slamming the door shut.
~...~
While she drove, Olivia spoke to someone in precinct via her Bluetooth earpiece "there's a therapist in Beverly Hills, first name: Linda. See if Delilah was a client".
"Actually, she had a pseudonym", Lucifer spoke up "which I happen to know: Penny Lane".
"Delilah may have gone under a different name, Penny Lane. Thanks", Olivia hung up on her earpiece.
"Can I ask you a question?" Lucifer asked.
"You just did", Olivia said.
"Ha, ha", Lucifer said dryly "why have you got such a chip on your shoulder?"
"There's quite a few reasons, none of which I want to share with you", Olivia replied.
"I think I know one of them", Lucifer said.
"Oh? Do tell", Olivia said.
"You're an attractive female cop, struggling to be taken seriously in a man's man's world", Lucifer told her.
"You're not wrong there", Olivia admitted. As a hunter, it didn't matter that she was a woman. All that mattered was that she had the skills and knowledge to get the job done. But as a cop, it was much harder for anybody to take her seriously. That just made her more determined. And just when she finally got some recognition as a decent detective, the Palmetto shooting happened. She wasn't even present when it went down and yet she still got into trouble all because she had her partner's back.
"You're clearly smart and have notable instincts", Lucifer said "so that makes them feel…threatened. Just ignore them and trust yourself". Then Olivia's phone rang. She pressed her earpiece, directing the call to it.
"Detective Quinn", she said "All right, text it to me. Thanks" and hung up "What your saying stands up", she told Lucifer and a smug look appeared on his face "there's a Penny Lane who sees a Doctor Linda Martin in Beverly Hills".
"I'll clear my schedule", Lucifer said before Olivia's phone rang again "ooh, someone's popular", he remarked.
Olivia just ignored him and answered the call "hello? Oh Chloe! You feeling any better?" she paused listening to her cousin "that's something at least. So whats up?" she frowned "you're kidding me" Olivia rolled her eyes "of course he's not there. Bloody typical. Don't worry cuz, I'll get her. Just get some rest Chloe" and with that she hung up for the third time "I've got to swing by my niece's school to pick her up".
"What? No absolutely not!" Lucifer protested.
"I wasn't asking you if it was ok. I'm telling you that's what I'm doing", Olivia said.
"But I'm not here to help you run errands. I'm here to help you solve a homicide", Lucifer argued. Olivia didn't say anything, instead she quickly spun the car around causing the angel to slide to the other side of the car as he hadn't decided to wear his seat belt.
"Wait here", Olivia said when she pulled up in front Trixie's school.
"With pleasure. Despise children", Lucifer muttered. Olivia got out of the car and walked toward the school. The brunette stopped by Trixie who was sitting on the bench near to the principal's office.
"Hey Trixie-belle, you ok?" she asked.
"Yeah", the seven year old replied.
"Good", Olivia said "I shouldn't be too long, ok?"
Trixie nodded and Olivia straightened up. She went into the principal's office and was barely in there a couple of minutes before she bolted out of the room upon hearing a scream. The brunette found Lucifer standing in front of a rather shaken up girl. "What did you do?" Olivia asked.
"Oh…I think someone was feeling a little guilty", Lucifer said looking down at the girl. Olivia looked at him dubiously. That was not the kind of scream you'd make if you were feeling guilty. Did he scare the poor child? Unfortunately she didn't have time to question it when the bell rang.
Olivia went over to Trixie "Come on sweetie, let's go", she said. The girl hopped up from the bench and took hold of her aunt's hand and they walked out of the school, Lucifer following after them.
As soon as they'd gotten out of the academic building, Daniel decided to make an appearance. "Hi daddy", Trixie said happily.
"Hi, munchkin", Daniel said smiling down at his daughter "thanks for coming to get her".
"No problem. I don't mind at all getting your daughter from school, its not like I'm working on a case", Olivia said "oh, wait I am". Trixie promptly plugged her ears with her fingers, not wanting to hear the ensuing argument.
"You mean the open and shut one. You did open and shut it, right?" Daniel asked.
"Not yet", Olivia said causing Daniel to sigh "it's a high profile case Dan. I have to be thorough", she defended.
"Exactly, which is why you need to be smart about it Liv", Daniel countered. Before Olivia could argue back, Lucifer jumped in.
"She is smart. You're the dimwit", he said. Olivia barely suppressed the urge to snort or smirk at his words. "Perhaps you should refrain from arguing in front of the child?" he suggested "its unbecoming".
"I don't know whether to laugh or shoot you", Daniel told Lucifer.
"Surprise me", the angel challenged.
"Isn't he funny daddy?" Trixie asked her father, looking up at him.
"Would you mind dropping Trix at home?" Olivia asked Daniel who nodded. She knelt down to Trixie's level "can I have a kiss Trixie-belle?" and the girl complied, kissing her cheek "I love you. Good job standing up to the mean girl".
"Thanks Aunt Libby", Trixie said "what's a hooker?" Olivia glanced up at Lucifer who was trying to look innocent but utterly failing.
"Your dad will tell you", the brunette said standing up. Trixie moved over to her father and took his hand.
"Bye Lucifer!" the child called as they walked away "it was nice meeting you".
"I think my niece likes you", Olivia murmured to Lucifer.
"Of course she does", Lucifer agreed "whats not to like?"
Olivia fiddled with a cocktail stick as she sat at the bar at Lux, her mind going over everything she'd learnt that day. The rapper had pointed them to the therapist. And the therapist spilled the beans, thanks to Lucifer's 'charms', about an affair Delilah was having with an actor named Grey Cooper. Unfortunately neither Cooper nor his wife Amanda had any connection to the shooter. "But the shooter had the same watch as Grey", Lucifer pointed out when she told him "that can't be a coincidence".
"Maybe Delilah gave him one too", Olivia suggested.
"Well, that would imply she was actually sleeping with the maggot", Lucifer stated.
"Really?" Olivia asked "Jimmy, 2Vile, Grey Cooper" she listed off with her fingers "That's three other maggots she was sleeping with. No offense to the deceased but I don't think there's a lot of discretion going on with her".
"Yeah, I suppose you got a point", Lucifer reluctantly agreed.
Olivia dropped the cocktail stick on the bar and sighed "What am I doing here?" she asked "in this bar of all places? With you, no less".
"Well, I don't know. You tell me, Detective", Lucifer said "I mean, despite your proclaimed revulsion in the therapist's office you can't deny there's a connection between us. Tell me, what do you actually want?"
"You really trying to do your little trick again?" Olivia asked "it didn't exactly work the last two times".
"No, I'm not doing my 'little trick' as you put it", Lucifer assured her "I'm genuinely curious".
"Honesty? I just want to help people", Olivia replied "I mean I did that in my previous job but something bad happened and it made me realise that I couldn't do it anymore. The constant moving from place to place, not knowing whether the next day is going to be my last. So I stopped. Moved to LA and became a cop instead. That way I can still help people and have the small reassurance that the next day isn't going to be my last. Plus its allowing me to spend more time with the family that I have left".
"So whats the reason your cousin's ex-maggot is pressuring you to close this?" Lucifer questioned.
"There was a case, a shooting at Palmetto Street where a cop was shot", Olivia replied "I wasn't there but Chloe was. She saw it differently than anyone else in the department. Even I didn't see it the way she saw it. However, when she stuck her neck out, I backed her up. And it backfired spectacularly. Now no one wants to work with us. Good thing we're each other's partner".
"Well, if you ever want to make it a triumvirate, I'm always available", Lucifer offered.
"I might take you up on that", Olivia said earning her a smile from the angel.
"Too bad your little protégé isn't around to collect the check", the bartender, Maze, spoke up gaining their attention. Lucifer and Olivia looked over at the TV where a news report was playing.
"Well, I'll be damned", Olivia breathed, coming to a realisation as she looked at the bar graph now showing on the screen.
"What?" Lucifer asked.
"Delilah didn't give that watch to the drug dealer", Olivia said "Jimmy Barnes did".
As soon as they got to the recording studio, Lucifer and Olivia went straight for the record producer. "Hello Jimmy", the angel greeted none too pleasantly.
"Really?" Jimmy sighed.
"How's the album sales doing?" Lucifer asked.
"What album?" Jimmy questioned, with fake confusion.
"Soundtrack to Time Will Tell, which you produced", Olivia spoke up walking forward "sales for it are soaring through the roof now that poor Delilah is dead. Which means there's a lot of money headed your way. And you must've been incredibly desperate for it" she folded her arms "because instead of cash, you paid Eddie with your watch".
"The watch Delilah gave you", Lucifer added "now, that's just sick. But then you are so…" Jimmy just nodded before he pulled a gun out, grabbing hold of the young male singer, pressing the weapon against his temple.
Olivia responded with pointing her own gun at him. "I made her and she ruined me. She humiliated me. She owes me", Jimmy told them.
"You're not God, Jimmy. You didn't make her", Lucifer said "but you did destroy her. So I'm going to punish you" he walked forward.
"You back off, you freak", Jimmy warned as Lucifer continued toward him "I mean it. I'm not going to jail for that bitch. No chance".
"Better do as he says", Olivia said to the angel.
"You don't need to worry, I'm immortal", Lucifer told her and a momentary look of confusion flickered across Olivia's face before she focused back on the situation at hand. That made Jimmy turn his gun on Lucifer but before he could fire, Olivia shot first.
"Why did you do that?" Lucifer demanded, turning the to brunette.
"He was going to kill you", Olivia said.
"No, no, no, no, no. You just…you just let him off too easy", Lucifer exclaimed "He needs to pay! He needs to suffer! He needs to feel the pain, not escape it!"
"Don't worry. Where he's going to go, the pain's coming", Olivia assured him.
"No. No its not, actually and you know why? Because I'm here and he's…" Lucifer was cut off mid rant when shots rang out. Olivia cried out when one went straight through her shoulder, the other grazing her side. She fell to the floor. "Liv", he breathed, leaning over her.
"I don't want to die", Olivia gasped weakly. Yes, she had faced death before and walked it off no problem. She'd even actually died once! But this time it was different. She didn't want to die. She didn't want to leave Chloe and Trixie.
"I won't let you", Lucifer said softly. More shots rang out, all of them hitting his back. "Just…give me one second" the angel stood up and walked over to Jimmy, not even flinching when he shot at him three more times. The last thing Olivia saw before she passed out was Lucifer picking up Jimmy and slamming him against the glass.
~...~
Lucifer sat by Olivia's bedside, eyes trained on the brunette. Here was someone who was seemingly immune to his gifts AND his charms which he found highly intriguing. She was a rarity. And there was something else… something he couldn't quite describe…but if felt like a pull…a connection to her.
And he couldn't wait to find out what it all meant.
Minutes passed which turned into a full hour before Olivia started to stir. "Well, look who's back", he remarked.
"How long was I out for?" she asked.
"Three years", Lucifer said seriously. A shocked look appeared on Olivia's face until the angel started laughing which made her chuckle along too. She couldn't believe she fell for it. "You're such an ass".
"Thank you", Lucifer said.
Olivia looked Lucifer over, he didn't appear to be injured at all "you were shot several times", she stated "you should be dead".
"Like I told you before, I'm immortal", Lucifer said.
"You're really immortal?" Olivia asked.
"Yes! I am", Lucifer insisted.
"Ok", Olivia said surprising the archangel.
"That's it? 'ok'? You're not to keep questioning me or even attempt to poke me with something sharp?" Lucifer asked.
Olivia shook her head "nope. Believe it or not, I have seen a fair few things that most wouldn't be able to explain. So if you really are immortal, then I will give you the benefit of the doubt. But that doesn't mean you go out of your way to prove it so no running headlong into a gun fight, understand?"
"I make no promises", Lucifer said, pleased that she to some extent believed that he was immortal.
"So what happened with Jimmy?" Olivia asked.
"Jimmy? Jimmy, got what he deserved", Lucifer told her.
"Well, I'm pretty sure I'd be dead if you hadn't protected me, so…thank you", Olivia said sincerely.
"Sorry, what was that? That last bit. I didn't quite get that", Lucifer teased.
The brunette touched his arm "Thank you", she repeated.
"You're welcome" Lucifer cleared his throat and sat back "besides, you're far too interesting to let die".
Olivia raised her eyebrows "you saved my life because I'm 'interesting'?" she said "that's a first. So what now?"
"Well, obviously I've proven myself to be an invaluable crime-fighting tool", Lucifer replied standing up "You and your cousin are a pariah in the department. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship. Don't you?"
"Oh, I don't know about that. You're pretty annoying but…you've been fairly helpful", Olivia admitted "So I will at least consider it".
"That's all I can ask", Lucifer said.