On the next Chloe started work early, beginning with the phone calls, making use of the number Margot gave her. The man on the other end of the line was a bit surprised hearing her voice, but apart from that – eager to collect the fresh shipment of Campu. They agreed to meet in the evening in the place pointed by Chloe – the empty warehouse that she knew once had visual monitoring. Then, there was so much she had to do, starting with arrangements with surveillance technicians, to launch the cameras in the warehouse, and to prepare the wiretapping for herself… Then she had to call Margot Jensen once again, to speak with her about some details connected to Cumbo… and no, during this conversation she wasn't going to think about Lucifer's words concerning this woman. Demon. From Hell. Right. Probably this was the metaphore for some kinky sex club and she really didn't want to know the details. It was enough, that Margot was cooperative.
All in all, Chloe's morning had been so busy, she didn't have time to be concerned with her personal issues.
"Hi," welcomed Dan, when he finished meetings with his team. "How are you? It was nice yesterday, wasn't it? We should repeat it one day."
"Yes… Well, let me think about it," replied Chloe unsurely. She had surprisingly vague memories of the previous evening, recalling only that she was having fun, music was wonderful and she should never trust Maze. Specific details were out of her reach, even if she was certain that she didn't drink much.
"Are you angry at me for leaving? Sorry once again. You know that Benitez must sneak out for each talk. He risks a lot. If his dealers learnt he is our informer…."
"It is risky for you as well," Chloe froze, taken by a sudden thought. "In the case of a foulup you would also be the target. Perhaps… perhaps you should limit your time with Trixie for a while?" It was not an easy thing to say and on Dan's face immediately assumed a hurt expression.
"That's not necessary," he stated stiffly. "I would know if someone targeted me. Being a detective doesn't mean I cannot be a father. Don't worry, I have it all covered."
"Pride," observed causally Lucifer, nearing to them. "It is one of the Seven."
Dan frowned but Chloe quickly started to relate to Lucifer the details of their undercover mission. Lucifer listened carefully and Dan moved aside to look through the files.
"This group is a key to Mitchell's illegal businesses, which might have led to his death," concluded Chloe. "So, the more we manage to learn about them, the better."
"And what if he was killed by the same people we are meeting?" asked Lucifer. "They would know it is a trap."
"I think I was vague enough while talking with them," replied Chloe. "I only said I am calling from Mitchell's shop. If it turns out they knew about his death I can tell them I was sent by the new owner... and even so, try to loosen their tongues."
"Speaking of the new owner, what about Mitchell's brother?" inquired Lucifer. "Somehow I think he is the more likely suspect."
"Tomorrow," nodded Chloe. "But I made some research already and there is nothing to confirm your hunch. He had no criminal records and the brothers were in good, even if distant, relations."
"There is this warning note," reminded her Lucifer. "Death's door – siblings. Quite obvious association."
Chloe couldn't help but snort with laughter. She would never get the British sense of humour, but the best part in Lucifer's jokes was his serious expression.
"There is no association…" she started, when Dan turned back from the file cabinet and called to Lucifer:
"Death's Door? Pal, I know you are indulging yourself, but don't take this shit. It is a really nasty staff. Fries your brain, literally."
For a moment, both Chloe and Lucifer froze, staring at Dan.
"What are you talking about?" asked Chloe.
Dan shrugged his shoulders. "I heard you were speaking about the Death's Door." Seeing from Chloe's expression that she still did not understand, he added: "This new drug. Shit, really. Two kids are already in the hospital, in a coma. Unlikely that they will make it."
"I told you it didn't look like the warning note!" exclaimed triumpantly Lucifer, while Chloe quickly searched for the photo of the note they found in the Mitchell's shop.
All three read it together once again. Death's door is open.
"It might be a threat," admitted slowly Dan, "But it also may refer to the drug. 'Is open' like 'is released', 'is available' or something of similar meaning. Anyway, Chlo, I think it is a reason enough for you to pass the case to the drug section."
"No way!" Chloe gasped with indignation. "It is my case and I am not going to resign from it just because it got more interesting. And thank you for believing in me, Dan," she added sarcastically.
Dan looked at her with discomfort. "I do not question your competences, Chloe. However, it might be something big. You would need more backup."
Chloe bit her lip. There was some grain of truth in Dan's words. However, if she passed the case now, before making any significant progress in the investigation, she would be moved away from it. And this case was an unexpected, but very welcome chance to redeem herself after her 'Palmetto calamity', as Lucifer called it. She didn't want to lose it.
"I will decide after this undercover we are doing tonight," she said finally. "So far, I have it all under the control."
Dan looked as if he wanted to argue, but then only threw his arms in the air in a gesture of surrender.
"Fine. It is your case," he muttered and added sneeringly, turning to Lucifer: "No remark about pride this time, Wisehead?"
"The detective is right. It is not pride only a correct assessment of the situation," the consultant replied smoothly. "You see, pal," he accented and concluded with his trademark smirk "she will be with me."
And yet, to Chloe's surprise, when they were driving on the evening to their meeting point, Lucifer stated with consideration:
"Detective, as much as I am disgusted with it, I must admit that the Douche might have been right about this case being potentially too dangerous. So, I have an idea. I will go there and talk with our 'customers'. And you may go home," he concluded.
Chloe parked the car in the back alley near the warehouse, put out the engine and stared at him in disbelief.
"What? So you can spend some time with your hellish little spawn," Lucifer shrugged his shoulders. "Well, go away."
"Have you gone mad? Or did you snack some of Margot's Campu in the meantime?" asked Chloe quite rudely.
Yes, in the little metal container they had original toxin brought by Ms Jensen. She didn't mind entrusting them with the whole shipment, to make their undercover work more credible.
"Look, Detective, I think I proved already I am perfectly capable of talking to people. The risk might be bigger than you assessed, so…"
"That's exactly why I will be going," said Chloe, but added gently, to soften her refusal: "You are extremely good at making people open to you, I still have no idea how you are doing this, but we both know you are terrible at being undercover. Everything in you simply is shouting that… you are you!" she laughed and Lucifer also smiled, evidently flattered. "And you do not look like the employee of the family herbal store. They do not wear Armani, you know."
"I can change," offered Lucifer with a painful expression.
"No time for that. Anyway, if these people saw you, they would simply run away and we wouldn't learn anything. I am going, end of the discussion," Chloe shook her head and started to correct the wiretapping under her blouse. "Excuse me, would you mind turning back?" she snapped, seeing him shamelessly staring at her.
"Yes, definitely," replied Lucifer, but obediently turned back. "So, what am I to do?"
"You will wait here, having my back."
"And where in it is the fun for me?" pouted the consultant.
"You will save my life if the things go awry," joked Chloe, but Lucifer found this answer satisfactory enough, nodding with a smile.
The detective finished correcting the wires, put the jacket on and reached for the container from Margot Jensen.
"Look, the patrol is checking the area, waiting for our call and trying to track their cars. Give me twenty minutes," said Chloe. "If I don't return in this time – and only on this condition - you may go and search for me. In case of bigger problems, do not interfere, but call for backup. Is that clear?"
"Yes," confirmed Lucifer and commented with a sly smirk: "I like when you are so bossy."
Chloe closed her eyes and counted to ten. Well, if bossy was what he liked, bossy he would get.
"How long do you have to wait?" she asked sharply.
"Twenty minutes."
"So could you check the watch?" seethed Chloe and when he ostentatiously raised the hand showing her some probably ridiculously expensive watch on his wrist, nodded: "Thank you."
Taking deep breaths to calm and concentrate, she left the car and walked toward the warehouse.
When she entered the warehouse, she took a while to look around the dimly lit space. It was empty except some old pallets and barrels placed in the middle. She quickly spotted a movement behind one of them.
"Hello! I am here!" she called aloud and raised Margot's container to show it to the 'customers'.
Two men moved from the shadow of the pallet heap and Chloe made few steps in their direction, eyeing them carefully. One of them was young, the other – a bit older. They were wearing jeans and hoodies. They looked shabby and a bit dirty. Not like healers offering inner purge for the overworked uptowns, thought Chloe, rather like common dealers.
"Who are you and where is Mitchell?" asked one of the men.
After a short consideration, Chloe decided to play bald.
"Mitchell is dead," she said shortly. "I am working for the new owner."
The surprise on their faces convinced her they didn't know about Mitchell's death. Well, at least one question was answered. However, she felt that his death was somehow connected with his off-the-books transactions. She only had to find a connection.
"The new owner? His wife?" asked one of them uncertainly. "How does she know… about us?"
"Not my business," Chloe shrugged her shoulders. "I am just the messenger." Lack of information forced her to improvise. "She is willing to continue the cooperation on the similar conditions, but she wants some details on whom she is dealing with."
The men looked at themselves and then, one reached into his pocket. For a second she feared he would retrieve the gun, but he only took out a leaflet.
"She may visit us tomorrow," said the man, holding out the leaflet to Chloe.
Stupefied, Chloe neared to them and took the leaflet. It was pinkish, all in flowery design and announced the services of some beauty salon, that promised exotic treatments for rejuvenation and stress release. Chloe immediately felt that the men were lying and salon on the leaflet had nothing to do with their activities. They wanted to close the transaction and leave.
"So, the price as usual?" as if confirming her suspicions, the man pointed at her container and took out a thick pile of banknotes.
Chloe hesitated. The backup patrol was checking the area, once the men left the warehouse, they would be followed. The illegal transaction would be enough to arrest them and their associates and ask all the necessary questions at the precinct. However, there was some risk that the men would evade the patrol and lose the pursuit. In such case, she would waste the trail without obtaining any important information.
She took the decision.
"One more thing," she said decisively. "The Death's Door."
It seemed that by saying these words she pushed some magic button. The men's faces changed immediately, twisting with shock and anger. Their glances moved from her to somewhere over her right shoulder. She heard some movement behind her and started to turn, following their sight, but then the pain exploded in her skull and the world went black.
She woke up in the ambulance. Her head was splitting with pain, but her senses quickly snapped and she recalled all the events before her black-out. Realising that the ambulance was still standing in front of the warehouse, she tried to sit up. Her movement called the attention of the man standing in front of the ambulance. When he turned back, she recognized Dan.
"Chloe!" he cried with relief. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine, I think," she stated unsurely still a bit dazed. "What happened?"
"The men you were meeting knocked you down and ran away," explained Dan. "Lucifer found you." He took her hand and sighed. "Chloe, I go back on each bad word I told about him. I didn't think he was able to play by the rules, but he was, he did everything by the book, no weird tricks. He found you, called us, and waited by your side until the backup came. It is good you have a partner having your back."
"Yes," nodded Chloe and looked around, trying to peep out of the ambulance. "Where is he?" She wanted to thank Lucifer as soon as possible, he deserved it, especially after the sharp conversation they had at the parking.
"This girl, Maze, came for him and they left together."
"Ah." The disappointment was so strong, that for a moment it jammed the pain in her head. Of course, why should he wait? She must have been out for a good hour, or more. He did his job and left to his life. "And these men from the warehouse? Did you manage to track them?"
"Yes," nodded Dan. "Two are already caught and the third one is being tracked down. It is a matter of hours until we get him."
"I saw only two of them," Chloe shook her head and grimaced at the new wave of pain. "But the third one must have hit my head. Dan, they must have something to do with the Death's Door. That drug you mentioned. They got aggressive when I mentioned it," excited with the progress in the investigation, she started to stand up, but Dan stopped her.
"No, you might have a mild concussion. They will take you to the hospital, but if everything is fine, they will let you go home in a few hours. Don't worry, I will take care of Trixie."
Chloe hated hospitals, but luckily, this time she didn't have to stay long. After the checkup and a few excruciatingly boring hours of waiting, she was allowed to return to her own house. She slept a bit longer than usual and when she appeared at the precinct, it was already filled with people.
In hope to see Lucifer, the detective quickly dismissed colleagues asking for her health and strode to her desk. However, instead of the consultant, she found there Dan, looking at her with a strange expression.
"I called the LUX and told Lucifer you would meet straight in front of the Mitchell's brother house," he said, replying her unspoken question. "Chloe, I need to show you something."