Chapter 16: A Creepy Feather

Beckett pressed the intercom on the apartment building where Jason Thompson was supposed to be living. There was a soft crackle and a voice came through the speaker. "Who is it?"

"NYPD we're looking for Jason Thompson." Beckett replied.

The voice took a moment to answer. "He doesn't live here anymore." He sounded sullen, with a faint note of fear.

"Then can we speak with you? We just need some answers." Beckett encouraged gently, any information at this point would be helpful but whoever they were talking to was obviously nervous.

There was another long silence. "Alright." The door clicked open and Lucifer immediately stepped forward to hold it open. Beckett stepped through and smiled after she had passed him. The devil had manners, go figure.

They took the elevator to the third floor and read their way down to 302. There was a young man in the doorway. He had dark hair falling into his eyes and slouched shoulders. He was avoiding eye contact. Beckett wondered what he was so afraid of. Unless he had drugs hiding in his apartment. Wouldn't surprise her. Thompson had been arrested for possession; it wouldn't be unheard of for his roommate to have the same weakness.

The two detectives pulled out their badges. "Detective Beckett NYPD, this is Detective Decker of the LAPD."

"Gary." The sullen young man said softly, still standing in the doorway. "What do you want with Jason?"

"We were hoping you could tell us where he is." Chloe said gently.

"Dunno. He left here weeks ago. Left me with the rent too." Gary still wasn't meeting their eyes.

"Can we have this conversation inside?" Chloe asked stepping forward slightly. The action forced Gary to step back and let them inside without being too pushy. Beckett flicked an approving look at Chloe who smiled back.

Castle and Lucifer immediately started to examine the shelves. "Rather extensive book collection." Lucifer commented, running his fingers along the dust jackets.

"I like to read." Gary said self-consciously.

Beckett pulled him back again. "What can you tell us about Jason?" She asked.

Gary tightened his arms around himself. "He's an ok guy I suppose. Quiet, pretty good roommate mostly. Then one day he just ups and leaves." Beckett could see him holding something back. He was on edge.

"Did he tell you where he was going?" Chloe asked. "Or leave anything behind."

"He didn't say, and he left most of his stuff here. I thought he might be coming back but I don't reckon anymore."

"What makes you say that?" Beckett pressed. This kid definitely knew more than he was letting on.

"Just a feeling." He replied shifting from one foot to the other.

"You can tell us here or downtown Gary." Beckett told him firmly. She wasn't leaving here without more information. This was their only lead on Thompson and she wasn't going to lose him.

"I don't know anything else." Gary told them turning and dropping onto the couch, curling in on himself slightly. Protective. Beckett opened her mouth to press further, but Chloe stepped forward. Beckett noticed her hand flick in a gesture of summoning and Lucifer strolled over casually.

Chloe sat on the armchair and Beckett frowned at her slightly. Chloe was a guest detective here, but she was taking the front seat. "We'll find out eventually." She said. "You may as well tell us."

Gary shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about?"

This time it was Lucifer who answered, he leant forward dark eyes suddenly intensely focused. "Oh I think you do Gary. I think you know exactly what we're talking about." He tilted his head slightly and Gary looked up, startled and now definitely frightened when faced with Lucifer's intense dark eyes. "So tell me Gary. What is it you desire?"

Beckett frowned. What kind of question was that? Her irritation changed quickly to surprise as Gary's gaze seemed to hook onto Lucifer's. His expression relaxed and he blinked slowly, almost like he was hypnotised. "I…I want…" He murmured, focused completely on Lucifer who smiled encouragingly. What the hell was this guy?

When the words came it was like a dam breaking. Gary was suddenly talking, all the fear and worry gone, he just seemed happy to be able to say something. "I want to never have to see that guy and his goddamn creepy ass token ever again." Gary lent back and looked between the four of them. Lucifer leant back with a smug look on his face, Chloe was frowning. Beckett however surprised she might have been stepped forward to press the question. She had no idea what Lucifer had done, but she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"You mean Jason?"

"Yeah. Dude was creepy. He was always kind of intense, but then one day he came home and you could see the crazy in his eyes man." Gary explained, waving his arms wildly and swivelling a finger at his temple.

"What about the token?" Castle asked. "What's that, like a Native American thing?"

Gary shook his head. "Nah man, it was way weirder than that. Jase said he found it, he said it spoke to him and told him his destiny." He looked between them as though seeking approval. "I always knew he had a screw loose, but this thing it drove him right off the rails."

"Did you see what it was?" Beckett asked.

Gary nodded. "It was a feather, I mean it's not like that's normally creepy, but dude. This thing was something else. It made me feel ill just looking at it. Jase spent all his time holding it and touching it and just looking at it. I just wanted it gone. It's a pain paying the rent on my own, but I'm so glad it's gone."

Beckett stared at him. A creepy feather. What the hell was she supposed to do with that?

Lucifer looked more interested. "What colour was the feather?" He asked seriously.

"Black, but not just plain black. It was kind of shiny and….I really can't describe it." Garry shuddered.

"Not surprising." Lucifer said and stood up. "Well that explains a lot." He said firmly.

Chloe rose as well and looked at Beckett, checking to see if there was anything else she wanted to ask. Apparently Lucifer had something and Chloe was willing to set aside this tenuous lead to follow it.

Beckett looked back at Gary and asked again now that he was, for some reason, feeling more open. "Do you know where Jason went?" She pressed.

Gary shook his head again. "I was telling the truth. I've got no idea where he went, but I know he's not coming back because his journal and that damn feather are both gone."

"Thank you. We'll be in touch if there's anything else." Beckett told him, they moved back towards the front door. Gary jumped to his feet. "No worries."

Then they were out the door and heading to the elevator. "Care to share?" Castle asked the guests. "How did you get him to talk?"

Lucifer smirked and straightened his cuff links. It seemed to be something of a habit with him. "People like to tell me things. Particularly those deep, dark desires you all have."

Again with the talking like he wasn't a part of the human race. Beckett shook her head and looked Chloe. "Seriously?"

Chloe smiled and shrugged. "Look it may seem weird, but it works. People talk to Lucifer, sometimes a little too much." She flicked a teasing look at her partner who smirked back at her.

As they stepped into the elevator Chloe looked up at Lucifer. "You know what that feather is though don't you?"

So that was what had answered all Chloe's questions. Beckett looked at up Lucifer who was still smiling, but there was an additional tension to his face. "Oh I have a very good idea."