"Sooo what you are saying is that there is nothing we can really go off of right now?" Maze said crossing her arms looking irritated.
Chloe shook her head and rolled her eyes, "No Maze, that's not what I said, I said that I can only pin point it down to a five-block area."
Chloe walked over to the table in Lucifer's apartment and laid out a map. "So, Ella and I have been tracking the crime in LA for the last 3 months." She looked up at Amenadiel, "That's when you said to start right?"
Amenadiel nodded, " I figure we could start with that but it's been here longer at least 5 months from what we know. Maybe longer."
Chloe looked over at Ella who gave a nod, "Ok this is what we found the last 3 months, I will see if there is a pattern from before that tomorrow."
Chloe nodded at her, "I will check with all homicides that are unsolved for now and possibly add the solved ones if the assailants are using insanity pleas or say that it wasn't their fault…... if I add the second batch it will be a lot more. There seem to be a lot of people that like to say it wasn't their fault." She finished the last part with a glance at Lucifer.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow back, since Chloe had walked into his apartment he had been trying to get her alone to talk. That had not worked out quite yet. First, she had come with Ella and had stayed close to her all night "talking" about the case. The few times Ella had walked away she had gone over to Maze and Amenadiel to ask them questions. She was being as slippery as an eel tonight.
"Something to say detective?" Lucifer asked with a head nod.
"Nope." She said back just as quickly refusing to look up from the map. Lucifer could see her reverting back to her snarky closed off attitude. It was like when they had first met and all she wanted to do was close everyone out.
"Are you sure?" he asked back crossing his arms trying to goat her into fully engaging with him. Since she had been here tonight she had not once looked him in the eye and or said a full sentence to him. She had talked around him, through him and even indirectly at him. But she had yet to look at him and say something to him.
"Yep." She said as she turned to talk to Maze again, "Hay you said to focus on homicides and we noticed especially in the last 2 months a cluster of crimes in this area." Chloe said pointing to a specific area of downtown.
Everyone turned to look down at the map. "This area seems to be a hot spot. The murders have tripled and so have attacks. Several people that have been interviewed in the last 2 months said that they didn't remember what happened. They didn't remember anything leading up to the attacks or their parts in it."
Chloe turned to look at Amenadiel, "This is where I would start your search, what you are looking for could be in this 5-block area." She said softly.
Lucifer grinned at her back, fine if she wanted a challenge he would give her a challenge.
"Detective this area over here." Lucifer said pointing to the red dots on map and forcing her to turn to look at him. "This is the area that has been hit with the most crime in the last two months?"
Chloe narrowed her eyes at him, "That is what I just said." She said through gritted teeth.
Lucifer nodded again, "So the best course is to have ... what do you call it... ahhh yes, feet on the ground in this area? People there asking questions and looking at what's going on, right?"
Chloe gave a slow, small nod weary of where this was leading, "Yes if this was a police investigation that is what we would do... add more patrols. Make people see us."
Lucifer gave her a quick flashing grin before turning to give a full sneaky grin to Maze and Amenadiel. "Alright then, that is what we shall do. Maze since you work nights you take the day shifts there. Amenadiel since you do nothing you can go with Maze." When Amenadiel started to speak out Lucifer gave him a glare and Maze slapped his stomach hard enough to make his breath rush out.
"Sure Lucifer we can do that." Maze said quickly knowing what Lucifer was up to. Amenadiel glared back at both of them.
"Walk around, ask questions? Do you really think after months of searching… that wondering around will help us find the piece?" Amenadiel said crossing his arms in a huff.
Lucifer turned back to Chloe who was watching them with narrowed eyes, "Well the detective did say that helps. Puts the pressure on, plus if the piece is actually in that area we might catch them using it." Lucifer said with a flashing smile, "Right Detective?"
Chloe slowly crossed her arms over her chest, "Yesss." She said slowly. She knew Lucifer was up to something, the question was what.
Lucifer grinned back at her, "Perfect, then the detective and I can look in the evening after she gets off work."
Lucifer watched as the emotions crossed over Chloe's face. He could see her clenching her jaw so hard her teeth were threatening crack. "You are forgetting that I work all day. I really don't want to spend all night looking for things. I can help on the weekends." She growled out.
"Tsk, tsk detective. You promised to help …. are you backing out of your word." Lucifer said with a smile knowing he was backing her into a corner. A corner where he had control. Where he could slowly wear her down to see that he wasn't leaving again. The first step in his plan was to get her to spend as much time with him as he possibly could. To wear her walls down until all of her anger and sadness and pain were gone.
"I have a child I need to take care of Lucifer." She said back with a small grin thinking she had won.
"Ahhhhh yes, Trixie." Lucifer said with another grin, wagging his finger at her, "The thing is detective. I talked to Maze and she told me that Detective Douche took little Trixie on a little vacation." Lucifer said drawing out the words Detective Douche in only the way he could.
Chloe's eyes slammed over to Maze, who was trying to look everywhere but the table. "Ohhh Maze told you that, did she." Chloe growled.
Maze finally looked at her with guilty eyes, "Sorry it slipped." She glared over at Lucifer, "Big mouth." She whispered.
Chloe looked back at Lucifer who gave her a quick grin and shrug, "Sorry, but not sorry. So really detective you have no excuse. A couple of hours after work helping me out just like promised."
He watched as Chloe clenched her jaw again with closed eyes. Lucifer knew he was riding a very thin line. Pushed too far and she would run, don't push enough and everything would be lost.
Chloe looked over at Amenadiel then gave a grin of triumph, "Or Lucifer and Maze could look during the day and Amenadiel and I could look at night." She said quickly, "Honestly that's a bad part of town and Amenadiel looks a lot scarier then you Lucifer."
Amenadiel opened his mouth to say that was fine but before a single word could pass Maze grab a chuck of his skin on his back. He jumped and turned to Maze but she had a look of pure innocence on her face. "What the Hell."
"What?" She said, looking a little too innocent for Chloe's liking.
Before Amenadiel could say another word Lucifer jumped in. "Well you see... that could work but..."Lucifer stalled trying to figure the excuse.
His beloved Maze jumped in quickly, "Amenadiel promised to help the Doc out at her office during the evening... she is moving everything around when she has to patients. So, he has to help me during the day."
And in that second Lucifer loved Maze more than he had ever loved her before. "Yes, Right." He clapped and turned back to Chloe, "So you see, it's just you and I. Plus really, do you not trust me to keep you safe?" Lucifer asked with a frown.
Chloe looked over at him with guilt, "I didn't say that, I just said that Amenadiel is scarier looking."
Maze whispered under her breath to Amenadiel, "She obviously has never seen Lucifer's other face."
Amenadiel coughed and gave a snicker, "Right, he makes me look like a baby."
"What?" Chloe said with a snap.
"Nothing." They both said with a quick and guilty look.
Ella looked at everyone, "Ummm, not to be needy but what am I supposed be doing? No Patrol for me?"
Before Chloe could open her mouth Lucifer jump back in, "Of course love, I was gonna have you use your evenings after work to track new crimes. Let us know where we need to be looking each day or night. You of course are by far the most efficient at computers and tracking. No better lady for the job." Lucifer said with the big flashy grin making sure her day and night were to full to interfere.
Lucifer watched as Chloe closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He knew he was pushing her against everything she wanted. She swore she wasn't going to work directly with him and now she was being pushed into that very direction.
Maze, Amenadiel and Ella also watched her waiting to see what she would do. They could tell the moment she made her mind up and they all gave quick flashing smiles at each other before schooling their faces back to blank stares.
"Fine. We can start tomorrow Lucifer. Around 6 o'clock." Chloe said with a look of defeat. For one split second Lucifer almost backed down and let her go. Then he remembered the plan again, spend time with her. The only way that was going to happen was if he forced her. She would never just willingly seek him out right now.
Lucifer gave her a small smile, "Perfect would you like me to pick you up at the precinct?"
Lucifer watched as Chloe shook her head no, "I will come here and pick you up in my car. That way I can drop you off when I'm done and go home."
That was not part of Lucifer's plan, he wanted to be able to pick her up. Maybe take her to dinner before looking for the price. Then take her home and tell her good night. However, he could see by Chloe's face not to push his luck. "That works for me." He said softly.
"Great, well it's been a long day and I am ready to go home." Chloe said starting to gather up the maps. She turned to look at Ella who was talking to Maze quietly by the elevator doors. "Ella." She called over trying to ignore Lucifer who was bending over trying helping her.
Ella turned back to Chloe, "Sup lady?" She asked with a grin.
"I am ready to go home, how about you?" Chloe asked Ella with pleading eyes. Little did Chloe know, over her head Lucifer was shaking his head back-and-forth no. Ella's eyes went back-and-forth trying to figure out who she should support. The pinch in her back from Maze made her decision clear. "Actually, Maze just invited me to see some of her gear down stairs. You know how I love the new equipment." Ella said with a grimace and smile. "Do you mind waiting a bit?"
Chloe watched as Maze hit the elevator button and closed her eyes in defeat, "It's OK I'll just call an Uber." She said going to pick up her phone.
"No you will not." Lucifer's said sharply, "I will happily take you home."
Chloe looked over at Lucifer, "Thanks but I'm fine." She said softly.
Lucifer narrowed his eyes at her, "So you hate me so much you can't even except a ride from me." He asked softly.
Chloe closed her eyes as she heard the elevator doors close, signaling that they were now alone in the apartment again. Just this morning she had swore she would not be alone with him... that she was going to do this case without falling back into a partnership. 12 hours later and she was already alone with him and had to be his partner starting tomorrow night.
"Look Lucifer, I told you, I can't do this with you. I can't just pick up where we left off. I can't just be your partner. I need space." She said stiffly putting everything back into her bag. She finally looked up at him and his heart broke. Her eyes were full of pain and uncertainty.
Lucifer slowly slid his hands into his pockets and clenched his jaw, "We can't make this better if you can't even be in the same space as me." He said softly.
He watched as Chloe shook her head back, "You just are not getting it…... I don't want to make this better…. I don't want anything to do with you." She said standing tall trying to use a frim voice.
Lucifer turned and walked back over to the window again, looking out over the night sky. After a minute her turned back, "I have never lied to you before…... So, I'm not gonna lie to you now…... I have no intentions of letting you go." He said softly hands clenched in his pockets.
Chloe's eyes grew until they took over her face, "What do you mean?" She said softly.
Lucifer walked back to her until he was standing toe to toe. Then he looked her right in the eyes so there could be no confusion. "I am not giving you up without a fight…... I…... I made a mistake, I ran when I should've stayed. But I refuse to believe that everything has been lost." He said softly, his breath gently brushing her face.
He watched as tears filled her eyes, "I know that you're scared right now... I know that I hurt you." He said hoarsely his hand going up to cup her cheek "I know that I lost your trust…. Now…... Now I'm gonna do everything in my power to get it back."
He watched she slowly closed her eyes and leaned into his hand trying to absorb his strength. "It's too late." She whispered brokenly
Lucifer reached his other hand up to the back of her neck, cradling it gently. "I don't believe that. I refuse to believe that." He whispered back fiercely.
Chloe took a deep breath eyes still closed, afraid that if she opened them everything would change. "No, it's too late." She said with a harsh whisper that broke at the end.
Slowly, Lucifer pulled her into his arms. So slowly it felt like it took a lifetime. Afraid to go to quickly and have her jump or run away. Only when she was clasped tightly against his chest did he whisper into her ear, "I swear to you I will earn your forgiveness... and your trust again... I know that I don't deserve it, I know that I don't deserve you. But I'm a selfish bloody bastard and I'm not giving you up."
Chloe's arms slowly crept up around his waist and when she circled her arms around him, clenching him close. He felt the first bit of peace that he had felt in months. For that one moment, having her in his arms, his world was at peace. His heart was full and it was whole.
When the elevator ding sounded, it was like a gunshot in the apartment. Chloe jumped out of his arms looking everywhere but at him. She grabbed her bag and practically ran to the opening doors pushing past Ella and Maze.
"Chloe." Lucifer called quickly walking after her. But she was too fast, in the elevator and pushing the door close button before he could reach her.
"Bloody fucking hell." He growled as he slammed his hand against the closed door. The moment of peace gone and his heart broken again. She had not said one thing back to him. She had not agreed to anything he said.
He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the elevator, "I was so close. So, close to breaking her walls down. I could feel it." He stood straight and started pushing the elevator door button again. Slamming it with his impatience, "Open you fucking bloody bastard ... OPEN." He growled at the door like the inanimate object was purposely standing in his way to getting back to Chloe.
Maze slowly walked over to lean against the pillar looking at Lucifer trying to figure out exactly what she was going to say. Finally, she looked him in the eyes, "Maybe you should let her go for the night." She said softly.
Lucifer turned to her with narrowed eyes, "I just had her in my arms. I was so close to having her walls come down. Now you want me to let her go?" He said with a harsh whisper.
Maze took a breath, "Not forever Lucifer. Just for tonight. You know Chloe, if you push her too far you will break her. Give her the night to think about what you said. Give her tonight and tomorrow to prepare herself to spend the evening with you."
Lucifer turned around to lean against the elevator that still had not opened he saw Ella standing there. "You….and what do you think?" he asked her harshly.
Ella walked over and slid her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly and startling him simultaneously. "I think that you've been through a lot today. Whatever happened this morning when she saw you. Whatever happened while we were gone just now. I think you're hurting." Ella pulled back and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I also think Chloe has been through a lot. The last two months, you coming back. Whatever happened this morning and just now. You need to give her time to process."
Ella took a full step back, "I'm going to go downstairs, I'm going to take her home. I'll text you and let you know that she's safe. And I will talk to her tomorrow during work. I'll tell her she needs to give you another chance. I'll work on it. Just be patience, ok."
Lucifer gave a small painful chuckle, "Patience seems to be the one virtue that I did not get."
Ella gave a loud laugh, "Bullshit, you are missing a lot of virtues. It's a good thing we love you anyway." She walked over hit the down button and Lucifer cursed out loud when it slid right open for her.
"Of course, it just opens now." He said with a growl.
"Patience." She said as the door slid closed, "It is going to take time." Her voice cut off as the doors closed.
Lucifer walked back over to the window again, trying to look down to see Chloe the stories below, "How long do I have to wait…... I know that I just started begging for forgiveness but you know me. I want what I want, when I want it." He questioned softly. "And I want this right now."
Maze walked over to look down with him, "I think… the question is…... how long are you willing to wait?" she asked as she saw Chloe, the smallest speck on the street.
Lucifer slowly reached out and touched the glass, trying to reach through and touch her. His heart stopped for moment when she got into the car and disappeared. "Forever." He whispered huskily, "I would wait for her forever."