A/n: I just wanted to take a moment to say Thank you to all the readers of this story.
Chapter 4: Business Before Pleasure
It had been months since they had made this much money on a Saturday night. Maze roared with triumphant laughter as she looked over the total sales Sunday morning. Even taking out the cost to replace the table, and a few chairs, Maze's newest find had held up her end of the deal. She couldn't prevent the smirk that grew as she drafted the new contract for New Girl. Oh her new little bird was going to make her so much money.
Lucifer's late morning swim was cut short by the non-stop ringing of his phone. Just as he had finally begun to investigate the needy device, the detective cleared her throat.
"We found Carter. The lieutenant wants us on scene." She said, as she turned bright red and faced away from his mostly naked form. 'Why does this keep happening to me?' She internally pouted. It was hard to remember she was suppose to be moving on when these moments kept happening.
"Of course..." He responded offhandedly, the text from Maze had taken his attention, "Very important police work, text me the address and I'll meet you there."
"I already did, Lucifer. I'll see you there." She said, glad for her rapid chance at escape.
The detective's frantic footfall was completely lost to the dipping wet man. Maze's message glowed on the screen:
"Record Sat night profits, signing New Girl on. Signing at La Etoile tonight 5pm, under Morningstar. DON'T be late!"
'Lead choreographer indeed, Miss. Varquez.' He thought to himself as he returned to his loft and prepared for the suddenly busy day. The faintest smile teased his lips.
The detective seemed almost impatient as Lucifer pulled up to the small strip mall. "Not like you to be so slow when we finally hit a lead." She commented roughly as she turned toward the jewelry store outlet.
"I have to be careful to wash out all of the chlorine, Detective. It does terrible things to my hair." Smirk firmly planted over the smile he hadn't felt need to subdue. He could feel the detective's eyes roll. 'That's more like it.'
Within the outlet, one Mr. Carter stood with a shining strand of diamonds in one hand and a furious finger wagging on the other. "Now you listen here, I bought this damn thing, from this store, for $1600 just two days ago. You can do better than fucking $120."
"I don't think money is your biggest problem right now." A flash of a badge and before the comment had completely left the detective's mouth, Carter had bolted. With a groan, the detective followed.
Lucifer, with no desire for that much physical activity, turned his attention to the attendant behind the counter. "Why would a slouch like that be bothering a handsome gentleman like yourself?" He asked, leaning into the counter.
With a creeping blush and a tiny smile, the young man responded, "Resale isn't always ideal in the second hand market."
"It was lovely, I imagine the whoever that he is returning them over didn't turn down the necklace due to poor quality."
"Oh no, she was lovely," he gushed, "He's the problem. Over-reaching."
"Did the sale paperwork include an address?" Lucifer asked, focusing his full attention to the young man that leaned back toward him.
"I-I... Well, yes... But I shouldn't give out that information... I mean, my job, I-"
"Not for free, no. For what you truly desire," He said warmly into the small space between them, "What do you desire?"
After a brief pause, the young man exploded in whispered sound. "I want a real partner. Not one of those assholes that leaves after a couple dates. A real, loving, life-time, forever kind of partner. Commitment ready."
"Well, well. Invite me to the wedding! I know the best place for finding your future, I'll put you on the list for the Lux and introduce you to some friends." Lucifer said in a bright and cheerful tone, practically leaping at his assumed deal.
"Yea-yeah! Totally! Thank you! My name is Tyler Lorns," a quick spin through the sales Rolodex produced a small information slip. Tyler wrote his name and number on the card and hand it to Lucifer with a large smile, "I'll be there tonight!"
"Excellent, I'll be there a bit later, but once I arrive we will begin!" With a flourish of his hand and a bow, Lucifer stepped out of the outlet just in time for a fuming detective to return. "Ah, Detective! Any luck catching our culprit?"
"Slipped me on an alleyway," She whirled about to face the store, "We should see if they'll give up anything on the guy."
"Let me stop you there, Detective. I have the address right here." His hand with the slip appeared before the detective's face before she could get a charging start on the door.
With a shake of her head and a chuckle, she told the card and punched the address into her phone's GPS map. "Alright, lets go visit Carter."
Lucifer pulled into their destination street behind the detective. Suburbans always creeped him out a little. The same "cute" house over and over again as far as the eye can see in the same four shades of gray. It was like an Earth-bound Hell all of its own. Thank his father the damnable buildings were at least numbered.
The detective motioned him toward a particular drearily looking one. A flickering curtain told them both that they had been spotted. With a quick glance at one another, the partners headed for the back of the house. As though to apologize to the detective for denying her prey earlier, Mr. Carter landed on the alley behind the wood fence in a heap as her feet. Lucifer was proud of the smirk that blazed across her face.
Mr. Carter became aware of his guests with a start, "Shit, look, you can't talk to me without my lawyer right?"
The detective's smirk was impenetrable, "Oh, I'm not going to talk to you. I'm not a hypnotist. Lucifer?"
With a light chuckle, Lucifer stepped forward, "Oh I'm no hypnotist. We've been over that Detective. But I must say I am curious as to why you killed Ashley. Was she going to leave you for an obviously better choice? Was it revenge you desire?"
With each question, he edged closer and Chloe watched at the man's eyes seemed to almost glaze over. Despite the constant denial, she was positive it had to be hypnotism. All that was left was to figure out the technique itself. More out of curiosity than want for the ability itself.
"No, no, no, no," Mr. Carter began to murmur, as his head shock back and forth, "I loved her. He made me. I … They said they would kill me. I had just wanted to make a better life for us... I never thought they'd ask for her." With a final shudder, the man broke down into tears.
A look of curious confusion crossed Lucifer. "You did kill her, but you didn't want to? Then why on Earth would you?"
"I... I got mixed in with some really bad guys..." Tear filled eyes dropped to the ground.
"John Carter, you're under arrest for the murder of Ashley Mithers. I'm going to need you to come with me." Lucifer turned back to the detective and watched as Mr. Carter nodded and held out his hands.
It was a short ride back to the precinct, and the detective deposited their killer in the holding cell for the night. Tomorrow, once they had the rest of the evidence to go with the confession (and a defense attorney to undoubtedly make their lives more difficult), the real work would begin. In the mean time, it was only 4:15 pm.