Kneel

Case 5

  "She snuck out of the house. I thought she was asleep."

  "Mrs. Cortez, I'll find who caused your daughter's death. I promise you." Chloe said to the crying woman before I led her away to have a seat.

  Making sure there was a box of tissue nearby, I asked someone to bring her some water before turning and seeing Chloe walking off with Dan. They seemed to be discussing something until Dan pointed, and they both stopped. Chloe looked over her shoulder and spotted me looking her way before motioning me to come over.

  "What?"

  "Misha, is it just us, or is Lucifer sitting on my desk?" Chloe crossed her hands in front of her, and I looked.

  "I guess it's your day to have him, Dear. Hope you two have fun."

  "Misha." She stopped me when I went to walk away, and I sighed. "Please tell me I'm hallucinating." Chloe popped off while going to her desk.

  "Well, I am dreamy, but try to contain yourself."

  "What are you doing here?"

  "I'm not actually here to see you." Lucifer replied, and Chloe grinned at me.

  "Guess it's your day, honey."

  "Oh, were you two fighting over who gets me? I'm flattered, but no, I'm not here for you, either. I've come to talk to your boss. About a shooting." Lucifer rubbed his leg, and I narrowed my eyes.

  "I thought you had my back on this." I hissed lowly. "If the department finds out what really happened, I could lose my badge."

  "What, you mean the fact that you shot me on purpose?" Lucifer had been whispering at first but nearly yelled at the end, and I nervously laughed while looking around. Grabbing the front of his shirt, I yanked him down while leaning on Chloe's desk.

  "Which I said I was sorry for, like, a hundred times. And, honestly, I don't think it even left a scar." I whispered, and Lucifer gasped while leaning back and putting a hand over his heart.

  "Didn't it?"

  "Mr. Morningstar?" The lieutenant called from her office doorway. "I can see you now."

  "Splendid. We've so much to discuss." Lucifer walked away while grinning at me.

  "I know you don't like him, but did you actually have to shoot him, Misha?"

  "In my defense, a lot of freaky shit's been going on, and he told me to do it." I sighed while walking over to my desk to wait in agony until Lucifer and Olivia came back out of the office. The minutes seemed to drag on, but when they finally came out, I got to my feet. "Lieutenant, I can explain."

  "Oh, you better explain why you and your partner have been keeping such a valuable resource all to yourselves." She gestured to Lucifer, and I looked at Chloe as my brows furrowed. She didn't look like she knew what the lieutenant was talking about either and just sort of shrugged.

  "E-Excuse me?"

  "We have someone who can make Benny Choi talk."

  "Someone with charm, likability...." Lucifer smiled.

  "And has real ties to the community." Olivia nodded, and Chloe popped off under her breath.

  "Here it comes."

  "Lucifer Morningstar has volunteered to act as a liaison in the Paola Cortez case." She handed me a file, and I just looked down at it. "You're welcome, Sobieski."