for i have sinned

Emanuel began his examination of the file about the victim. It wasn’t a long file, he read through it pretty quickly. While no one was around; he sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair.

His long, gloved fingers carefully opened his trench coat, hand sliding into the inner pocket as he took out a small flask. Unscrewing the top, he immediately took a few gulps of the burning liquid—groaning afterward.

After a few seconds he took another sip, but hardly enjoyed it since he heard the door open. He quickly lowered the flask and coughed at the burn in his throat; his eyes immediately narrowed.

“My, my… what do we have here.” Harlan’s voice snarled through the cold room as he leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest. That cocky smile flashed on his annoying face.

“Drinking while working? Scandalous..”

Emanuel rolled his eyes but didn’t answer, he put the closed flask back into his inner pocket and wiped his alcohol-stained lips with the back of his gloved palm.

“No wonder why you’re always this cranky…” Harlan continued and Emanuel took a deep breath before turning to face him. “Get out Harlan, I’m investigating.”

“Investigating alcohols or crimes?”

“Harlan.”

“What? Truth stings I know… let’s face it Emanuel, the case is pure dog shit. Just call it a night.”

Harlan took a few steps into the room and looked down at the evidence bags Emanuel collected from the victim. And whistled low, eyes landing on the watch carefully slid into the bag.

Harlan grabbed it, leaning his back on the wall as his eyes scanned the glinting watch.

“Patek Phillippe… minute repeater if I’m not mistaken?”

“Since when do you know about watches?” Emanuel snarled through his teeth. Grumbling under his nose as his hand scribbled the newfound information with a red pen into the victims file.

“Who doesn’t. Crazy money.”

Harlan threw the watch back on the desk with no ceremony.

“Careful with evidence, Detective. If you damage anything—that’s on you.”

Emanuel glared at Harlan, then at the watch and continued scribbling down in the document, his hand gripping the pen with all the force he had at the moment.

“I don’t need that old thing. Besides, it won’t help your useless case.”

“Just because you don’t understand something doesn’t mean it’s useless.”

“Oh and you’re just the smartest guy around here—Detective Emanuel?”

Emanuel frowned, his jaw clenching so hard his teeth could’ve cracked. “Get the fuck out of here Harlan. Better idea: don’t even breathe near me.”

“Getting aggressive are we… alright-alright. I apologise for breathing the same air as you—your majesty.”

With that annoying smirk Harlan carried, he simple tucked his hands in his pockets and left. Emanuel couldn’t find anything but curses in his mind as he stared at Harlan getting out of the room. He leaned back in his seat and rubbed his forehead. “I love my job. I love my job. I love my job.” He mumbled under his breath.

Then a soft knock came through his door, Emanuel sat straight. “Come in if you’re not Harlan.”

Thomas cracked the door open afterwards and peeked inside. He was holding two cups of warm coffee. “No, it’s me Sir.”

“Ah Thomas… yeah, come on in. I’m just writing down a few notes in the victim’s file…”

Thomas nodded and approached the table, he sat in front of Emanuel and slid him the warm cup. Emanuel tucked it closed to his side, afterwards took his flask and downed the bitter liquid into his coffee. Thomas stared at him with wide eyes.

“Sir… so much respect, but what are you doing?”

“Pouring holy water into my coffee, can’t you see?”

“Smells more like alcohol…”

“That’s the holy water.”

Thomas hummed and sipped on his own coffee. Better stay silent about this—he assumed…

Meanwhile the slick, black Lincoln Continental drove through puddles, Lucifer puffed on her usual cigars on the back seat as her driver kept his eyes forward. The golden Rosemary shining on her slim collarbone, coat making her look smaller—basically drowning her in its fabric. Lucifer didn’t speak, didn’t have to. She had one thing on her mind, and she’d achieve it… no matter what.

Emanuel and Thomas moved to continue their job after the little coffee break. Emanuel looked through the photographs of their case’s victim, the bullet wound on his neck. The awfully cheap clothing compared to the watch he carried in his pocket.

“Too many bodies have been left just lying around town. We investigated each one, but the cases were closed with bullshit excuses.” Emanuel spoke to Thomas. A bit bolder now that alcohol was starting to hit his system.

“Last time a case opened.. we arrested a man who turned himself in.”

“Criminals who turn themselves in… is that a regular thing in your line of work.”

Thomas spoke in between sips of his already cold coffee.

“Happens more often than you’d think. The guilt-driven criminals and killers who confess their crimes like sinners in church.” Detective Emanuel snorted under his nose, as he mentioned church… the incident with the mysterious woman suddenly appeared in his drunken mind, he blinked—letting his smile fall. Emanuel then coughed into his hand. He grabbed the folder . Pushing it Towards Thomas.

“Take these to Spencer.”

“The whole folder Sir?”

“No, only the half… of-course the whole damn folder.”

Thomas nodded, pushing himself out of his chair, he gathered everything and balanced the folder against his chest.

Emanuel watched him for a second, the alcohol hitting in all the right places. His voice rougher than usual came out as a final warning.

“And Thomas?”

The young officer paused as he was about to reach the door and turned to face Emanuel again.

“Yes Sir?”

“Try not to lose anything.”

Thomas’s expression looked almost offended as he heard those words.

“I won’t Sir.”

“Good.”

The door clicked shut behind the young officer as he left. Emanuel stayed behind. He needed to compare some of the photographs and examine the evidences he had gathered so far. He exhaled sharply, the alcohol made edges of the room softer—but his mind was still irritatingly awake. He reached for the photographs and laid them all over the desk.

The victim.

A close shot of the bullet wounds.

The alley.

The piece of cloth.

The watch.

The watch…?

Emanuel’s eyes stopped.

A frown painted on his face. Did he give the watch to Thomas? He couldn’t remember… the last thing he remembered about the watch was…

…Harlan. He tossed it without care onto his desk and left… but he didn’t see it afterwards. Emanuel’s eyes snapped towards the place where the watch should’ve been.

He grabbed the other evidence bags and desperately tossed them aside, searching for the watch.

He searched through bags once.

Twice.

No watch.

All the alcohol he consumed? Vanished from his brain as soon as he felt the panic hit him.

He remembered Harlan’s smirk, how he suddenly took interest in the watch after calling it “an old thing” during body investigation.

“Harlan.”

Emanuel sat still for a moment, before he gathered himself and abruptly stood up. The chair scraped sharply against the floor. He pulled open the drawers with newfound aggression. One drawer… the second one. Maybe in his drunk haze he didn’t realise how he misplaced it.

But nothing.

He couldn’t have misplaced it. Not after Harlan’s interest towards a valuable evidence for this case.

Emanuel pulled his coat on tightly, he slammed the door open and practically ran towards where Spencer should be.

But Harlan was already gone.

Harlan walked out of the building through the back entrance, hat pulled on low, coat snug around his waist. Boots stepped quietly on muddy ground as he walked with purpose.

His fingers brushed against the cold metal he held.

The watch.

A tiny smirk crossed his face, he had been waiting, praying, begging for this opportunity.

Detective Emanuel practically handed it to him. The drunk scum didn’t even notice.

Outside rain had thinned into miserable drizzle. Harlan lit a cigarette, quietly celebrating his win of the day. He glanced over his shoulder.

Nobody followed.

Perfect.

The watch felt heavy in his gloved hands.

Not because of its weight or material.

But because of its worth. And the person waiting for it.

The city was quieter in the back streets. Harlan finally turned into the narrow alley he recognised from before. The sound of rainwater gripping down the fire-escape gave him comfort.

“It’s rude to keep a lady waiting.”

Harlan stopped in his tracks, then looked up. And there she was…

Lucifer stood several feet away, under the dim light of the streetlamp. Beside her two men covered in black trench coats.

Her black coat swallowed most of her frame, collar high against the cold. Large rings clicking softly against one another on her fingers.

“Good evening to you too.”

Lucifer didn’t react, she spoke after a moment of silence.

“Do you have it?”

“You don’t even wanna know how difficult it was to get it?”

“No.”

Harlan chuckled.

“Always straight to business.”

He stepped closer and took the watch out of his pocket. The shiny metal absorbing the street lamps weak light, making it glow even warmer.

Lucifers expression hardly changed.

Only her eyes did. She reached for it, for several seconds neither of them spoke. She simply turned the watch from side to side—examining it.

“You did well.”

“I knew you’d say that.” Harlan smirked.

“I said you did well.”

The smile faltered a bit from Harlan’s expression. He studied her face.

“You did everything you were supposed to with the body?”

Harlan huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I did.”

“No trace?”

“None Luci… you know I’m a professional.”

Silence followed afterwards as Lucifer tucked the watch into her pocket.

“And?” Harlan asked.

“And what?”

Detective Harlan gave a small chuckle. But his facial expression spoke irritation.

“Lucifer we had an arrangement.”

Lucifer finally looked up.

“No.”

“No?”

“Our arrangement ended the moment you decided to speak to Emanuel.”

“I didn’t tell him anything.”

“Didn’t have to.”

“He suspects nothing.”

“That isn’t the point.”

Lucifer crossed her arms again over her chest, as her men behind her raised their guns in a way that made Harlans pulse jump.

“I don’t work with cops.”

Harlans eyes narrowed at Lucifers words.

“You work around them.”

“I use people.”

“You used me.”

Lucifer smiled faintly.

“Glad you realised.”

The silence that followed was deadly, Harlan’s shaky hands reached towards his coats inner pocket.

“Don’t.” Lucifers faint smile fell as she said that single word.

He froze.

“You were useful Harlan. Really.”

His face changed.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I appreciate your service.”

“You said-“

Lucifer stepped closer suddenly.

“I said you were useful—not safe…”

The gunshot cracked through the alley.

Harlans body collapsed against the brick wall before sliding onto the wet pavement. Lucifer sighed and looked at one of her men who shot him.

“I wasn’t finished.”

Before the man could answer she shook her head.

“Don’t sweat it.”

Lucifer began walking away, leaving the bleeding body of Detective Harlan to rot in the narrow alleyway. Her men immediately walked behind her and helped her get into the car before driving off.

She didn’t look back.

Not once.

In the car she finally look at the watch she now possessed closer.

A piece of evidence she had taken from a dead man.

She carefully slid it on her wrist and clicked it closed. It sat perfectly on her.

By the time the rain got heavier again… There was nothing left in the alley besides a bleeding body against the pavement—

And the beginning of a new mystery.