47The Gift of Tongues
The new lieutenant wasn't a demon or biblical character but he was a blowhard, thought Chloe Decker as she stood at attention and listened to him make aspersions on her social life and ethics. "I want you to get rid of that Man HO, you understand Decker. You brought him in, you get rid of him."
"No," she said.
"WHAT?" said Lieutenant Bragswell, "Are you defying me?"
"No sir, I didn't bring him in. The lieutenant brought him in and assigned him to me. You'll have to get rid of him yourself."
She saluted and walked out on the bastard and considered finding another police department to transfer to. Maybe she could check and see if any positions were open. She never did it before because of Palmetto, but now, she knew her reputation was golden.
Lieutenant Bragswell followed her out of his office. "Where is Morningstar?" he hollered.
An officer passing through pointed upstairs, "Headed toward the intake desk, Sir." He said politely. They had soon discovered the new boss liked to yell as a hobby and were ignoring it.
The Lieutenant stormed upstairs and Chloe followed him against her better judgement.
There at the intake was a huge group of Chinese people yelling and screaming.
"What did Morningstar do now?" asked the Lieutenant, sneering at Chloe.
"Why nothing at all," said Lucifer, "Did you have something you wanted me to do?" replied Lucifer coming in the door with coffee and bags of donuts for the front desk.
A man started to pound on the desk and yell in Chinese. Lucifer put down his goods and turned to the crowd and gave a little bow and started to speak in Chinese. The whole crowd of people quieted down immediately and look relieved, and then one older man began to speak. Lucifer listened and then turned to the desk Sergeant, "These unfortunate people's homes and stores are being vandalized by a gang of thieves that are now requesting protection money. They want to swear out complaints and they have photos they have taken and affidavits, all in Chinese, they want to hand over to the police, to prove their claims. They were very annoyed you didn't have anyone available to translate for them, but are now happy you provided my service. Apparently the gang is hoping their lack of expertise in English and American slangs will keep them safe by police interference."
Lucifer then turned and took a stack of documentation from the older man, and bowed to the crowd again, and then spoke soothingly in their native tongue, as they bowed back and smiled at him. "I told them that while I am able to translate the spoken word, my knowledge of their written version leaves something to be desired," he looked miffed, "So I am asking them for a volunteer to read the documents to me in Chinese and then to translate them on video for our records? Would that work?" he asked the desk Sergeant, Sergeant Perkins who was smiling at Lucifer in relief.
"You bet, Son, I will set up a conference room with video capabilities for you in the next 30 minutes," he said, "I thought they were going to start a riot on me and we don't have a translator here for any Chinese Dialect. They would have had to wait or go to another precinct."
Lucifer smiled and him and shook his hand and then explained it all to the now very genial ex-mob.
Chloe smiled and then whipped on her most stoic face as the Lieutenant turned a suspicious eye on her.
"Morningstar, I had no idea you knew any other language. How many do you speak?" he asked in his rough way.
"All of them Lieutenant, all of them," said Lucifer with a smirk, "I just cannot read all of them. Greek and Latin I can read. I'm good at Italian, French, Portuguese, German and Spanish reading and writing as well. I can only read a little Japanese."
The Lieutenant looked really disappointed. "I had no idea you were useful, Morningstar."
Lucifer looked at Chloe and said "A review of the last two years' worth of cases done by Detective Decker should show just what an asset I have been, Mr. Bragwell, unless of course, you too have problems with reading."
Then he turned to the desk sergeant, who was grinning, and began to chat away with him and then the crowd.
Chloe winked at her partner and headed back to her desk, pleased that her partner had stood up for himself without getting kicked out.
She took a seat and started filling out forms automatically, glad that the latest problem was addressed and feeling happy. Then she asked herself, why am I so happy? She paused and then she realized she never wanted to lose Lucifer, exasperating man who drove her nuts. Not as her partner or her friend, he was essential to her life. She sighed and relaxed.