Dan didn't know why Lucifer stuck around to be arrested, but stay he did. As fast as the FBI were, nothing beat the speed of an angel. Lucifer let himself be dragged upright from his bed, cuffed and read his rights then led out; there was no other possible explanation. He waved, doubled-handed, somehow having gotten his cuffs in front, to LUX partiers like it was part of a show. Dan they allowed the courtesy of walking out with his coat over his cuffs, but he was taken in custody too.

The Devil now sprawled on his jail cot without a care in the world, passively laid out like they were just staying in a five-star hotel and waiting around for room service to be delivered. He sounded like he was humming to himself but Dan didn't try to figure out what song it was.

No one had turned off the fluorescent lights and they buzzed in the otherwise gritty silence of the holding area.

Dan himself felt...itchy. He missed his phone within three seconds, but at least he wasn't in as much trouble as Lucifer. The thought didn't really help matters; If his friend was determined to stick around, Dan didn't know why. Dan had no reason to think he'd be charged at all, but he was well familiar with the technique. He himself had frequently had held persons of interest for a day before they had to be charged or let go. It was possible the FBI would try to charge him with drug possession, or threaten to, just to get him open up about Lucifer.

It still begged the question of why Lucifer allowed himself to be arrested. He wasn't sure if he'd accept the few strings Dan had left to pull on. Lucifer had plenty of his own, but as far as he could tell, hadn't yanked on any yet.

He half expected Amenadiel to turn up and force Lucifer to leave. Or try anyway.

He wasn't going to be able to sleep in the holding cell they almost shared, so he sat with his back to the corner of the wall and cell bars he did share with Lucifer. He was within touching distance but Dan didn't reach through. Being close by was comforting. He considered asking Lucifer to scratch the middle of his back where he couldn't reach. It was starting to drive him crazy.

There were a few other people nearby in other cells but most of them were sleeping off the alcohol still in their system or just sleeping quietly. None paid them any attention past a curious look. No guard stood inside the area.

In his adjoining cell, Lucifer stretched out like a sleepy cat, wearing his dress clothes from earlier. He was just returned there after fingerprints and processing were done.

Dan didn't believe Lucifer would be charged with anything that would stick, and he couldn't imagine there was a cell anywhere that could actually hold him.

He asked the second part out loud.

On the cot, Lucifer turned his head, his jacket carefully folded up under him. "Haven't you heard? No door is locked to the Devil. Remember when we were getting interrogated together and you helpfully informed us there was no reason to stay tied up?"

Dan very distinctly did. He wondered what would have happened had they punched Lucifer in the face instead. Could Lucifer fake a reaction to being hit in the face? Would he?

To illustrate his stated point, Lucifer reached out and pointed at the cell door lock. A metal part scraped against another part and the door audibly unlatched with a heavy click. "They'll notice that soon, I'm sure. The gesture isn't necessary but I find it entertaining."

Dan tried not to be impressed with such a simple use of power, but he hadn't that much exposure as of yet-though the wings were a doozy. His brain helpfully informed him yet was entirely possible. He hadn't considered what Lucifer could do beyond scaring suspects, burning things and flying. "Then why are you still here?"

Per usual, Lucifer's first response was an evasive partial truth. "I like my flat. If I vanish into thin air from police custody, I imagine my home will be emptied of all my belongings there. I have quite a few things I'd hate to lose, that I've spent time collecting. I suppose it might be time to update the living area set, however."

Dan sensed a half-truth, picking up that he deliberately didn't mention his other properties. "Time you have. You just can't be assed to start over, do you?"

Lucifer smiled a little. "Well, as you're aware, I don't use a fake name. It will be difficult to 'start over' with this one. Besides, this isn't my first trip to lock up. Usually, I can talk my way out before even getting past the door. Usually, I'm not so careless to actually get caught with loose drugs, and my penthouse has never been raided before. It'll blow over. I expect I'll be assigned community service or some such. That's how things are still done, is it not? For those with means and a good lawyer?"

Dan winced at the unsubtle dig at his profession. The system was unequal and treated those in it on a sliding scale, it was true. Someone with no money might get an added sentence if they couldn't pay their fines. He was in no current position to defend it one way or another. "And me?"

The tone was flippant but the words were not. "I'll do whatever is necessary of course."

Dan was stunned. He didn't think he was in real trouble, and he didn't expect to be charged, but it was nice of Lucifer to even say something like that. "You called your lawyer already right?"

Sarcastically, "oh, is that what one does?"

"Lucifer…"

He snapped without heat, "of course I called my bloody lawyer. She's on her way."

Dan felt properly chagrined.

He added, "I assume you don't have one. She's at your disposal as well."

"Thank you…" Dan reached through the bars to squeeze Lucifer's shoulder. He was warm to the touch. Dan knew what powerful lawyers charged by the quarter-hour and it was intimidating. "Thanks for not running, whatever your complete reasons. I know you aren't happy and I this isn't where you want to be." But I'm glad you're here with me.

Lucifer didn't move for a moment, then reached up and gripped Dan's hand in return. "Not to worry. Besides, if I ran away, I wouldn't be able to look forward to our movie night I tragically fouled up. I imagine if we had proceeded as planned, things might have been in a different state of affairs when we were rudely interrupted."

Warmth flooded him. Dan was far too drained to expect anything other than to hope to blow off some steam, get stupid drunk and maybe talk Lucifer's ear off about things. He almost didn't even go out last night. His heartaches faded a little with Lucifer's voice.

Dan knew Lucifer felt his flush through his hand and wrist. Lucifer turned his head again, looking back and up. "Oh, Daniel, are you having ideas that aren't as perfectly innocent as a night of film watching between friends?"

"I...uh…" Dan didn't pull his hand away, thinking of the skin under the shirt.

"You're aware I'm always eager to entertain and pursue such ideas, yes?"

"I know, and I'm still flattered. It's just that-" He flinched, thinking of something he really should have before now. "Can we not talk about this now? Someone is probably watching us anyway. That might be why they locked us up next to each other and left the lights on."

"Pish. Let them."

Dan spotted a ceiling camera in the hall just outside their cells, but those usually didn't pick up the sound. He hoped not, considering the trick Lucifer did. No one flew down the hallway when the door made the noise, so either the camera was a standard-crappy resolution, no sound pickup, black and white.

Or.

If he were watching friendly suspects talking to each other, he'd find a way to stir things up, delay the lawyer. He waited a few minutes in silence. Lucifer may have picked up on it too, staying quiet but drawing circular patterns with his fingertips on the back of Dan's knuckles that Dan suspected were obscene. He didn't yank his hand away, allowing himself to just enjoy the simple touching. It was restorative, calming. He didn't think he'd seen Lucifer do such things with lovers past or present. Or maybe he hadn't looked beyond the fuck-everything-that-moves persona, hadn't tried to look for sweetness and a gentle side - which really said a lot more about himself than about Lucifer.

He certainly hadn't thought much about it before. He couldn't stop himself from asking, "You do this for all the men you like?"

"Get arrested together? Not my modus operandi, but I understand it makes for a great story later on. 'Oh, how did you two meet? Well, you see, I did too much cocaine and my boyfriend showed up and patted my head until the FBI broke in and arrested us.'"

Dan snickered. "I meant sharing legal services?"

"Only a few. You're welcome to feel indebted to me. You know-"

"Sure. Deal with the Devil. Got it."

They were quiet a minute longer. Dan habitually mentally looked for his phone again, sighed at himself and wondered if he could at least get a pen and paper. Lucifer's tongue touched his hand and Dan nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Hey!"

"I'm bored."

"Well it's not my fault."

"No, but you're convenient."

A 'drunk' man two cells down finally spoke, "your boyfriend looks fancy. Must be nice to be kept."

Dan sighed, unoffended and secretly pleased with himself. "Knock it off, plant."

The drunk grunted.

Lucifer snickered. "I guess it pays to have a cop boyfriend."

Dan groaned. "You spotted him too."

"You're sure of that are you?"

"Yeah. And you're not my boyfriend. Jesus, I feel old just saying that."

Lucifer gave him a look he could have felt from the other side of the universe.

"Shut up."

Lucifer smirked.

Thinking out loud, for their watchers; "so who of the group do you think is coming to be the bad cop and good cop? Or do you think it'll be just one FBI agent? I'm already sure it won't be any of our coworkers."

Lucifer thought about it, concurring, "I'm going with Martha, the blonde woman, and either the lead fellow or the next one down. To prep us for the real hardass up the chain of command."

"Yeah, I was thinking that too. A male/female team. A softer face to pair with a rough one." He winced, thinking of Lucifer and Chloe.

A door opened a minute later and the half-expected ticking of heels across the floor didn't present. Dan looked up, trying and failing to pull his hand from Lucifer's shoulder. The Devil half-smiled and then let go, after the single agent strolled up. He had a flat look to his face, perhaps not yet sure which hat to wear for this discussion.

Agent Eric Mac stopped outside Lucifer's door. He pulled it open an inch and shoved it shut again with a clang that echoed through the room. "What did you do?"

Moving like water, Lucifer swung to his feet and approached the door with a stalking grace. He gripped the bars and leaned into them. Looking Mac dead in the eyes, he said, "ah, Daniel, we might have a believer on our hands. Alone too, if you don't count our new friend there down the way. I feel like I know him from somewhere, do I?"

Dan startled, sitting up straight. He gave the drunk another glance, but he was well-disguised, if bad at his job. "Not one of ours I think."

Mac plastered an unconcerned look on his face, but it was a few seconds late. "How did you unlock the door?"

Lucifer smiled, tilting his head. "Maybe someone forgot to lock it in the first place."

"They didn't."

Dan desperately wanted to see Lucifer's face from Mac's angle.

Lucifer, tone light as you please, said, "some would say 'magic', but it's nothing so mundane. This cell is no Devil's Trap and you're no sorcerer in any case." His head tilted, back straightening. "You have a different kind of power though, don't you? Perhaps enhanced perception?"

Mac stuffed his hands in his coat pockets, guarded. "How's that?"

"Do you ever talk to angels, Eric?"

He smirked, but it was nervous or looked nervous. "There's my wife. I don't know any others."

"And now you know me." Lucifer slowly nodded. "Interesting. Unlikely, but interesting. Tell me, Mr. FBI, what gets your engine turning in your later years? Other than your wife? Why did you really come here?"

Mac blinked. "I came to find a killer."

"And have you?"

"I just have to prove it, but that got easier tonight."

Lucifer's eyes flicked off to the side and back to Mac's face, deliberately misunderstanding. "I have no doubt Marcus Pierce had murdered at least one person. Granted, it wasn't recently by most standards. Prosecuting him for it will take a bit of effort-"

"We found the murder weapon in your apartment. Our forensics will confirm it matches the wound perfectly. Your team might even confirm it as well if I let them have access to it. And there were enough drugs in your apartment to put you away for a bit if murder doesn't stick. The urine test-"

Lucifer waved dismissively. "Will show nothing. You've already waited too long to collect it. My body filters out toxins of all sorts in a short period of time. Though I am curious about what I missed. When I go on a bender I usually empty the place entirely."

The agent humored him. "Ecstasy in the piano bench, traces of cocaine on the piano, edibles in the fridge, and mushrooms out in a planter on the balcony for some reason."

"Oh! That's where those went to. One of my guests probably thought they could grow more. Not how it works, of course. You need a wood pile for that."

"We collected a few hair samples back in your apartment, even if the swabs come back negative. Hair retains traces of drug use for years, potentially. At least months."

Lucifer licked his lips. "Come now, you know nothing is likely to come of that, why not let it lie. Those hairs could be that of any of my lovely partners. I find it doubtful you can be sure they're mine."

Mac leaned on the door, opposite Lucifer. He wasn't as tall as Lucifer but then very few men were. "What makes you think I'd let a little thing like multiple samples get in my way? Especially since you seem nervous about it?"

"I can see avoiding you initially was the right call." Still without looking back, he continued, "we have a complicated one, Daniel. Perhaps even inoculated as you have been, in some way. Not entirely though since he still thinks I'm pulling something. I like him. Not in a 'come back to my place when this is all over-not that I'd necessarily turn him down either' way, mind you, but I do like him."

Dan wasn't sure how to respond, so he didn't. How many people have seen angels anyway? Was it really as common as the Bible, or even mystery channel shows make it out to be?

Eric squinted at him. "Aren't you pulling something? I've cracked harder nuts than you. Just because you have money doesn't mean you're bulletproof, even in L.A.. You might get a lighter sentence than I'd prefer, but I'll see this through as long as I have to to get you in the system."

Lucifer snorted. "I'm well aware I'm not generally bulletproof. Well, right now I am." He said the last with a slow grin, an inside joke the agent wasn't in on. As if he knew it wouldn't be tested here and now. Dan certainly hoped he wouldn't. Lucifer being shot at, even invulnerable, wasn't something that bore thinking on.

The agent blinked first. "You really think you're the Devil?"

Lucifer sighed, his face not quite touching the bars. "I do. I am."

Mac blinked and backed away first. Lucifer remained leaning on the door, his body tilted with a casual jaunt. The line of his lean frame from his neck to his shoes did things to Dan that he wasn't ready to think too hard about, at least right here and now. Lucifer kept his eyes forward. "Do you believe me, Eric?"

"I met your demon. I found out 'Mazikeen' is a demon name, anyway, born or made from Lilith. You guys worked hard at this. What is she really? Friend, family, does your dirty work? We haven't been able to get a hold of her since she talked to me."

"Dear Lily isn't allowed out of Hell again. She makes so much trouble. Can't seem to control herself. Maze was one of her first makings. There are others. I find, well, found Maze particularly useful though we haven't been in contact as much lately. So? The believing thing?"

"I can't. If I did believe you or her, I might not be able to do my job. Without proof otherwise, I won't let you walk out of here."

Dan stepped closer.

Lucifer waved casually, still without turning. His voice dipped into darkness as he spoke. "Fear not, Daniel, I don't plan on breaking him. Besides, if they convict me, what are a few decades to me? Might be fun to take over a high-security prison from the inside. Who knows what sort of fun tricks I could teach my new Satanic followers, my newly collected Devil worshippers in my very own contained environment, hmm?"

Dan knew Lucifer was telling the truth, but lying by omission. He'd never do any of those things, but it would be utterly terrifying if he did.

Mac met Dan's eyes, measuring him, and flicked back to Lucifer. "You think you can talk your way out of this, and you're smooth, I'll give you that, but if we turn up evidence for further charges, you won't enjoy life for the near future, no matter what you think of your lifespan. Where there are drugs, there are dealers. We find them, they talk. We find a few people you did drugs with, they can name kinds they saw you doing. Maybe you bought some for someone else, that's another charge, per person, per dose. A man like you doesn't need to pay for sex, but I bet you have anyway, just for fun. We'll find them too. Also illegal. Working with the LAPD, you've likely lied under oath-"

"I do not lie. Under oath or otherwise."

"Have you ever claimed your title, your persona under oath? I bet you have."

Lucifer growled, "I do not lie. You'll find no oath breaking."

He ignored the twist of wording, glancing over at Dan with a nod. "You supplied to Espinoza, further corrupting the system, perhaps there's a conspiracy as well that involves your other partner."

At the same time Dan formed a protest in his throat, Lucifer's hands clenched the bars, his knuckles white. His head followed something invisible to Dan, but clearly 'there' for Lucifer. He nearly spit. "Detective Decker knows nothing. She is not a witness and wouldn't take a bribe from me if I tried."

"Not a witness? To what?"

Lucifer chewed his tongue. "Nothing of importance."

Mac sighed. "A police lieutenant is dead, murdered. I will figure out exactly how. It doesn't make a difference that he was corrupt himself. Justice has to be brought from within the system, not out of petty or random vengeance. Having the murder weapon may not even be necessary if we can place you at the scene of the attack. Any number of people saw you clash with Pierce."

"He wanted death. Wished for it. The desire ate him alive."

"That's your story? He got engaged to be married while he wanted to die? Were you jealous?"

"Of Cain? Please."

The room went cold.

Mac started to respond, then paused. Dan knew he visibly winced and Mac noted it. He regarded them both cooly. "Espinoza, you know I'm going to interrogate you separately anyway, is there anything you want to add now to reduce the amount of trouble you're in?"

Dan jumped. "What?"

"There was cocaine on your jacket. None in your system, but it was on you. Accessory to murder unless we find otherwise. If not accessory then possibly for standing aside and withholding evidence. Did you know?"

Lucifer interrupted, "Lie. There couldn't be anything on him. I was quite thorough. Daniel was unaware of the quantity of my drug use. He was unaware any could be transferred to him, were it even true."

Well, that was true. It had to be an absurd amount though. Dan wasn't entirely sure who to believe on there being any on his jacket. Just being inside the apartment could be a hazard for microscopic exposure. Probably.

Mac remained stalwart. "You know how many pretty Hollywood types we have to deal with? You think you own the world, but you don't. You might even overdose one day, leave Espinoza all alone again. He'll have another funeral to attend, you want that?"

Naturally, Lucifer scoffed. "I know my limits. Which are very difficult to break."

"They usually say that too. You know which people don't know their limits? People you gave drugs to."

Lucifer just raised an eyebrow. "I'll have you know that any drugs I give away are consumed within the confines of my flat. They do not leave my home. I have, on at least one occasion, called for medical assistance myself for a LUX patron. I don't associate with dealers who sell dangerous product, or I don't continue the association once I find out."

Dan heard himself groan.

Mac addressed him. "How much of this did you know?"

"Only that Lucifer knows dealers. We've used his less than legal connections multiple times in police work. That's all. But seriously Lucifer, stop giving him ammo. Wait for the lawyer."

Lucifer nodded brightly and ignored him. "Yes, the Detective even turned down a mere pot brownie. He likes to be a good example to his offspring. He has never used or taken anything in my presence."

"when did Lucifer first offer you drugs, Espinoza?"

Dan debated on not answering and taking his own advice, but this might help. "Literally last night. If he had before I never thought he was serious. The LAPD has better things to do than arrest someone over a pot brownie, which was all he actually offered." Had to offer.

The agent shot back, "especially a man with connections."

Dan grinned coldly. "Frankly, yes."

Mac grunted again. He abruptly looked to the side, the same place Lucifer eyeballed before. He didn't stare for more than a second, shaking it off. "How long have you known Lucifer? Seriously?"

"Sometimes it feels like my whole life."

"How long have you been...dating? Not long unless you had him on the side."

Dan felt himself get defensive but he couldn't help it. "We aren't. Dating or whatever. He tries to seduce everyone. Be wary of anyone he doesn't want to bone."

"Yeah, we found that out with some of our agents. Had to send them back, by the way after we found out. Apparently, Lucifer is...impressive."

The Devil preened but his tone turned acrid. "Of course I am. And if you must know, Daniel has been valiantly resistant. But I think I'm making progress. He's quite correct, as I don't date. I just fuck."

Dan felt something clench. Had he said something wrong? "Hey, if you want an invitation, I make incredible waffles for breakfast." He immediately regretted his boldness, thinking of Charlotte, and not to mention breakfast and all that implied, but Lucifer's head turned to him for the first time since he got up to confront Mac. Dan felt a real warmth. Maybe everything would be alright and he could make good on the offer.

Sure.

The brown eyes softened just a bit, then turned back. "Well, maybe I do have a date to keep after all. This cell is putting a crimp in those plans."

Agent Mac's expression was nearly unreadable. "If you want to keep it, eventually anyway, I suggest you help out your friend and confess. Get you inside one of those nicer rehab places, I'm sure you can afford it. Set up conjugal visits, meet some nice actors, celebrities."

Lucifer let his arms hang out of the cell, propped up on his elbows. He wore his black stone ring; meaning no one took it from him upon arrest as they should have. He loosely clasped his fingers, intertwined. "Say you became convinced I am who I claim to be. What would you do?"

The air grew cold. Dan crossed his arms tightly, looking around. Something was definitely weird.

Lucifer kept on. "Through conventional means. Spoken words, no tricks."

Mac squinted. He was still wearing his own black jacket and hadn't noticed the temperature change, or when it lifted. "That's a very tall order. I doubt you could."

"Give us a guess."

"I'd imagine if it were true, you could leave anytime you wanted."

"I can. But I'm not, for now."

"Because of Espinoza?" Mac didn't bother to hide his disbelief. "That's touching. However. I couldn't do anything other than my job. Until you do something to change my mind, and even then, well, I guess I'd call a priest to help. But I won't let you get away with murder."

Dan felt he really would have liked to have known Agent Mac under different circumstances.

Lucifer nodded. "Well, bad for me, good for your soul. Normally at this point, I might try other material means at my disposal but I doubt that would work on you either."

"You called me complicated."

"You have a keen mind. Makes it harder to draw out your hidden desires. Luckily for me, the longer you talk to me, the more susceptible you become. Now, agent McBeth, why don't you tell me what you truly want. Why even bother with little old me?"

Mac's brain came to a halt; it was a look Dan had seen many times before from across the table or behind the glass. He looked at Lucifer like he was a viper. "You're a puzzle. You're hiding something. Either you're real and a menace or a fake, but still a menace. No one on my whole damn team takes you seriously, and that was before we even came here. Something huge is going on and I'm going to find out what."

Lucifer gave him a half-smile. "Even if it means facing down your own personal devils? A case that got away? Blowing up your own contacts by interfering with mine?"

"It isn't right. A man is dead. I'll do what I have to."

"Hmm. I bet you're one of Dad's favorites, aren't you? Explains a few things."

"I'm sorry?"

"My Father, not yours. He has a soft spot for you. Humans."

"You're convincing, I'll say that. I'm going to put a note in your file not to be left alone with any single court officer."

Lucifer grinned like Mac just issued a polite challenge of Go Fish or game of checkers. "Indeed?"

"How many people have you killed?"

His face stilled, his eyes laser-focused on the human before him. "Of actual humans? Depends on your definition. When I walk the Earth, things sometimes just happen. Many have been killed in my name. Many have been killed in the name of my Father; far, far more. I was given Hell to run because I belong there. Dad certainly didn't need me in the lead role, yet there he put me. Making me Lord of Hell was a greater punishment than simply being locked away. The place practically runs itself most of the time. Otherwise, the choices I made...well, Hell is not pleasant."

Dan felt cold. He felt like he was getting a severely abridged version, knew he was, and it still cored him.

Eric stood quietly. "Normally, at this point, I'd recommend your lawyer plead insanity. I see you aren't. I don't know what you are, but you don't belong here, either. Your lawyer is waiting impatiently if you'd like to take a room with her." He looked at Dan. "For your sake, Detective, do take an insanity deal yourself. He's obviously holding power over you."

Dan couldn't match Lucifer's anger for sheer degree, but he was still pissed. "I make my own choices. Lucifer has never taken that from me."

Mac just gave him a 'yeah, right' look and trod over to the drunk guy. "C'mon Dale."

Lucifer perked up. "Oh! Now I recognize you! Dale! I offered you a blow job in the closet by the water cooler. Is it that later date yet?"

Mac gave Dale a withering look and dragged him out, nearly literally.

Dan came up to the bars next to Lucifer. "What's going on? Is it Amenadiel? I felt something."

"She's getting sloppy. Now that I know who it is, I can deal with her. I was going to wait until you or I were away, in case she didn't know you knew about me. But, she's obviously noticed you sensing her, which means angel exposure on your part."

"Who?"

"A feathered bitch who can't leave well enough alone. Can you Celiel?"

There was a grump, but it was inaudible. Dan didn't know how he knew.

White light began to glow in place at chest height, like something out of a movie. Lucifer scolded, "enough theatrics. He's already seen me and I'm far more impressive in every way."

She appeared in place and Dan gasped.

She shot a look at him. "What?"

"You have Charlotte's wings."

She immediately fluttered them away with a shrug. "I like her. I like pretty women." She gave Dan an appraising look that said, 'only women.'

"That being said, I have some advice for you. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

He blinked, not sure if he should laugh or simply shake his head. And an angel quoting the Bible at him, as if this day hadn't already gone sideways enough. Dan collected enough of his thoughts to look up at the camera. A curl of smoke wafted out. He shot glances at the other cells but no one was looking, seemingly frozen or at least uninterested. The smoke twisting in the air proved it wasn't time dilation. "What?"

"I'm good at suggesting things too. Like Lucifer, except I'm telling them and the other humans nearby that they aren't interested in checking in on us."

Lucifer regarded her from his cell as if he didn't care anything human-made existed between them. Maybe he didn't. "So?"

She had white hair and dark eyes. It was up in a thick triple braid that made Dan wonder if all angels were vain to some degree. She eyed her brother as if she were hoping for a better-worded question. "You live here now. You'll play by their rules."

"Beg pardon?"

Dan felt nauseous.

Celiel stood in grey robes, regally. The effect was somewhat lost with her blue-tipped wings away and standing in the middle of a lockup. She held the hem of her skirts up to keep them off the floor. "The Host will take action should you run." She smiled when she said it, like she hoped he would.

Lucifer threw up his hands. "Did you not hear the whole bloody conversation?"

"I did. I just thought you should know that most of us are paying attention to your actions here on earth."

He grinned. "Oh, ho! So the Host is not in agreement then? Over Cain's death?"

"There are some who speak in...gratitude for solving that issue. None wished to upset Father, though some spoke of dealing with him directly. Or trying to. Amenadiel was not informed at any point of the process."

"Who in heaven feared Cain?"

Her pretty face pinched. "I didn't say that."

"You sort of did, little darling."

She pursed her lips. "Him wandering the Earth in this growing 'age of information' as humans call it, would become problematic for the continued existence of free will. Sooner or later, Cain was bound to be temporarily killed, with witnesses, with no explanation."

Lucifer filled in the rest of her thought process that she clearly wasn't going to volunteer herself. "And then he would be revered, would he not? A man who comes back to life regardless of the method? Once outed, he could obtain a fair amount of fame and glory. Perhaps claim to be touched by Father? Yes, I can see how that could become an issue. What did he have to lose, after all, being doomed to Hell eventually?"

Dan thought of something. "Or just face recognition. If nothing else, he only had a few decades or less before someone paid enough attention to notice he isn't aging." As he said it, he realized the same could be said for Lucifer. "Are you saying it could happen to Lucifer too? You already know he's not going to take over the world, but just him being here..."

Celiel gave him another look. "You have a smart boy there, brother."

"Well, stopped clock and all that."

Dan wanted to look offended but Lucifer waved him off. "It's not as if Cain had any hope of being allowed to enter the Silver City."

She didn't say anything.

"You're kidding. Someone in an opposing faction thought he had a chance? He doomed himself from his first murder. I doubt it was his last."

She wet her lips. "It wasn't his last. There was...hope...that when Cain obtained mortality once again, he would try to redeem himself."

"When? You're saying the whole damn thing was a bloody experiment?"

"Not at first. Obviously. But you are well aware that actions alone don't necessarily doom a human to Hell. Cain acted in a jealous rage, setting him on that path. There was hardly any time at all between him becoming mortal and his death."

Lucifer's face was a storm. "You knew. Someone up there bloody well knew Chloe could do it."

Celiel shrugged with a sly smile. "You were the one who assumed she was your miracle."

Dan felt and heard the silent thunder between them.

Lucifer's voice was low and dark, but unshaken. "And if I don't play ball?"

"McBeth dies."

"Why should I give a flying fig for that federal berk? Did Dad even tell you the truth about Chloe or are you sodding assuming things as well, since Dad isn't talking to anyone directly lately?"

She vanished rather than give an answer.

"That's right, fly away, you pretentious blue emu bint. Canaries have more wits about them!"

Dan thought maybe Lucifer got more British the angrier he was.

Seconds after she flashed into nothing, the far door slammed open and a guard stuck her head in, eyeing them, then the camera which was still visibly leaking tendrils of black smoke. "What happened there?"

Dan shrugged unhelpfully.

Lucifer smirked. "It blue out."

She eyed them a moment longer then came in. "Your lawyer is here."

Mac held it together until he got outside the holding area. A lawyer, a dark-haired woman who looked up at him unpleasantly, tapped her foot. She resembled Mazikeen to a degree, only her ferocity remained internal rather than external. She had to be Lucifer's representative.

Probably.

He started to wave her through the door. "Hey…"

"Mrs. Calvary, Attorney at Law."

Well, that's ironic. Seems to be a running theme. "You're here for Morningstar, correct? Can I ask how long you've been employed by him?"

"You can." The 'but I fucking well won't answer', was heavily implied. She peered at him stonily, flaring her nostrils.

"Okay, well, you're here now, why don't you go check on him?" The door had locked behind him. "Sorry, I'll sign out with the guard since I'm done here, did she go somewhere?"

"She's not here, so probably."

He huffed. "I'll tell her you're here if I see her then."

"Thank you."

She and Maze have got to be related somehow. Mac felt like the flames of hell were licking at his heels as he made his way out, hastily scribbling his name on the 'out' sheet. He was unnerved and didn't want to admit it.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. "Hey, Cath?"

"Hey, are you awake? I know it's late, but I just had a feeling... are you okay?"

Eric pulled the phone away enough to check the time. 3 a.m. "Yup. Just had a chat with the Devil, actually." He bit his tongue, going over what he could say and what he couldn't to someone not cleared. "He's a character all right." It was borderline creepy, actually, when she called like this. Like she had a sixth sense about things. He'd heard of other couples, or more commonly-siblings doing exactly the same thing, but he always chalked it up to a happy coincidence.

He scratched his neck, and his fingers pulled at cold sweat. "I'm two steps from believing him too."

She didn't respond right away. "Did he shake you that much?" There was a sound of her shifting her phone to a more comfortable angle. "Can you talk about it?"

Mac realized he was standing alone in the parking lot outside the precinct. The lot was nearly empty, save for the guard's car, the lawyer's and a few others. It made him think a little of zombie movies. Apocalypse. "I guess I don't get why he hasn't founded a Satanic church or something. With that voice of his, he could command armies if he wanted. Instead, he caters to his club patrons."

"I guess you should be happy he's not that smart then."

"Oh no, he is. He's very, very smart. I'm much more afraid he's going to wiggle off this hook, drop back into the lake and we never see him again. At least not in the criminal justice system. If he's allowed to address his jury, he'll have them voting the judge guilty rather than him."

She paused again, "you sound like you're actually worried."

"Even if he's not the Devil, even if he killed someone, I'm not sure he's going to get what he deserves."

She chuckled. "Even if he's not, the real Devil will be waiting for him."

His wife could be vindictive when she wanted to be. "Does that mean you aren't ordering that calendar?"

"Oh, it's already in the mail. I love the bad boys, but I married the good guy."

He laughed. A weight that was riding his shoulders evaporated. Whatever happened, it was out of his hands now. Well, not entirely - he still had notes to make, files to find and a bulletproof case to build. "I love you."

"I love you too."