The devil meets a priest


Chloe had breakfast with Lucifer on the balcony of the Lux. The sky was blue and the sun already burning on LA. Lucifer's phone beeps. He looked and told Chloe: "Maze."

"Hi, Mazie. Troubles?"

He had put the phone on the speaker. "I have a visitor for you. Someone that wants to ask something."

"How vague, Maze. The detective and I have breakfast."

"At half past nine? Doesn't Decker need to go to her precinct? Never mind. Believe me, you want to see this one."

"We're coming down."

"For I need to go to my precinct," Chloe added with a small laugh. Yesterday evening she had helped a colleague with urgent paperwork and lieutenant Monroe had said she could sleep in this morning. So she had done, but Maze was right, it was time to go.

"Let's first see that visitor," Lucifer said. "Maze seems to think he is interesting."


The visitor was a priest, catholic or anglican, Chloe couldn't tell the difference. He was sitting in the Lux and raised from the bank when Lucifer and she entered the club. The priest said: "Father Frank Lawrence" and held out his hand.

Lucifer looked and chuckled. At the same moment Chloe realized he was not willing to shake hands with a priest. She poked him in the side and whispered: "Manners."

Lucifer took the hand and said: "Lucifer Morningstar. The lady is my girlfriend, Chloe Decker. Do you want anything to drink?"

"No thanks you, mister Morningstar. I'm fine."

"Have a seat. What brings a priest to the devil's lair?"

"People who tell me you're the man to see when you run out of options."

Lucifer took a deep brief. Chloe feared he would give an unfriendly answer, but he glanced at her and nodded. "What kind of nasty trouble have you gotten yourself into?"

"I'm here about a neighborhood youth center," the priest said.

"Sounds dreadful," Lucifer said skeptically.

"It is... When you realize it's being used as a front for an illegal drug operation. The center's director, Lenny Arietta, is recruiting kids from my church to move his product."

"Ah, so this is about young boys? With a priest of course it is."

"One in particular," father Frank said, ignoring the insinuation. "A kid named Connor. He's had it rough. Lost both his parents at six. Bounced from home to home, some juvie. But deep down, a good kid."

"How do you know he is a good kid?"

Frank hesitated, sat with closed eyes for a moment before asking: "Can I ask for my favor?"

"I was wondering when you'd get to it," Lucifer said.

"I want you to talk to Arietta before Connor gets involved."

"And why not go to the police?" Chloe asked.

"They were useless," father Frank answered. "They couldn't find anything on Arietta."

"Why not ask your boss then, hey?" Lucifer asked. "The Almighty Himself."

"I already have," Frank answered. "I believe he led me to you."

Lucifer looked as if he was going to give a sharp answer, then glanced at Chloe and shrugged. "I highly doubt that." He drummed his fingers on the table.

"What do you expect us to say to this Arietta?" Chloe asked.

The priest's eyes went to her. "Us? Forgive me, miss Decker. I hadn't realized you would accompany mister Morningstar."

"As I told you, the detective is my girlfriend."

Frank blinked his eyes. "I was told you were a player, having multiple new women each night."

"You use the correct tense. I was a player," Lucifer said. "And be glad things have changed. The old me would have laughed in your face, but now the detective pulls the strings and I have the impression she wants to help."

"You are a detective?" Frank asked, looking at Chloe.

"LAPD, homicide department. I presume you talked with Narcotics about this mister Arietta?"

"I did. As said they couldn't find anything. They didn't even visit Arietta."

Chloe gave it a thought. "What do you expect just talking with Arietta could bring us?"

"To be honest, I do not know," the priest answered. "I only know I prayed to the Lord and suddenly I was sure that mister Morningstar has to visit Arietta."

Chloe looked at Lucifer, who shrugged and said: "What you want, detective."


Chloe decided to first read the report Narcotics had on Arietta and than called his secretary to make an appointment. At three pm she and Lucifer walked into the youth center to meet the man. They found the door of his office and knocked. "Mr. Arietta?"

Chloe tried the knob and frowned. "Locked."

"Well," Lucifer looked around. While Chloe was trying to spy through a small window in the door. Lucifer continued: "If I were trapped in here with these vile children, I'd lock my door as well."

Chloe stepped back and opened the door with a kick.

"Detective?" Lucifer asked.

She walked into the room and found what she had thought to see from the outside. A body laying on the floor, blood around his head. She checked the artery in his neck. "He's dead."

"Wow." Lucifer came closer and chuckled. "You think our priest did this?"

Assistance came, uni's to search and guard the office, Ella to examine the body. "Time of Areitta's death is between eleven thirty and twelve o'clock this morning," she told them. "Cause was multiple hits with that baseball bat. There are some abrasions on his face, so it looks like he struggled before he died."

"Do you know father Frank Lawrence?" Lucifer asked. "A Catholic priest."

Ella raised her eyebrows. "No. There are so many Catholic parishes in LA and up to now I only visited five of them. Still looking for the one I would like to join. Why?"

Chloe gave Lucifer a warning glance. "That father Frank told us the victim could be a drugs dealer. And I found this." She held up some small instrument.

"Ooh, what's that?" Lucifer asked.

"It's a voice modulator," Ella answered. "Hey, can you not do that," she added when Lucifer took it.

"Obi-Wan calling miss Ella Lopez," he said, which came distorted out off the modulator.

"It's not a toy, Lucifer," Ella said but with a smile. "It could be evidence."

"Detective Decker?," an officer asked. He pointed at a chubby man with a grey shirt. "The head counselor of this center, detective."

"Eric Doyle," the man introduced himself.

"Any idea who might've done this?" Chloe asked.

"No. I mean, everyone liked Lenny. He was a good boss."

"So, he had no enemies whatsoever, no?" Lucifer asked. "Especially any who wear clerical collars?"

"So you know about the priest," Eric said. "That guy's always coming around here and getting into arguments with Lenny."

"Hmm," Lucifer said and nodded.

"But he's a priest," Eric said.

"Right."

"Mr. Doyle, where were you between eleven thirty and twelve this morning?" Chloe asked.

"Uh... here. In counseling sessions with, uh, Nikki and Connor."

"Connor?" Lucifer said and turned to Chloe. "Well, that's the altar boy Frank talked about."

Eric brought Nikki and Conner to them.

"Do you know if Mr. Arietta was involved in any drug activity?" Chloe asked them.

Both laughed. "Drugs?"

"I mean, I wish he was," Nikki said. "That would've made him more interesting."

"Okay. Enough about the dead guy," Lucifer said. "Tell us everything you know about Padre Pederast."

"Who?"

"Father Frank. Did you see him do this?"

"Father Frank kill Mr. Arietta? No way," Conner answered.

"What do you mean no way?" Nikki said. "The guy's a creeper and totally obsessed with you."

"He's just overprotective," Conner said. "Ever since my parents died, he feels like he's got to watch out for me or something. He's just a little... just a little annoying."

"When was the last time you saw him?" Chloe asked.

"Uh, he... Here this morning," Conner said

"Yeah, preacher seemed pretty pissed," Nikki added.


"Well, his criminal record's pretty extensive," Chloe said back in the precinct while searching information on Frank Lawrence. "Assault and battery, disorderly conduct, drug charges."

"Not very priest-like," Lucifer said with a grin.

"But nothing in the past ten years," she said.

"Nothing on fiddling with altar boys?" Lucifer asked.

"Why are you convinced he does that?"

"Do you know how many priests have their own neat little hell-loop, detective?"

She thought that over. She didn't know, but she met this father Frank. Her guts told her, he was a good man. "Frank doesn't do that."

He scoffed. "Shall I ask Maze?"

"What does she know?"

"Remember a demon's sixth sense? Maze met him this morning, she knows when he last time had sex."

Chloe hesitated, but he already was calling. "Maze", "that priest this morning", "we take a look, yes", "murdered", "when did that priest last time had sex?" He frowned, gave her a quick glance. "Are you sure", "well, thanks".

"At least ten years ago he last time had sex, might even be eleven, Maze said," he updated her. "So I was wrong. Our Frank didn't use that altar boy. Why is he than interested?"

"Because the boy's parents died and he feels he needs to take care for him?"

Lucifer shook his head. "Boring, But he still is a suspect for murder. Anything else on our father Frank?"

She went through Frank's on-line file. "Ah, restraining order filed by Lenny Arietta last week."

"Ah, well, it's funny how our padre failed to mention a restraining order," Lucifer said.

"We have enough to talk with him. Can you visit a church?"

He chuckled. "Where do you find most sinners, detective?"


As they entered father Frank's church Lucifer offered Chloe his arm and arm in arm they walked through the nave of the church towards the altar in the choir. As if they were walking to the altar to get married, she thought and looked aside to him. He looked back and smiled at her.

They found the priest in front of the altar, on his knees and praying. He had a bandage on his right hand. Frank looked up. "Mr Morningstar, mrs Decker, how good to see you again."

"Oh," Lucifer said. "That is questionable."

"Father Frank, when was the last time you saw Lenny Arietta?" Chloe asked.

"This morning." He stood up.

"Despite the restraining order?" she asked.

"I answer to a higher authority."

"What happened when you saw him?"

Father Frank frowned. "We exchanged words. Things got a little heated, because I'm worried that Arietta's gonna pull Connor into his drug ring."

"So, what, you give him a right hook?" Lucifer asked.

The priest looked at the bandage on his own right hand. "Sadly, I did."

"And then what?"

"And then I left."

"Ooh, no, no, no, I think you skipped a part," Lucifer said. "Didn't you? You know, the part where you beat him to death with a baseball bat?"

"He's dead?" Frank asked and crossed himself. "Oh, Heavenly Father."

"Oh, come on," Lucifer said. "Really?"

"I had troubles with the man, but he didn't deserve to die. And I certainly didn't kill him."

"Can you account for your whereabouts between eleven thirty and twelve this morning?" Chloe asked.

"Uh, I was here. Taking confessions. Mrs Madison had a lot to say, took up the whole hour."

"Ok. We will check your alibi." Chloe looked around. "Father, I'm gonna need you to come into the station for a statement."

Frank nodded and followed Chloe and Lucifer to the entrance of the church. They stepped outside and turned to the left to their parked car. Behind them tires screeched. Chloe looked back and saw a vehicle speeding along, a window was open and a gun appeared.

"Get down!" She shouted and pushed Lucifer and Frank forwards and to the ground. Shots echoed back from the walls of the church. The car disappeared around a corner. They all three scrambled to their feet

"And you asked whether one could visit a church," Lucifer said.

"I caught a partial from the shooter's license plate," Chloe said. She got her phone and asked Dan in the precinct to check it.


While a colleague from CSI checked the bullets, Chloe called with Frank's alibi, mrs Madison.

"He was in confession with mrs Madison from eleven to twelve," she updates Lucifer. "He is not our guy." They are talking in church' nave, close to the entrance. Father Frank was back to the choir, praying at the altar.

"You guess this shooting and the youth director's death are connected?" Lucifer asked.

"We know they have at least one thing in common," Chloe answered. "Father Frank. Come."

They walk to the priest. "Father, you will be relieved to know that no one was injured."

"Oh, thank God," he said.

"Please don't," Lucifer said.

"You care to tell us what that was about?" Chloe asked.

"The shooting? I don't know.

Chloe shook her head. "This wasn't a random attack. They were shooting at you. But you don't seem surprised. What aren't you telling us?"

Frank is silent for a few moment, sighed and took his phone. He tapped the screen and held it up. A modulated voice said: "Keep your nose out of our business or else."

"The voice modulator from Arietta's office," Chloe said. "You should have gone to the police with this."

"I assumed it was Arietta, and I'm not afraid of him," Frank answered. "But you might be right." He pressed his lips together and waved his phone. "if it's the Spider..."

"Spider?"

"I've heard whispers of another dealer trying to take over Arietta's business," Frank explained. "People call him the Spider. Scary, violent reputation. I don't know who it is. Not yet."

"You're holding something back, father. I can tell," Chloe said.

"Hmm?" Lucifer reacted, slowly nodding and staring at the priest.

Again Frank was silent before he shrugged. "I have a confession to make."

"Well, the truth will set you free," Lucifer said with a grin. "Isn't that what your beloved book says?"

"I lied when I said Connor was in danger of becoming involved. He already is. Dealing for Arietta."

"If Connor's already in deep, why go to all this trouble to protect him?"

"He's had it rough. Thinks he can only rely on himself. He's a good kid, detective."

"Father, you were today's target. We need to worry about your safety first. Do you have a place to stay?" Chloe asked.

"I'm fine right here. This... is my sanctuary."

"Your sanctuary just got shot to high heaven, padre," Lucifer said. "But if you're looking to lay low, you better come to the Lux."


He brought Chloe and Frank to the club, invited them to take a seat on one of the banks. "What do you want to drink, father?"

"You have whisky, Lucifer?"

Lucifer looked offended. "What a question."

He went to the bar, came back with drinks for all three.

"Dan found an interesting match with the partial plate from the shooter's SUV," Chloe said, reading a message on her phone. "Came back with a couple matches. But this is interesting, one of them was recently reported stolen outside the youth center."

"Oh, you think someone inside's responsible."

"I think it's too much of a coincidence not to be, but I ordered traffic cam footage, so hopefully it'll show us who was driving."

Lucifer turned to Frank. "Padre, does the Lux not bother you? Sexy dancers, alcohol, the music."

"What can I say? I love the song they are playing. I grew up in places like this. Before the cloth, I was just Frank Lawrence, touring musician."

"Really?" Lucifer said. "Let me guess... cowbell."

"Close. Piano."

Lucifer raised his eyebrows and smiled, no longer mocking but interested.

"Good old rock and roll," Frank continued. "Opened for Dylan, Bowie, the Stones…"

"The Rolling Stones?" Lucifer asked, impressed.

"Yep. It was a crazy time, let me tell you. I was a lot like you, really."

"That's literally impossible," Lucifer reacted.

"Just as you, I thought the fun would never stop. Then, uh…"

Frank shook his head, his face grave and showing pain. "Ten years ago. I was traveling with Connor and his family. Connor's dad was a drummer, we used to play together. Another car swerved into our lane and, uh… Connor lost both his parents that night. My daughter was with us, too. She didn't make it, either."

Chloe saw Lucifer lowering his eyes to the table, the smile and teasing all gone from his face.

"Thought I'd seen some dark days. Nothing compared to losing my little girl. My heart just... cracked right open."

"Well," Lucifer said. "You must have been awfully angry at your beloved God."

Frank shook his head. "I was so... untethered. Lost. Turning to Him is what saved me."

"Hold on. God stole your spawn and then you decided to worship Him?"

"I can't really explain it," Frank said. "Somehow it made me feel that she was safe. That's when I discovered my faith. The church gave me purpose. It was there that I crossed paths with Connor again. Me, a parent without a child; him, a child without a parent. We might not always understand it, but God has a plan."

"Yes. I know," Lucifer said. "But why does everybody always think it's a good plan?"

Chloe's phone rang "Please excuse me, father," she said and walked away, away from the noise in the main area of Lux. When she came back, the table was empty, no Lucifer, no father Frank.

"They went up, to the penthouse," Maze could tell her.

Chloe heard the piano even before the elevator doors opened, wild, loud, fast. When the doors opened she saw Lucifer and Frank together playing, four hands on the one piano.

"Father has got soul," she heard Lucifer saying.

"You ain't seen nothing yet," the priest reacted.

"Oh!"

"Yeah."

They played with passion, full of sound and fury. She smiled and slowly approached.

"You like to take the top?" Lucifer asked.

"Why not?"

"Excuse me." They exchanged places on the stool, laughed and continued playing. She reached the piano. Lucifer was the first to notice. "Oh, hi." He cleared his throat.

They both stopped playing

"Yeah, well," Lucifer said. "I suppose that wasn't completely terrible."

"Not completely," the priest said with a laugh and poked Lucifer in the chest.

"It was adorable to see the two of you play together," Chloe said.

"I'm sure there is nothing adorable about the devil," Lucifer said.

"Cute?" Chloe offered as alternative. "And sorry to interrupt, but Father Frank's story about the Spider checks out, and I got a lead."

Lucifer hesitated for a moment. Then he raised from the stool and patted Frank on the shoulder. "You stay here. You need the practice."


"You like him," Chloe said while driving.

"I don't. The devil doesn't like people," was his immediate reaction. But she just shot him a glance and he thought it over. "Maybe I do."

"You like me."

"I love you."

"You like Trixie…"

"Beatrice," he interrupted.

"… Ella and Linda," she finished, ignoring his interruption.

Again he thought for a while and before saying: "Yes. How is that possible?"

"And now you discover you can like someone who you yesterday even didn't know." She smiled.

He scratched his neck and changed subject. "Where are we going?"

Narcotics had given her a location where henchmen of the Spider were regularly selling drugs. It was a skateboarding hall, where dozens of youngsters were skating. They spotted first the girl from the young center, Nikki, at the other side of the track. She handed someone a packet and got money. Seconds later Conner passed her and received the money.

"Drug deal," Chloe said. "And a smooth one. Maybe she's the Spider."

"Ooh, black widow, then. Lovely," Lucifer said.

They came forwards. It appeared Conner saw them. He raised a gun, shot three times in the air and in the panic that followed he and Nikki could escape before Lucifer and Chloe had crossed the skateboard track.

"Is she the spider or he?" Lucifer asked when they were outside again.

"Or do they just work for the Spider?" Chloe added.

Her phone chimed. "Ella send me a picture. Traffic cam footage from the church shooting."

They looked. It should Conner driving the SUV from which they and father Frank were shot. "So the boy the priest was trying to protect is the one who tried to kill him?" Lucifer said. "Well, isn't that an ironic kick in the cassock."

Back in the penthouse it couldn't convince Frank. "This doesn't prove Connor's the Spider."

"It's pretty damning, Father," Lucifer said.

"And it's enough for the APB that just went out," Chloe said. "Connor's been declared armed and dangerous."

"Armed and dangerous? The boy needs to be helped, convinced to turn himself in."

"Father, he shot at you."

The priest shook his head. "If you'll excuse me, I... need some air." He walked to the balcony.

Lucifer and Chloe watched him going to the railing and looking over the lights of the city at night. After a few minutes Chloe also went to the balcony and Lucifer followed her. Frank stood with a not-burning cigarette in his hand

"Need a light?" Lucifer asked, holding out his lighter.

"No, thanks." Frank raised his hand with the cigarette. "Quit years ago. Still enjoy the ritual, though. Always keep one on me."

"Please tell me you didn't come out here to talk to Him," Lucifer said.

"God? This is as good a spot as any."

"Right," Lucifer laughed. "Does He ever talk back?"

"I don't need to hear Him to... hear Him. If you know what I mean."

"Not really and all to well," Lucifer answered. "He never talks to me, either. Listen, um... sorry about the altar boy. Surely you know you're not to blame. I mean, some people are just... beyond saving."

"That's where you're wrong," Frank said. "There's still hope for him."

"He shot up your church, father," Chloe said.

"And he's most likely running a drug ring and, oh, yes, killed a man," Lucifer said.

"I don't believe that," Frank answered. "And even if, then he needs me even more."

"I admire your faith in him, father," Chloe said. "But…"

"God has faith in him," the priest said. "In all of us. Even in our darkest moments."

"Oh, you really believe that?"Lucifer asked.

"I do. Why don't you?"

"Because He didn't have faith in me," Lucifer snapped.

"I felt that way once, too. But now I know, deep in my heart, God has a plan for me."

"Oh, His plan for me was quite clear."

"How do you know your father's plan with you is finished?"

Lucifer looked eyes wide open at him. Frank chuckled. Then his phone ringed. "Sorry. One of my parishioners, uh, a lot of them are still upset about the shooting. Excuse me."

"Yeah," Lucifer said. The priest walked inside. Lucifer and Chloe looked at each other. "He said your father," Chloe whispered.

"Yes! I noticed."

"Does he believe you? Or does he think he is making a joke?"