Chapter Three

A gleeful, devilish smile lit Lucifer's face as he looked at the ceiling. "Well hello, kidnapper! How nice of you to join the party! I must admit, I find your accommodations subpar. Not to mention your party favors. If you're going to drug people, you could at least have the decency to use the good stuff."

When the woman didn't respond, Lucifer went on, "Also, it's rather rude not to be here in person, don't you think? We'd like to see the face of our gracious host. I'd be more than happy to show you mine in return." His eyes gleamed brighter, and Chloe knew exactly which face he was talking about.

"Hello, Mr. Morningstar, Detective Decker," the mystery woman said at last, and Chloe grudgingly gave her some props for ignoring Lucifer's taunts. "I'm sorry to have to bring you here under these circumstances, but there was no other way."

Lucifer opened his mouth, probably to try to antagonize the kidnapper some more, but Chloe shushed him and took control.

"Look, whoever you are, you should know that our colleagues at the LAPD knew exactly where we were going tonight, and they will find a way to track us here. Also, no matter what happens to us, they're going to continue investigating the Fernando Ruiz case until they find the killer. So, whatever you have planned, it's not going to work out."

"This has nothing to do with the Ruiz case," the woman replied calmly. "Though I do wish you luck in solving that one. No murderer should ever go unpunished…wouldn't you agree, Mr. Morningstar?"

Lucifer tilted his head at the speakers, his eyes practically glowing. "Oh, yes. All killers should get their dues. And rapists. And thieves. And kidnappers. Care to know what the punishment is for that down in the bowels of Hell?"

"I'm sure I'll find out, soon enough," the woman said, sounding tired. "But we can't talk about it now. You two have a case to solve, and there's not much time."

Chloe's brow furrowed. Her neck was getting sore, having a conversation with the ceiling. "A case?"

"It's why I brought you here. Six years ago, a man named Martin Collins was convicted of bludgeoning his girlfriend to death. Twenty-four hours from now, Martin is scheduled to die from a lethal injection."

"Sounds like everything's in order then," Lucifer chirped. "Can we go now?"

Again, the woman pointedly ignored him. "I know, with absolute certainty, that Martin did not commit this crime."

"How can you be sure?" Chloe asked.

"I'm his mother."

Chloe and Lucifer shared a look. Mothers always believed their babies were incapable of murder. John Wayne Gacy's mom probably still thought he was a saint to this day.

Chloe cleared her throat. "Um, do you have any other reason to believe in Martin's innocence?"

"Yes, like actual evidence?" Lucifer put in.

"No," the woman stated flatly. "That's why you're here. You two are going to go over the investigation, as closely as possible and as many times as it takes to prove what I know in my heart is true. That Martin didn't kill that girl. And he doesn't deserve to die." Her voice shook slightly on the last few words, betraying her cool exterior for the first time.

Lucifer stared at the ceiling for a long beat, then declared, "Nope. Sorry. Not interested."

"You should be."

"Why? Because I'm the Devil, and I'm all about punishing evil?"

"That, and because you're on a very literal deadline."

Lucifer raised his eyebrows. "Oh? And what's that?"

"If you don't solve this case, Martin's not the only one who'll die in twenty-four hours. You will, too."