Chapter Five

Lucifer's laughter boomed through the warehouse despite Chloe's best efforts to shush him.

"Oh, that's bloody brilliant! Even the person we're supposed to prove is innocent thinks he did it? Well, I suppose Father always did have a twisted sense of humor…"

"I'm right, aren't I?" the woman persisted, ignoring Lucifer's outburst. "An innocent person could end up in Hell, if he feels guilty enough?" Her voice held a desperate edge, like she was hoping against hope to be proven wrong.

Lucifer glared at the ceiling. "Most people who go to Hell deserve to be there."

His choice of wording wasn't lost on Chloe. "Most"—not "all."

Meaning that, even though he didn't want to say it outright, there were people in Hell who didn't deserve to be there. At least, in his opinion.

"Then-" The woman's voice cracked a little "-then it's even more important that you get to work."

"How?" Chloe asked, something cracking inside her too. The kidnapper wasn't the only person facing the loss of someone she loved. Facing the knowledge of that person being trapped in Hell for all eternity. "How are we supposed to investigate a murder if we're stuck inside a warehouse? To even have a chance of solving this, we need to look at evidence, read the case file, talk to witnesses."

"You'll have access to everything the original investigators uncovered. Photos, interviews, forensic reports. If you need something more, I'll try my absolute best to provide it for you."

"How gracious of you," Lucifer drawled, then quickly brought his hand up to cover another cough.

Chloe shivered. Even with the original case file on hand, it would be damn near impossible to solve a murder this cold without being able to go out in the field. They'd have no way to re-interview old witnesses or dig up new ones. They wouldn't be able to visit the crime scene or consult with any forensics experts about new theories. And all of this was assuming Martin's innocence. What if the police got it right the first time around, and he really was guilty as sin?

At this moment, escape seemed like a better option than solving a potentially unsolvable case. There had to be some way out of here. She and Lucifer would just have to find it. Once he was safe, Chloe would keep her word. She'd do everything in her power to determine if Martin was innocent, and, if so, to save his life.

But she was damn sure going to save Lucifer's life first.

Chloe straightened her shoulders, the decision made.

"I know you're still thinking you can escape," the kidnapper said, as if reading Chloe's mind. "And I know you won't be able to fully focus on Martin's case if you're busy planning your own jailbreak. That's why I'm going to give you ten minutes, ten very precious minutes, to try your best to get free. I encourage you to fight hard, to make absolutely sure there's no way out. Once those ten minutes are up, I will unlock the door on your right. Inside, you'll find everything you need to get through the next twenty-four hours."

Chloe was already looking around the warehouse, weighing all of their options.

"Before I start the clock, you should know that I've placed solid iron wards in the floor to prevent Mr. Morningstar or any of his celestial friends—be they angels or demons—from hearing telepathic cries for help, or entering or leaving the warehouse via supernatural means. Wings will not work in there. The same goes for teleportation. You should also know that, if Mr. Morningstar dies, I plan on destroying his body immediately afterwards to prevent any chance of his soul's return. And, should his soul return to a different body, I will make it my personal mission to hunt him down and kill him in that form too. As many times as you come back, I will kill you. Over and over again, for as long as I live."

Chloe's eyes filled with tears. The word tore from her throat before she could stop it: "Why?"

"Because as long as Martin is in Hell, suffering for your failure to save him, then you will suffer for it too. Your ten minutes start now."