Chloe inclines her body against the dashboard, squinting against the glare in the distance. She's perched on the edge of her passenger's seat. Cupping both hands over her eyes. She sees nothing.
Next to Chloe, Ella opens her mouth, then shuts it close and opens it again. For a full minute, the car is silent. Her forehead all creased, her huge eyes narrowing at Chloe. "So you were working on a hunch?"
"A well-educated hunch," Chloe assures. She gazes at her notebook once more. Just to make sure she copied off the right address. So far, she spots Kevin's sedan at the driveway. Definitely the right place.
"What if he didn't believe our lies about Kevin distributing drugs in LUX?" Ella demands, her pitch increases an octave higher, and folds her arms over her stomach.
"He has to do something about it. Rumours will fly and this school's a little touchy on drugs and alcohol. They already have a bad record. Another strike on the drug front and the school district administration is going to close Vertigo High down."
"What if your hunch fails?" Ella argues, her doe-like eyes alarmingly widens and suddenly grasping Chloe's forearm tightly than she might have cut the blood supply in Chloe's arm.
"Then we go for Plan B," Chloe says, looking at Ella with a confident smile. Attempts to yank her arm from Ella's iron grip and fails.
"Plan B?"
Chloe curtly nods, "Yes, Plan B."
"And what does Plan B entails?" Ella quizzes, gulping her saliva.
Chloe gestures at Ella absentmindedly, "To send you to seduce Kevin."
Her mouth forms an 'O' shape. "Wait, what?" Ella gasps as the realisation sinks in and settles on her face. Ella stutters, hands flying to her chest. "Me? Why me? You know Kevin's a one girl guy."
"I know, but you're the sweetest girl I know in school. You might not even need to seduce him, just offer a shoulder for him to cry on and ask about his drug activities," Chloe mutters, gazing at the neat row of houses in front of them. "It's either you or Dan. Dan isn't Kevin's type."
Ella looks at Chloe, as if Chloe has grown a second head. Opens her mouth to reply, when Chloe spots their targets getting out from a cab and repeatedly slaps Ella's thigh, effectively cutting Ella from replying.
"They're here. Follow my lead," Chloe mentions, her lips twitching into an excited smile. She gets out from the car, marching towards one of the houses.
"Wait for me," Ella calls out, locks the car behind her and quickly follows after Chloe.
Mazikeen produces a silk handkerchief from her dress. There's a letter 'M' embroidered at its corner, in elaborate Spenserian script. A gift from a fallen friend. She polishes her blade with it. Her words are all garbled, yet it doesn't hinder him from understanding. "Shall I bring my blade to this unplanned meeting?"
He's not one to display emotive expression. A mere curl of his upper lip speaks to her eloquently as when he speaks. "That won't be necessary, Mazikeen. I plan to have a quick chat with Kevin. To verify if the anonymous tip has some truth."
Lately, she can't shake the creeping sensation of being watched. Mazikeen sheaths her blade into its scabbard. Fastening the scabbard's Velcro path around her thigh, she smoothens the creases on her floral patterned skirt. "What would you have me to do if the tip proves to be true?"
"I reserved your particular skillset for other matters, Mazikeen. Kevin doesn't fall into that spectrum. But I suspect a little sneak peek to Hell shall do the trick."
Averts her gaze from the windows to grace an inquiring glance at Lucifer. "If he's not guilty, what then?"
"I wouldn't hold off any interesting appointments that may accidentally drop into our laps," Lucifer says, a grin slithering across his handsome features. "Until then, let's see how this plays out shall we?"
"As you wish."
The vehicle they're in, pulls to a stop, ahead of a distinct-looking mansion. Colonial, Mazikeen thinks, with a hint of Spanish influences on the rooftops. Five years ago, she couldn't tell the difference. All buildings looked similar to her—boxlike, unimaginative and dull. She can't say the same now.
"We're here," the Uber driver announces, breaking her out from her musing.
Satisfied with the transaction, Mazikeen rates the driver for a lower rating. That blatant leering since she entered the car, clinches the two star rating. Her phone vibrates to indicate the bill from Uber arrives, Mazikeen checks the email once and leaves the car.
It's a neighbourhood of white-picket fences, manicured lawns and massive concrete dwellings for families and their many polished façades. Ask Mazikeen how hell looks like, she'd say hell has many faces, this neighbourhood and all neighbours of its kind is one of them.
She looks down at her phone, the map app displaying their location. "Allow me," is all she says, before taking the lead to one of the houses. She notices a beige-coloured station wagon parked at the curb. "We have company," she states, directing a finger at the station wagon.
"Splendid. The more the merrier," Lucifer says, his steps remain energetic despite the measured gait he adopted. The walk to Kevin Gonzalez's home is short. Right as they reach the front porch, Chloe Decker and her dark-haired friend arrive, panting like dogs.
Mazikeen calculates their current situation. She won't be able to extract the information they required through normal means. Secrecy of her and Lucifer's true nature is paramount. So, Mazikeen bids her time and waits for Lucifer's further instruction.
"What are you doing here?" asks Chloe, doubling over and gasping for air. Then straightens her posture, her chin held high. She narrows her eyes at Lucifer suspiciously.
"On a LUX Club-related business, which I can assure you is the furthest away from the murder investigation you have going on," Lucifer replies, smirking.
Chloe sneers, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yeah, right. And cows have wings."
"Would you like to witness my interview with Kevin? I heard it helps to widen certain tunnel vision."
"Like a collaboration?" Chloe says, scepticism flashing across her features.
"Yes, until you catch Delilah's murderer and my business with Kevin will conclude shortly hence the rest of my afternoon will be free. Justice for Delilah."
"Okay. But I get to ring the bell," Chloe retorts without hesitation, inserting herself between the front door and Lucifer.
Mazikeen's fingertips graze over her skirt. Particularly, the scabbard strapped to her thigh. It's a reflex honed by her nature, part of the Lilim, driven to secure one's safety at all cost.
"Ella Lopez," the brunette glances uncertainly at Chloe, "we don't share any classes together but I write for the school paper. You know, the Science Fiction section."
Ella turns to Lucifer, launching into a hug. Lucifer merely parts a polite smile at the sudden intrusion of personal space. He dips his head low, briefly—no trouble here, that slight curving of his lip makes his message clear. He's amused.
Ella lets go of Lucifer, set her big dark eyes on Mazikeen. "I love the way you play the piano. It's awesome," Ella praises, raising both thumbs up at Lucifer.
With the end of her lips quirking into a smirk, Ella suddenly wraps her arms around Mazikeen, tipping her head backwards and lets Mazikeen go. "Wow. You're taller than I expected," Ella asserts, smiling.
She's saved from replying as the door swings wide open. Greeting them four is a wrinkly, elfin Hispanic woman. Her glasses perching on the edge of her nose, as she peers to get a better look at them. She permits a warm toothy smile, pushing the glasses up to her nose.
Chloe waves enthusiastically at the old woman. "Hi, we're friends of Kevin. From school. We're here for our study group. Kevin mentioned that it's his turn to host the study session."
Mazikeen shoves Ella to the front, allowing Chloe and Ella to take centre stage. She's been told that she lacks the warmth required to disarm the people's natural defensive walls. Mazikeen won't push her luck where she can't succeed.
"Don't need to call Kevin for us. Just point us the way," says Ella, holding up her sling bag high enough for the old woman to see.
The old woman, Mazikeen suspects must be Kevin's grandmother due to similarity of their noses and lips, imparts the instructions to Kevin's room. Promising to bring cookies, milk and whatever she could scrooge from the kitchen for them. Chloe and Ella offer to stay with Mrs Ensco and take the refreshment to their 'study group' themselves.
Mazikeen and Lucifer find Kevin Gonzalez in his bedroom. Right where his grandmother stated he'll be. Unaware to the situation waiting for him. Through the ajar door, Mazikeen observes him flexing his muscles with a dumbbell. A brief scan around his room, reveals the room has no security cameras. Plenty mirrors to reflect the vanity the boy has. He's of medium height, stocky and well-built as a result of his involvement in sports. Still, he has nothing on Mazikeen's years of vicious upbringing and penchant for necessary violence.
"Let's loosen his tongue up, Mazikeen. No bruises, please. I just want his full cooperation," Lucifer says, a smile tugging the corners of his lips.
"As you wish," Mazikeen affirms, pushing the door wide. Catching Kevin off guard. His mouth drops open, his eyes widens—the shock is fleeting at best, then anger replaces confusion.
"Kevin, that's not the way you should welcome your guests," Lucifer warns, jovially. "This private conversation won't last. I'll cut to the chase. We'll require your cooperation, Kevin. No lies, preferably."
Mazikeen understands his surprise. His vulgar response. She thinks for a moment or two, to extend civility or not. She doesn't like his tone—and his threat. Not that Lucifer minds.
"Delilah sure knows how to pick the best of men, does she?" Lucifer mutters, amusingly. His eyes are not blue—it's only blue to ignorant eyes. But to Mazikeen, his eyes glow amber like solar flares, fiery and unyielding. They're breathtakingly gorgeous and are scrutinising a framed photo of young Kevin with Peyton Manning.
Mazikeen dashes—faster than the human eye could see—hands around Kevin's upper torso. Pins him against the wall. Her slender hand covering his mouth. "He's terrible."
Lucifer cocks his head sideways, lifting one brow at Kevin. "I always wonder what she'd seen in him. But since you're the last person she treasured on some level, Kevin. We'll go gentle on you. Because if you persist on those lies," Lucifer pauses, permitting a devilish grin to grace his lips. He twists his head to her and says, "Mazikeen, give us a smile."
And so Mazikeen smiles. Without glamour. Kevin will see her. Will see her true face. The skinless, exposed flesh that stretched from her forehead to her chin, half of a nose to her missing ear and socket devoid of an eye.
The glamour returns to her—in time as the girls enter the room. Mazikeen releases her hold on Kevin. Letting the boy gather his scrambling wits off the floor. She'd wiped out of any thoughts of hostility burgeoning within Kevin. Good.
"Let's get the interview going," quips Chloe, eyeing Kevin with great interest. She sets down the tray on Kevin's desk. Marches towards Kevin, backing him against the wall. Meanwhile Ella busies herself with the cookies she brought.
"What do you want from me?" Kevin squeaks, his eyes narrowing.
Lucifer keeps his distance between the girls and Kevin, gazing towards the window.
Mazikeen moves to the door, standing in front of him. Barricading the door from any potential threats and the possibility of Kevin fleeing from them.
"We just got a couple of questions for you," Chloe answers, producing her notepad and a pen from her jeans pocket. Kevin doesn't exude the anger he displayed previously. Answering all the questions Chloe tossed at his direction with meekness Mazikeen didn't know he possess. Chloe jotting down the notes furiously. Ella proffers him with a glass of milk to calm his nerves, arm with her sunshine smile.
"Your turn," says Chloe, directing her thumb at Kevin.
Lucifer tears his attention from the windows. Staring at Kevin, he sweeps off imaginary dust of his shoulders. "I received a note stating you've been dealing drugs in the LUX Club. I would like to get my confirmation straight from the source. So, how do you plea?"
"I do, but not your place. Never the LUX," Kevin implores, his voice shaking. "You have to believe me. I would never deal in your place."
"Marvellous. Where to next?" Lucifer inquires, shifts his sight to Chloe and grins. "I believe Kevin had generously provided us with a name, didn't he?"
"Wait a minute, what do you think you're doing?" Chloe splutters.
Lucifer scoffs, shrugging his shoulders. "What else? We're joining you in your investigation, Decker. Less you'd think we're still the culprits behind Delilah's murder."
