Chapter 6: The Other Shoe

Lucifer awoke Monday morning already feeling like a champion. Tyler had been a remarkably great human and helping him spark it off with some of the other "commitment ready" patrons had been almost too easy. Once Mr. Carter finished explaining his story, the work week would be a wrap. With a grin, Lucifer made his way to the shower.

As he passed through Lux to go the station, he was once again greeted by a practice group being overseen by Maze. With a sinful smile, Maze sipped from her glass as she watched. Natalie was notably missing from the set.

"Where has their fearless leader vanished to?" He asked as he approached Maze.

"Coffee run. Guess she bribed the others with caffeine to get them to come to practice early."

After a few moments of observing as well, Lucifer carried on to his car. As he prepared to pull away from the curb, a familiar blue sedan pulled into the empty space in front of him. From the curbside door exited his new lead choreographer, a cardboard tray of coffee in hand. With a wave to whomever was driving the car, Natalie hurried into the building.

Lucifer looked over the sedan briefly has they both joined traffic. Other than its plate number, it had no distinguishing features from a showroom floor sampler. As he turned toward the stations, he refocused on the case at hand.

Mr. Carter had already been placed in the interrogation room, while Chloe waited for Lucifer to arrive. As expected, the defense lawyer had shown up before the station had even opened for visitors. The man was determined to give Chloe a headache from reciting various law-jargon nonsense at her. If anyone could get the guy to shut up, it was her partner. Why did Monday always have to be like this?

Lucifer could practically feel the relief pour off the detective as he entered the station and she called him over. He helped himself to some of the free coffee (with a little whiskey, of course. Otherwise this swill was unbearable) before making his way to the door to interrogation.

"Good morning, Detective. Eager to get to the paperwork part I see." He greeted playfully.

"Assuming we get there," she responded with a snort, "the company lawyer is a total technicalities hard-ass. He's trying to get the confession thrown out as being "under duress" ." She finished with air quotes and a roll of her eyes.

"Duress?" Lucifer asked over his cup, clearly offended. "Nonsense, Mr. Carter was not in duress! He was merely expressing what he most desired."

The detective raised her hands to show that she didn't agree with it either and then motioned him towards the room. The two entered and the lawyer in question immediately started speaking.

"Now that you've had time to think about it, I'm sure you see that without the duress-induced confession you have nothing to hold these charges to my client. I demand he be released at once!"

Lucifer couldn't keep the look of shock from his face, "Not even going to introduce yourself? How rude."

The man visibly stiffened. "My apologies, I am pressed for time this morning and forget myself. I am Johnathan Quaits, and I am Mr. Carter's lawyer."

Chloe rolled her eyes as the two shook hands briefly.

"Lucifer Morningstar, I am the detective's consultant."

"Like the club owner?"

"One and the same." Lucifer responded with a smile. "Now, let's discuss this reasonably."

Soon everyone was seated on either side of the steel table. While the detective and Mr. Quaits began round two of their technicalities debate, Lucifer's attention fell to Mr. Carter. John started at the table with a defeated look. The whole scene struck Lucifer as odd. Normally a man with a lawyer as vocal and driven as Mr. Quaits doesn't look like they've already been sentenced.

"Is everything alright?" Lucifer asked as he leaned forward.

Mr. Carter looked up in shock. His mouth hung open a moment before tears over took him. "I-I just want this to be over... I never wanted Ashley to get hurt... I-"

"That's enough, John!" Mr. Quaits said firmly.

"Now, hold on. If the lad has something to say you should let him. He obviously wants to say it." Lucifer countered.

"With all due respect, Mr. Morningstar, my client is distraught and I am acting in his best interest."

"Really? You truly desire what is best for Mr. Carter?" Lucifer asked in a direct manner as his eyes turned to met the lawyer.

"Of course not, I'm just here to protect my company's interest." Mr. Quaits babbled off, an offended look gracing his features. The whole room paused, stares focused on the lawyer. As the realization of what he said settled in, he excused himself in a flurry of activity and practically vanished from the building.

"Well, that was unexpected." Chloe chimed.

"Quite..."

"Um... Can I do my formal confession now?" Mr. Carter asked nervously.

"You don't want another lawyer?" Chloe asked.

Mr. Carter shock his head, "No, I don't need one... I want to face justice for what I did. Ashley is dead because of me, and I loved her more than anything else in this world."

Lucifer and the detective shared a glace before turning their full attention to the man in front of them.

"Whenever your ready." Chloe prompted.

With a shaky nod, the defeated man began his story, "When I first met Ashley, she had just gotten into the scene around town. I kept getting assigned to drive her rental limo and we started talking. I wanted to get serious, but I was just a no-body. Then one day I met this guy. He said he could give me a better job, a better life. A life that could impress Ashley. Make me worthy of her."

There was a momentary pause as he sniffled and wiped his nose against his sleeve.

"I had no idea they were moving on mob turf. Simple driving turned into drug runs, and soon I was in deeper than I thought. Sure I had money, but I was scared. Ashley was going on dates with me, but she knew something was bothering me. When I came clean and told her, she-she didn't even care!"

Full tears had begun to fall as John pushed his face into his hands.

"She said she loved me, that we'd make it work without my new job. All that mattered was breaking times with them. I went to tell them as much. And... And he said that they would let me go, they just wanted one meeting with both of us to make sure we under stood the severance package. They took us on this strange plane with part of the bottom as a glass surface, like a tour plane ya know. And... he told me this is what happens to traitors... and he opened the glass and threw her out."

With a wail, John collapsed against the table top. His shoulders heaved with the force of his crying. Lucifer and the detective quietly stepped out.