Lila and Tony were utterly distraught. It had being two days since Lucifer's arrest and it seemed as if their dispair had only begun. Lila had only been able see to twice. One in a holding cell- one could almost say he was delighted, confessing it wasn't as bad as people made it out to be- and the other during his arrangement trial where the district attorney indicted him with several charges before a judge.
The news of Dr. bates' arrest and indictment had spread like wildfire in such little time, drawing reporters and live media correspondents in front of the courthouse. Not many people were present in the courtroom itself as ordered by the judge except for the District Attorney, the sixteen members of the jury, the company's Lawyer was in turn Henry's attorney and a few police officers.
Lila was allowed in the courtroom on the count of being his fiancée. Her gaze fixed on Lucifer who stood on the dock, humorous and indifferent as the DA presented its case.
"Henry," she whispered as soon as she laid her eyes on him.
Lucifer smiled. She was surprised at how calm and composed he was, not minding the fact that things could go from bad to worse this first hearing didn't turn out well.
"State vs Henry Bates," The court clerk began read out loud. Shortly after, the district attorney and the defense attorney both introduced themselves and the case proceeded.
None of the allegations thrown his way seem to faze him or stir a ghastly reaction, almost like he did not comprehend the gravity of the charges. Was that a good sign? She could not conclude.
She watched his lawyer struggled to defend him and it didn't take long for the old judge to make his verdict, declaring Dr. Bates' trial to commence in a few weeks and deny him bail. She broke down in tears on hearing the verdict but then she heard Lucifer say the same words he had said to her when he was first arrested.
"I'll be out soon my sweet," he repeated with the same reassuring smile as he was escorted out by the police officers.
** ** **
She looked pale as she sat on the living room couch, having barely slept since the night of the arrest- the night she almost died. Tony on the other hand paced around in deep thought of how to vindicate his boss. He occasionally threw a glance at Lila, a part of him blaming himself for the heavy bags on her weary eyes. If only he hadn't lost Skullz's phone.
"What about your friends from the FBI?" He asked to break the silence. "Can't they do something to help?"
"They said it was a state matter," Lila replied with a sigh. "And they don't want to get involved."
"But that's profound!" Tony exploded.
Lila looked away to hide the tear that dropped on her cheek.
"They all think he did it," she sniffled.
"No," Tony disagreed. "They just made up their mind about it and they plan to keep and break him till he confesses to what he didn't do," he scoffed. "I trust Dr. Bates; he wouldn't give them the chance."
Lila stared at him with a question on her mind that even to herself sounded bizarre.
"Did you notice anything different about yourself after that night?"
Tony became puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"After the explosion, did you experience any side effects?" She pressed on further.
"No why?" Tony asked.
Lila heaved a sigh. "I'm just trying to make sense of all that is going on with Henry. Ever since that night, Henry has been somehow different. He speaks different, acts like he is new to everyone and everything, and the other night-" She paused, recalling how Lucifer had shielded her from in the impending rubble with his bareback. "You saw it too, didn't you? We should be dead. How else can you explain what he did?"
Tony understood immediately that Lila was starting suspect something about Lucifer, although she seemed taking back by it all. He decided it was best for her not to find out the truth until Lucifer left Henry's body to avoid the wrath of the devil himself.
"I too was shocked," He admitted. "But it could have been an adrenaline rush or something. There are cases like that." Tony answered nervously.
"But what if this is because he was closest to the blast?" Lila countered his answer.
"Still, it doesn't mean that the explosion gave Dr. Bates superpowers." He stuttered with a nervous chuckle.
Lila could tell something was off as Tony fell into an awkward silence but luckily his phone rang before he could say anything foolish.
"I have to take this." He walked away although he knew it was an unknown caller. "Hello?"
"Hello, Ash,"
Tony covered his mouth with a hand to prevent himself from shouting.
"Dr. Bates- I mean, Lucifer," He whispered, throwing a glance at Lila. She was lost in her thoughts. "How are you--"
"Speaking to you right now?" Lucifer completed Tony's words for him before letting out a short laugh. "I told you this prison can't hold me. Everyone serves me here, and I have made a few interesting friends too; one of them gave me the phone I'm using to speak to you right now."
"Wow," Tony mouthed, utterly speechless.
Lucifer laughed.
"I knew that would be your reaction. I can picture you gaping at the window right now," he laughed again. "Tell me, how is Lila doing?"
How is Lila?"
Tony walked a few more steps away before answering. "Terrible, she's lost sleep and skipped meals since they took you away."
Lucifer sighed. "I feel foolish right now for leaving her." He regretted. "Well, it's a good thing I'm leaving today then."
"Really? But how?" He queried in a low voice. "You're still the main culprit and Dr. Cortez is still out roaming free," he reminded.
"Yes, I know," Lucifer nodded. "But I've decided it's time to punish him."
"You don't know how happy I am to hear this," Tony replied in delight. "But how are we going to do that?"
"Relax, I have a plan," Lucifer answered. "But we are going to need Simon, Herman and that girlfriend of yours- Helen."
"Uhm, it's Hannah and she is not--"
"Yeah, keep believing that," Lucifer sneered. "Where are you?"
"I'm at your place, but I'll go meet them at once."
"Great, I'll be waiting," Lucifer said. "And Ash, don't tell Lila."
Tony hesitated a little before answering.
"Okay."
"Good, talk to you later."
After Lucifer hung up, Tony walked back to face Lila.
"I'm sorry Miss Roberts, but I have to get back to work. It's urgent." He wore the same nervous look on his face.
Lila gave a light shrug and watched as he left the house.
** ** **
Omega Labs began falling from the moment Lucifer got arrested as investors began pulling out due to the scandal, even some members of the board resigned as they too believed the company was done for. Dr. Simon and Dr. Herman sat across each other with a few others in the large board room, contemplating what could and should..
"I knew this was eventually going to happen." Dr. Simon groaned. "Henry should have told the police about Dr. Cortez long ago, I should have done it myself." He banged his fist on the table.
"We didn't have proof against him then; neither do we have anything now." Dr. Herman reminded. "And what the police have against Henry is pretty concrete, all we can do it make sure the company doesn't go down with him. We should have a press conference, give an official statement and control the damage. Else we're ruined."
"Do you think what they are saying is true? That he put those people's lives in danger on purpose." One of the board members present chipped in.
"No, I don't believe it." Simon shook his head. "Henry is a good man."
"And so? We've seen the hunger for ambition change a lot of men in this field. Take Dr. Cortez for example."
"You don't have to state that fact to me," Simon uttered. "And even if Henry did, Cortez is the real devil here. It's him we have to stop. If we can get rid of him and clear Henry's name, I bet you all of this would go away in an instant."
"Yes, I know that. But how do we go about that?"
Both men fell silent as they could not find an answer.
"Maybe this is truly the end." Simon bowed his bald head in a smile.
Tony emerged from the door almost immediately, swinging it wide open as he swooped in causing the two men to spring to their feet in alarm.
"Dr. Huffman, you look like you were chased all the way here." Dr. Simon said as Tony panted with both hands on his knees. "What is it?"
"Dr. Bates," He gasped as he tried to catch his breath. "He has a plan."