The success of Lucifer's plan was a total awestruck to Tony and the rest although how he was able to convince the police to take on his plan wasn't much of a secret to them anymore. It was clear the police weren't heading anywhere with him- they only detained him in hopes that he would grow weary and confess to the charges against him but that didn't go as they planned. It was not until the afternoon Lucifer spoke to Tony that he chose to be cooperative, because of Lila.
He had told Detective Donnie and Pamela about his second encounter with Cortez in the boardroom- a statement which Detective Pamela vetted and confirmed from Dr. Simon and Dr. Herman who have witnessed the whole display of Cortez's betrayal to the company. It was then they finally decided to go after Cortez even as Detective Donnie kept a wary eye on Lucifer throughout the whole ordeal.
But that was all behind them now.
Lucifer couldn't help but feel gratified by how the employees of Omega Labs welcomed him. The ones who once gave cold stares and silent remarks now offered warmed smiles and rounds of applauses. The man they believed to be evil was now the person everyone celebrated.
All the employees had stepped out to the lobby waiting for his arrival. Lucifer, a bit dazed by the intense expression of gratitude, kept smiling and nodding his head until Dr. Simon tapped his shoulder and gestured at the free stairway; everyone was waiting for a big speech.
The applauding didn't stop even as Lucifer climbed up the stairs. Lucifer knew it could go on for a while if he wanted it to. Now he had risen above their heads and it was time to address the crowd.
The noise drowned as soon as he raised a hand, and then he spoke.
"Ladies, gentlemen," He echoed with a confident smile as his eyes scanned around, spreading his arms out wide. "The past few weeks have been quite the rollercoaster ride, hasn't it? The police on prosecuting me, every one of you doubting me- don't worry, I'm not the type to hold grudges."
Everyone gave a nervy laugh.
"Yeah, but here we are, me proving you wrong and bringing the real monster in to pay for his crime. This is for all the souls we've lost and for those of us who shared the most out of our present grief. I'd like to believe these times are meant to launch us into something bigger. So here we go, to all of us!"
Another round of applause echoed through the room immediately after he ended the speech. Soon the whole crowd began to disperse one after the other, some of them going back to their duty posts while some others waited to show their gratitude to Lucifer personally. Lucifer in return offered handshakes and slaps on the shoulder which came as a shock to all the employees.
"Wow, I never knew Dr. Bates could be this with his employees." Hannah confessed to Tony. The two of them sat beside the stairway, the frenzy from a distance.
Tony let out a soft chuckle and pushed his glasses back to keep their balance on his face.
"Well, here you go, to the new and improved Dr. Bates." He beamed in sarcasm as he raised a hand, causing her to crack up in laughter.
"Thank you for helping us with Dr. Cortez, Hannah." He said as soon as she became calm again.
"Nah, it's nothing. I should be apologizing for not believing you earlier." Hannah replied. "And also apologize for calling you a crazy stalker."
Tony laughed and straightened his glasses. "Apology accepted."
"Hey, I haven't apologized yet, I said I should be," Hannah frowned
"What?" Tony exclaimed.
"I'm kidding!" She laughed and punched his arm. The skittish expression on Tony's face was priceless. It made her heart flutter in excitement.
"What do you think would happen to Dr. Cortez now?" She asked after a while.
Tony thought deeply for brief moment, raising his chin.
"I don't know. I just hope he gets what he deserves and stays away for a very long time."
Just as Tony spoke, he sighted Lila who had just made an entrance.
"Hey, excuse me for a moment," he said and got to his feet and headed to greet Lila. She looked furious and Tony could guess why. He had called her immediately after the Cortez arrest but was certain Lucifer didn't and now she was mad. Still, he decided to act ignorant.
"Miss Lila, what are you doing here?" He asked in shock but Lila could see through his pretence.
"Don't play dumb with me Tony," she warned in a rather cold tone. Where's Henry?" She demanded.
Tony let out a sheepish grin.
"Uhm, he should be over..." He paused as he took a look around. "There!" He pointed.
Lila charged at once, making no effort to thank Tony for his direction. Lucifer sensed her presence as soon as she started edging through the crowd. He turned around with a big smile and spread his arms wide.
"Lila, my --"
"Oh spare me the flattery," Lila brushed his arm off. "Thanks for telling me you were out of jail by the way," she glared.
"Ohh," Lucifer mouthed then chuckled. "It wasn't my intention darling, trust me. I was needed back at the company and it just slipped my mind." Lucifer explained but Lila wasn't in the mood.
"Yes, and that is why you're here being the man of the hour while I was at home worried about you," Lila snapped back.
Lucifer chuckled again. "It's not what you think, Lila."
She fell silent and stared blankly at him as she waited for an explanation but Lucifer couldn't provide any.
"Okay, maybe it is what you think," Lucifer uttered finally. "I'm so sorry for not considering how you felt."
"Exactly, ever since your failed experiment you've been different!" Lila exploded. She didn't realize it but she had already made a scene as most of the employees who had left earlier came gathering back. "You act clueless to everything, you barely recognize any of our old friends, buildings fall on you, you don't get hurt and you now play the piano." She vented.
Lucifer scoffed.
"First of all," Lucifer raised a finger forward. "What happened at the construction site was just sheer luck."
"Sheer luck huh?" Lila asked again.
"Yes, and secondly, I thought you said you liked this different side of me."
"Yes, I do. But I miss the sweet sensitive Henry right about now." Lila admitted. "These past few weeks have only just been about one thing- you."
"Lila I--"
Lila raised her hands as if to tell him he could move no further.
"No, no, it's okay," she backed away slowly. "I just wanted to let you know I'm flying back to Washington tonight- that's what a good partner does." She added before she turned around.
"Lila," Lucifer called again.
"Enjoy your moment, Henry," she voiced as she walked away.
Tony and Hannah stood by the side all the while the argument was going on.
"Seems like there's trouble in paradise," Hannah stared as she watched a disoriented Lucifer trying to decide if he should run after Lila or call off the party.
"What do you think?" Tony spat in worry.
** ** **
Donnie wasn't the type to admit he was wrong, but the outcome of the Dr. Bates covert operation in proving Dr. Cortez was truly the mastermind of the explosion, was true that the doctor had bested him. But that wasn't the least of his worries at all as Cortez who he and his partner had taken Cortez into custody first to get a proper confession from him seemed to lose his tongue the moment they got into the precinct. He looked pale with fear and did nothing except stare down and nibble at his fingers while he mumbled inaudible words under his breath.
Two hours had gone by now, the two detectives haven't gotten a word from him and frustration was beginning to creep in especially for Donnie who had lost all his patience dealing with Lucifer earlier.
"Listen to me you piece of crap," His eyes narrowed at Cortez in anger as he spoke, the banging sound of his big hands resting on the table seemed to startle the doctor.
"He's here, the devil!" Dr. Cortez screamed.
"Shut up!" Donnie roared. "You think by stalling and acting mad you're buying yourself time for your rich friends and lawyers to help you."
"No, you have to believe me, there was something in his eyes!" Cortez croaked. "I saw it!"
Donnie bit his lip in utter frustration. The interrogation was heading nowhere. It was bad enough that he had to deal with Dr. Bates being right, now he had to deal with this too.
"Throw him into a cell." He muttered to his partner. "Let's hope a night behind bars makes you more cooperative, doc."