Detective Harper stood in the opulent living room of Senator Alan Riker's penthouse. The grandeur of the room was at odds with the grim scene before her: the senator sprawled lifelessly on a Persian rug, his head resting in a dark pool of blood. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the glittering city skyline, but the room itself was eerily silent, as though the walls held their breath in mourning.
Lucifer strolled in with his characteristic swagger, taking in the scene with a raised brow. "Well, well, someone certainly had an issue with democracy."
Harper turned to him, her jaw tightening. "Lucifer, can you, for once, not make this about your punchlines?"
"I'd argue it's the only thing keeping this situation tolerable," Lucifer quipped as he crouched beside the body, his gaze sharp and assessing. "One bullet to the head, no defensive wounds, no signs of a struggle... precision at its finest."
Harper crossed her arms. "A professional job. But look at the room." She gestured to the overturned vase, scattered papers, and an open safe in the corner. "It's staged to look like a robbery. Sloppy work for someone this precise."
Lucifer tilted his head, moving to the minibar. A single glass of bourbon sat on the counter, its amber liquid catching the dim light. He picked it up, holding it delicately. "I'd wager our dear senator wasn't drinking alone. Someone poured this for him—someone he trusted enough to let in late at night."
Harper's expression hardened. "That's a good lead. Forensics is already testing it for prints. Riker was a controversial figure—plenty of people wanted him dead."
"Ah, politics," Lucifer drawled. "Where betrayal is just another Tuesday." He paused, his tone darkening. "But this wasn't personal; it was calculated. Our killer wanted something."
Harper nodded, her eyes scanning the room again. "Let's find out what."
---
The Investigation Begins
Hours later, Harper and Lucifer sat at the precinct, poring over Senator Riker's phone records and financial statements.
"Look at this," Harper said, tapping her screen. "Jason Parrish, a lobbyist and one of Riker's closest allies. He called the senator six times on the night of the murder."
"Six calls?" Lucifer arched a brow. "Desperate, much? What's his story?"
"Parrish was fired from his firm a month ago after an embezzlement scandal," Harper explained. "He's been trying to clear his name ever since."
Lucifer's lips curled into a sly smile. "Ah, the perfect cocktail of motive and opportunity. Shall we?"
When they brought Parrish in for questioning, his agitation was palpable. His tie was askew, and sweat dotted his brow as he fidgeted in his seat.
"I didn't kill Alan," Parrish insisted, his voice cracking. "He was my friend!"
Harper leaned forward, her tone sharp. "Your friend who found out you were siphoning money from his campaign fund?"
Parrish's face turned ashen. "I-I paid him back! He forgave me!"
Lucifer leaned in, his voice a low, velvety murmur. "Forgave you? Or were you afraid he'd expose you to save his own career?"
Parrish's eyes darted around the room. "No! I didn't—"
"Where were you the night of the murder?" Harper interrupted.
"At home!" Parrish exclaimed. "My wife can vouch for me."
---
A New Lead
As they combed through the security footage from Riker's building, something caught Harper's attention.
"Stop," she said, pointing at the screen. The grainy footage showed a hooded figure entering the building at 11:45 p.m., roughly the time of the murder.
"Now, who's our mysterious visitor?" Lucifer mused, his eyes narrowing.
Harper leaned closer. "The height, the build—this isn't random. They knew exactly what they were doing."
Lucifer tapped his chin thoughtfully. "And they didn't even bother to disguise their gait. Confident. Almost brazen."
The tech team worked to enhance the image, revealing a partial face. Harper's stomach dropped. "That's Rachel Duvall," she whispered. "Riker's campaign manager."
---
Selene's Doubts
Elsewhere, Selene sat in a quiet café, watching Lisa through the window. Something about her behavior had shifted in recent days. She was quieter, more reserved, her usual spark dimmed.
When Selene finally approached her, she kept her tone light. "You've been acting strange lately. Everything okay?"
Lisa glanced up, startled. "Yeah, just... work stuff. You know how it is."
Selene studied her carefully. "Does this 'work stuff' have anything to do with Corvus?"
Lisa stiffened, her hands gripping her coffee cup. "What? No, why would you think that?"
Selene shrugged, her expression neutral. "Call it a hunch. You've been distracted, and Corvus doesn't exactly inspire trust."
Lisa forced a laugh. "I'm fine, really. You don't need to worry about me."
But as Selene walked away, her suspicion deepened. Lisa was hiding something, and Selene was determined to find out what.
---
Confronting Rachel
Back at the precinct, Harper and Lucifer sat across from Rachel Duvall. Her polished exterior remained intact, but there was a flicker of unease in her eyes.
"You were in the building the night of the murder," Harper began, showing her the footage. "Care to explain?"
Rachel's smile was tight. "I went to talk to Alan about the campaign. That's all."
"And the broken safe?" Harper pressed.
Rachel hesitated. "I don't know anything about that."
Lucifer leaned forward, his voice smooth and enticing. "Rachel, what do you desire most in the world?"
Her eyes glazed over, and her voice softened. "I wanted him out of the way. He was going to ruin everything. But I didn't kill him."
Harper's eyes narrowed. "Then who did?"
Rachel blinked, the daze fading. "I... I don't know. I heard a shot and ran. When I got there, he was already dead."
---
The Truth Uncovered
Hours of digging finally led Harper and Lucifer to the real culprit: a hired assassin, linked to Parrish through a series of encrypted messages.
The assassin, a former military sniper, was cornered in a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Harper led the charge, her gun drawn as Lucifer hung back, observing.
"Drop your weapon!" Harper commanded.
The sniper hesitated, his icy demeanor cracking as he realized he was surrounded.
"Alan Riker was just another paycheck," he said coldly. "Nothing personal."
"But embezzlement's a slippery slope, isn't it?" Lucifer chimed in.
The sniper was taken into custody, and Parrish's involvement was laid bare.
---
A New Layer of Suspicion
As Harper closed her files, she glanced at Lucifer. "Another case wrapped. You're surprisingly helpful when you want to be."
Lucifer grinned. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Detective."
Meanwhile, Selene's doubts about Lisa grew stronger. She decided to take matters into her own hands, vowing to uncover the truth about Lisa's connection to Corvus.