Lucifer kissed me, smiling, then snapped a portal for me, and I went through it. When it closed, I collapsed onto the couch. The adrenaline of the situation was wearing off, and I was on the edge of tears. I breathed large breaths to steady myself and gain some composure.

My phone dinged. Finding it still on the bar, I examined it. It was still only at twenty percent, but it was enough to check on Shawna. Swiping it on, I had a whole slew of texts from her.

Damn. I missed John's funeral. I did the only thing I could think to do: I played sick.

~

Me: Hey. I'm sorry. I've been so sick!

Shawna: I was wondering! You missed the funeral.

Me: I've been in bed. Get your flu shot. This sucked.

Shawna: You got time for lunch? Feel up to it?

Me: I don't know. Lucas is coming home today.

Shawna: I won't see you for a few days then. 😉

Me: 😆 No, likely not.

Shawna: Check on lunch. Egg drop soup = chicken soup, right?

Me: Yes! I'll get back to you.

~

Honestly, I didn't know what I'd talk to Shawna about. We'd grown apart since Deirdre died. Or, more precisely, since I'd been working on the second deal for Lucifer. It had forced me into a mindset where judgment had become a part of my world. Instead of looking past, or ignoring, what Shawna was doing, the situation compelled me to look at it, and it didn't show me things I liked to see.

But now I had a pragmatic reason to keep in touch; I wanted to know what was going on with the case and Jillian. I had no choice but to say yes.

~

Me: Hey, yes to lunch.

Shawna: Yay! Will order when you arrive.

Me: Leaving now.

Shawna: Ta!

~

I sighed, feeling a headache coming on. It'd been a hell of a morning. I rubbed my temples, suddenly tired. I would much rather have had a nap, but I'd committed. I called for the car, grabbed my things, and made my way to the garage.

I checked in on Jillian on the ride over. She was occupied with Frances. While they did their thing on the couch, I looked around Jillian's office. Her desk was clear, a neat-freak's paradise. I gave up.

When I arrived at their building, I texted Shawna so she could order the food. My phone dinged as I got on the elevator; I assumed it was her. It surprised me it wasn't. Instead, an unknown number had sent me a text. I opened it to find it to be Azza.

~

Azza: Olivia, it's Azza.

Me: Hi. How is he?

Azza: He's holding it together, but his fuse is very short.

Me: Angry still?

Azza: Oh yeah. Uzza is running scared.

Me: That's surprising?

Azza: Very.

Me: Ok. I'm having lunch with Shawna. Take him home.

Azza: That might be a good idea. I'll suggest it.

Me: Good. I have to go.

Azza: I love you.

Me: I love you too.

~

I switched text screens.

~

Me: Love... you OK?

Lucifer: Not really. Uzza is pissing me off.

Me: Is it Uzza, or is it aftereffects?

Lucifer: Probably both.

Me: Do you need to reign in Uzza right now?

Lucifer: No. He has stopped, just hiding.

Me: Go home. I'll be there as soon as I can.

Lucifer: OK. Love you.

Me: And I, you.

~

I checked the time—one o'clock. I had roughly an hour to spend with Shawna before I needed to bow out. I'd watch the meeting on my way home. I stepped out of the elevator and headed to Shawna's office, passing Frances as he was leaving. He looked upset, and I wondered about what, but Shawna saw me and waved me into her suite before I could look at Jillian. I had to let it go.

My heart sank when I saw her. I didn't want to be here; I had no clue what to say to her. Maybe office gossip like we used to? The biggest thing in my life was something I couldn't discuss. Sure, I could talk about 'Lucas,' but only in the vaguest of terms. And how in the hell would I explain Azza? It said a lot about how preoccupied she'd been; she hadn't even tried to pry.

She held the door for me and beamed when I went into her office. "Hi! I'd hug you, but you've been sick," she explained, shutting the door behind me. "Lunch should be here in a few minutes."

"You seem to be in a good mood," I commented, my eyes narrowing. "What's going on?"

"Just got a big break in the case. The first big step to getting the insanity plea." She sat back, twirling her pen.

"Do I want to know?" I asked, taking off my coat and sitting on her couch.

"Probably not." She smirked, "But I also just scored a huge office gossip bomb."

Relieved the topic changed, I asked, "Really? What's going on?"

"Well, apparently," she said, gleefully sharing the rumor, "Jillian was dating this older guy. Seems like he keeled over from a heart attack!"

"Wow. That... doesn't sound like something to be happy about."

"Oh, I guess not. But get this," she leaned forward. "The man was a Judge. There might be an investigation!"

I crossed my arms, "I still don't see why this is making you so happy."

"If she goes, then I'm a lot freer to pick my cases, and I'll likely make partner sooner. She's been the biggest barrier."

"Well, I'd be delighted to see you be able to give up defending the guilty assholes they have forced you to take, but it still seems a little harsh to be so thrilled about someone else's misfortune."

She scowled. "What's up with you? I thought you'd be glad for me."

"I am!" I asserted, attempting to assuage her anger before we had another fight. I took a different tactic. "So, do you think she loved him?"

She leaned back in her chair. "Who knows? I mean, she's still dating Plastic Surgeon Guy, right?"

"Man, it sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen. I guess he knows?"

"Oh yeah. We heard them shouting all the way down the hall."

I struggled to smile, "Yep, train wreck."

She snickered. "And, get this... The Judge? The investigation was about taking bribes. I can't help but wonder..." her voice let the implication hang in the air.

"Do you think so?" I tried to sound surprised. "Wow. Yeah, an arrest would get rid of her real fast."

"Right?" Shawna grinned.

There came a knock at the door; the kid delivering our food stood outside. We sat at the table to eat; the egg drop soup was as amazing as I remembered.

"So, what's been going on with you? How's Lucas?"

I stumbled my way through an awkward conversation about 'Lucas', then we lapsed into an uneasy quiet. I scrambled for something to say, "How are you doing? I mean, really?"

The smile disappeared, and she slumped. "I'm okay, I guess. I still miss John.

"Grieving sucks," I stated, resting my chin in my hand, elbow on the table.

"Yeah,"

We hit the silence again, each of us lost in our thoughts.

My phone dinged, and I checked it.

~

Azza: Hey, we're home. Come home for a nap?

Me: Yeah, I'll say goodbye to Shawna.

Azza: Good.

~

"Lucas?" Shawna asked.

"Yep. He's home, and I'm getting tired. This was my first day out. I think I will head home for a nap."

"Okay," she said. "It was good to see you." She didn't sound convinced.

"Yeah, it was good to see you too," I replied, as insincere.

I slipped on my coat, said a final farewell, and headed for the elevators. I couldn't help but wonder if my friendship with Shawna was ending. A pang shot through my heart at the thought, but I also felt relieved. I was tired of trying to justify her choices.

Once in the car, I scryed Jillian. She was at her desk, going over the Shooter's case file when she reached for her phone and checked her texts. I read one from Frances.

~

Frances: I can't believe you cheated on me.

Jillian: I never said we were exclusive, pet.

Frances: Yes, Ma'am. I will do my best with this.

Jillian: Good boy.

~

I sighed. I knew way too much about Jillian's sex life. But I supposed, if this were what she was about, I'd have to.

A button on Jillian's desk phone lit up, and she took a big breath and exhaled before answering. Shortly after, Peggy opened her door and ushered a middle-aged woman into her office. Holy hell! That's Melissa Kane! I had known her as one of Deirdre's teachers from several years ago. She had gotten married if she was now an Attics.

She had mousy brown hair and a conservative brown skirt with a cream-colored blouse and brown flats. She didn't appear to be wearing any makeup, and she carried a briefcase. I had a not-so-wild guess it contained cash.

Jillian motioned toward a chair in front of her desk. They sat talking for a while, Melissa saying little but nodding a lot. Not for the first time did I wish I could hear what was said.

Melissa's face went from expressionless to flushed with a clenched jaw. She nodded more confidently during the conversation as Jillian talked to her. After a while, she reached beside her chair and lifted the briefcase. She opened it and took out two of three fat envelopes, and passed them to Jillian.

Jillian used a letter opener on them and glanced inside. They were full of what looked like hundred-dollar bills. Jillian nodded, and Melissa closed her briefcase. How much would Jillian pay for the verdict, and how much would she keep for herself?

Melissa stood and held her hand out to Jillian. Jillian likewise stood and shook it, trying to hide her smug expression. Melissa gathered her things and left the office a moment later.

On a whim, I followed her. Once in the elevator, she set the briefcase down and dug out her phone. She texted a group called "The Lord's Work."

~

Melissa: Deal has been made. Now, we can proceed.

~

As I rode home, I watched her get the back of a car. She arrived at a hotel as my car pulled into my garage. I watched as she settled herself onto the couch in her suite with a book. It, too, had the title of The Lord's Work. I got a less-than-pleasant vibe from her and decided to add her to my list of people to check.

I entered the quiet apartment and found my angels asleep in the bed, curled up together, Azza spooning Lucifer. They both looked so peaceful; it made my heart swell to see them in my bed. George had settled on Azza's hip.

I gently left the bedroom, not disturbing them, and, after putting on a pair of sleep pants and a t-shirt, I padded into the office.

There, I scryed Melissa again. To my surprise, there was now a meeting of people in her room. They looked at a map of a town that wasn't local. I didn't recognize it and could only conclude it was from somewhere in Mississippi.

She threw down a picture of a church, then another, and another. They showed the exterior, people coming out, and a closeup of one particular man; it looked like he was the minister based on his dress as he said goodbye to his parishioners. I wasn't getting a pleasant feeling about what I witness from the group.

She then tossed several pictures of the same man kissing another man as well as other, more explicit, images. She went from having pursed lips and speaking normally to being entirely red in the face and waving her hands around, frantically punctuating whatever she was saying. The people with her seemed to agree with her.

With a start, I realized what I was witnessing; the planning of a murder, maybe assassination-style. I didn't know who the man was, but his life was in danger. I would have to watch them closely over the next few days. I hoped they needed to travel home to get to the man; it would give me more chances to discover who, what, where, and when.

Noises came from the bedroom. I put away the mirror and made my way toward them to find Lucifer and Azza making love. I smiled and left them to their own devices while I went to the kitchen to cook something. There wasn't a lot that seemed interesting, so I perused a local Indian restaurant's menu. Curry sounded good.