Let's save Lucifer - Back to life

Chapter 1

30 days. 720 hours. 43.200 minutes. It has been exactly one month since he came back from hell.
He still lived in isolation in his mansion. Every day was the same. He stood up, got himself a drink and played the piano. He tried to watch TV but the program hadn't changed in the two years of his absence. He would say it has even gotten worse.
Besides the boredom he struggled with nightmares and panic attacks. Even now he couldn't escaped the torture of his former kingdom. Additionally, he felt lonely. He wanted so desperately to be with the detective to make sure this was real life and no hell loop but he couldn't imagine leaving home, much less working with her.
In the corner of his eye he saw a movement.
"Another standard visit, brother?" he sighed without stopping playing.
"We worry about you, Luci."
"I know. I have to change my number, I'm afraid."
"Will you ever come out of here?"
"I don't need to. I have everything a happy devil can ask for and if I need something I make a call," Lucifer answered with a mischievous grin.
"You have to talk with Linda," Amenadiel insisted. "She can help you."
Lucifer laughed bitterly. "Nobody can help me."
"And what about them? Have you ever asked yourself what hell might have done to them? Ella is..."
"...terrified by me! Miss Lopez is better off without me. I have messed up her life enough."
"They need you, Lucifer."
"Nobody needs me." The unidentified sound of his play turned into the familiar melody of Creep. "Just leave me alone, brother."
Amenadiel nodded sadly. In a blink of a second he was gone.

Maze sat on the sofa when Chloe came home.
"Maze! I didn't expect you to still be awake."
"Where have you been?" the demon asked very upset.
"I had a session."
"And why did it take so long?"
"Well, we've talked. A lot. I admit we forgot about the time and we drank a couple of glasses. Why are you so angry?"
Maze stood up, holding DVDs in her hands. "Camp Rock, Descendents and High School Musical!"
Chloe grimaced. "Maybe I should've warn you that she's kinda obsessed with these Disney real movies lately."
"Maybe? There are sing along versions, Decker! She forced me to use my hairbrush as a microphone." The detective grinned. "That's not funny. That's torture!"
"Now you're exaggerating."
"Have you ever babysit a 12 years old?"
"That's a rhetorical question, isn't it?"
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Confused the detective looked at her roommate.
"Are you expecting someone?"
"No."
Chloe turned around to open it.
"Ella? It's late, what are you doing here?"
Without greeting her friend, the forensic scientist walked straight into the apartment and slammed a box on the kitchen counter.
"Break is over. We have work to do."
"In the middle of the night?" Maze asked.
"Ella, what is that?"
"This is everything we have of the Wendy Clarkson case."
"It's closed."
"For Jackson but not for me. We all know it was murder and I'm sure you don't want a killer to get away with that. Poor Wendy deserves justice and only we can help her."
"We'll get into trouble," Chloe said but her friend just went on pulling out files, notes and photographs. The cop knew that behaviour only too well and took a deep breath. "Ella, have you talked to Linda yet?"
"I'm fine, Decker."
"I don't think so."
Ella stopped. "I AM FINE. There's nothing I need to talk about."
"I don't care if you're lying to me, Ella, but lying to yourself only make things worse. Linda can help you. As a therapist, as a knower and as a friend."
"I don't need help. But Wendy Clarkson does."
In the meantime Trixie came out of her room. "Mom? Why are you fighting?"
"We're not fighting, Monkey, Ella and I only have different opinions. I'm sorry we woke you up. Go back to bed."
"Is that a kitten?"
"What?"
Chloe looked in the direction her daughter pointed at. Beelzy happily jumped through the room.
"Beelzebub, come here! I told you to stay in the car," Ella said embarrassed.
"That's your cat?" Trixie asked curiously.
"Kind of."
"And you named it Beelzebub?"
The women locked eyes. Trixie didn't know anything about Lucifer's true form and Chloe didn't want her to know it.
"Um, yes. I wanted to annoy Lucifer, because, you know, he insists on being the devil and he hates cats."
"Yeah," she grumbled and looked offended at her mother.
"Not yet, Trixie."
"Charlie got a pet and he's a baby. I don't understand why I should be too young."
"I have explained it to you..."
"You can be his godmother," Ella offered. "To train for your future pet?"
"Sounds like a deal," the girl said with a great smile. "And have you been successful?"
"With what?" Ella asked confused.
"With annoying Lucifer."
"Oh. Um. They haven't met yet."
"None of us visited Lucifer, Monkey. You know he's ill."
"Yeah. Ill," Maze mumbled.
"Will he be healthy again?"
"I'm sure of that. He just need some rest. Like you. Back to bed now."
Trixie didn't complained and wished the women good night.
"Just to make it clear, you'll buy her a pony," Chloe said. Ella turned a little pale but she nodded.
"And Lucifer will be healthy again?" Maze asked sceptical.
"I won't tell her the truth about him."
"She's stronger then you think, Decker. Trust me. But it's none of my business," the demon added hesitantly by the questioningly look of her roommate. "So what about Cendy Warkson now?"
"Wendy Clarkson," Chloe and Ella replied in unison.
"Whatever. Would you believe me that the dead can't rest in peace when their killer get away with it?"
"No."
"What about your gut? Isn't it giving you some super important advices?"
"That's not fair, Maze," the detective complained. "It's dificult. By the way, why are you so interested in this case?"
"You're going to do something illegal. I like that. And I'm bored."
"No one is doing anything illegal."
"Chloe..."
"Ella, you haven't thought about it."
"I did. We have to go undercover. I'm sure we'll find something in the theatre."
"What about the consequences?"
"The only one who has to be afraid about consequences is the killer. Trust me, Chloe. Please."
Ella looked so desperate, it wasn't easy for the suspended detective to stand firm.
"They know us."
"No problem. Maze will go."
"Me?"
"You're perfect. They haven't met you yet."
"I'm a bounty hunter."
"Let's assume our killer is your bounty."
"And what do you think I should be doing in a theatre?"
"Acting?" the forensic scientist suggested carefully.
"No way!"
"We need you, Maze!"
The demon looked at her roommate pleadingly but Chloe just shrugged.
"Fine."
The cop sighed but seemed relieved, Ella cheered and introduced the case to the newbie.
"The only thing we know for sure is Wendy was slayed with a stone. We haven't found any DNA or other possible traces of the killer but I'm pretty sure she knew him. Or her. I thought about your theory too but it doesn't make sense."
"What theory?" Maze asked.
"That maybe Wendy was at the wrong place in the wrong time."
"And that's nonsense why...?"
"Look at her. She didn't wear sportswear or anything exclusive. She had no dog and we didn't find shopping bags at the crime scene. Do you know any inhabitant who walk through L.A. just for fun?"
"You mean she was about to meet the killer?"
"Exactly. All of our suspects are innocent but maybe we didn't dig in deep enough."
"So I have to look for dirty secrets from her past? Maybe this job won't be that bad," Maze said and smiled dangerously.