Chapter Four

A/N: So I am updating super quick cause I am writing this as a novel for NanoWriMo and while I didn't quite make 50, 000 I did get farther on this story than I normally would have. This is shaping up to be a long one so please be patient. I am glad for all the feedback and the views. It means a lot.

-SBTUL-

Trixie fought the tears back as she headed towards her mother. Between the night before, and the terrible news this morning and seeing Lucifer, she felt sad and alone. Something had shifted between her and Lucifer, in a way she couldn't quite put her finger on, and as much as she'd wanted to hug him like normal, to turn to him for comfort from the grief and the guilt she felt, there was something about him that had stopped her. She was hurt about being thrown out of Lux, she was humiliated that he'd ditched her and when he'd noticed her tears and said her name, hesitant and surprisingly gentle, he'd followed it up with a different question than the one she'd been hoping for and although she knew it was silly, she felt incredibly disappointed.

Taking a deep breath, she said: "Mom?"

Chloe turned towards her daughter. "Trix?"

"Sorry to interrupt." She smiled tremulously.

Her mother took one look at her and instantly pulled her into a hug. Trixie collapsed into the hug and let the tears come. Chloe couldn't remember the last time she had held her daughter as she'd cried and squeezed her just a little tighter. Her daughter was tough and smart and generally the most cheerful person she knew.

"It's okay Baby," she whispered.

"It's my fault." she sobbed.

Chloe gently pulled herself away so that she was looking her daughter in the eyes.

"What is?"

"Jordanna."

"Who?"

"Your vic."

"You know who she is?"

"Yes. She was one of mine."

"One of your clients?" Chloe prodded.

Trixie nodded and took a shuddering breath. "I'll give you everything I have. But not here. They are about to open soon."

"Hey, you know, I found her, I'll be glad to give my statement to you too. You know...to help in any way." Rich was all cooperation and charm as he looked at Trixie and Chloe rolled her eyes.

"You've cooperated enough." she said dismissively. "Here's my card. If you think of anything, anything at all, please don't hesitate to call me."

Rich stared at it for a moment before turning to Trixie. "You got a card too? I could tell you what I know."

"Which is no doubt nothing," came Lucifer's irritated voice from behind them.

"Are you done?" Chloe asked Lucifer before Rich could say anything. "Come on, let's go see if Ella and her team fared any better." Keeping her arm around her daughter she walked out of the restaurant.

"Mighty fine asses those two." Rich commented. "Hey man, what do you say we let bygones be bygones and you hook me up with the Chiquita?"

Lucifer answered the Cook's lecherous smile with one of his own.

"Rich," he said, cheerfully, "see you in Hell." And with that the young man caught a glimpse of the nightmare as Lucifer dropped the mask. He walked away, Rich's terrified screams sounding like music to his ears. Perhaps the day would get better. Silver linings and all that.

-SBTUL-

With her mother's arm snug around her, Trixie found enough strength to look towards the alley where activity still buzzed. Luckily, the EMTs were just shutting the ambulance doors, so all she saw was a quick glimpse of a black body bag before it drove off.

The crime scene itself looked virtually spotless, except for a chalk drawing and some vomit near the dumpster, all evidence had been sealed and taken away for further investigation. Chloe let go of Trixie long enough to talk with Ella.

"I hope you fared better than I did."

Ella shook her head. "This is going to be a rough one. There's tons of DNA of course but I mean...it's an alley. And since she was dumped and not killed here, finding the DNA of the killer is going to be like finding a needle in a haystack."

Chloe looked around, making sure they hadn't missed anything when she noticed the vomit.

"Hey, what about that? It looks fresh."

"Don't bother Mom," Trixie said, face flushing red with humiliation. "It's mine. When I saw her I just…" she drew in a shakey breath. "I guess I'll just stick to private investigation. More infidelity and less dead bodies."

"Oh baby…" Chloe went to put her arms around her daughter but she stepped back, shaking her head. "Mom, I need to be strong right now and I can't if you do that." She turned to Ella. "I have an I.D for you."

Ella grinned. "Alright two Decker ladies on the case. It'll be solved in no time!"

"Come on guys," Chloe said. "Let's fill the Lieutenant in."