Chloe walked with Lucifer and Beatrice to Beatrice's bedroom, so she could see Chloe's gift to her. They had just left her birthday party at Chloe's mother's. Chloe had gotten her a couple of small things to open at her party, but her real gift was waiting in her bedroom. It had taken a while for Chloe to figure out what to get the little girl, since her father naturally got her everything she wanted, but Chloe believed she found the perfect gift.
"Are you ready?" Chloe asked the smiling little girl.
Beatrice nodded enthusiastically. She got so excited when Chloe said she had another present waiting for her when she got home. She'd wanted to go right away. She knew it had to be big if she couldn't see it at her party.
"If you don't like it, we can take it down, okay?" Chloe told her.
"Don't be ridiculous, Detective. She will love it," Lucifer said before opening the door and holding it open for his daughter.
Beatrice walked inside, and her mouth dropped in awe. Her walls and ceiling were decorated like space. There was a moon and stars and planets all around her.
"Like I said, if you don't like it, we can take it down, but I figured if you want to be the president of Mars someday, you might like sky wallpaper in your room," Chloe said
"I love it! It's so awesome! The stars look like the real ones," Beatrice said. This was the best present ever. She didn't even know she wanted this, but it was so great.
"Yes, of course. I wouldn't allow anything less," Lucifer said. The detective had asked his permission before purchasing the wallpaper. He was fine with it, of course, but he did insist that it be as authentic as possible. He took pride in his stars.
"Thank you so much, Chloe," Beatrice said before running over and hugging her.
"Your welcome, sweetheart," Chloe said as she hugged her.
"I can't wait to go to sleep tonight," Beatrice said.
"I don't believe I've ever heard you say that, Urchin," Lucifer said.
"I'm really glad you like it," Chloe said.
"Today was the best! I had such a good birthday. Thanks for letting me have my party, Daddy," Beatrice said before running to hug her father.
"Yes, well, I suppose it wasn't awful," Lucifer said while hugging her. There were moments that made him compare the affair to Hell, mostly when the other children were around, but when he saw Beatrice's happy face, it was worth it. "Go ahead and admire your new wallpaper. We'll be in the living room."
Beatrice practically bounced to her bed to admire the ceiling while laying down.
Lucifer led Chloe out of the room and back to the living room. "You have made today very special for her, both with your gift and by hosting her birthday party. Thank you for that, Detective."
"I was happy too. I'm glad I could help give her a good birthday," Chloe said. She couldn't deny finding herself a little sad a couple of times today though. She loved Beatrice, and it brought her joy to share in her birthday, but she couldn't help but think of her own daughter, and wonder if she'd ever get the chance to celebrate her birthday with her.
"As much as I hate running the risk of killing the upbeat mood, I wanted to speak to you about Malcolm Graham,"
"What about him? Have you investigated further? Did you find anything?" Chloe asked, trying not to hope, and unsure of exactly what to hope for.
"I've investigated, but I haven't found anything yet. I intend for that to change though. I am meeting with Malcolm's wife tomorrow night at Lux. Did you want to join me, or would you prefer anonymity?" Lucifer asked. He considered just going himself, not wanting to risk getting the detective in any trouble by involving her, but this was her child. She had the right to be there if she chose to.
"Mel Graham is not going to tell you anything, assuming she knows anything. The woman hates me," Chloe said.
"She may or may not know whether or not her husband did something to your child, but I find it hard to believe that she doesn't at least know he's corrupt. And I promise you, detective, Mrs. Graham will tell me all she knows," Lucifer said firmly.
Chloe was torn. She knew that Lucifer would likely use less than ethical methods to get the information they needed. The cop in her was tempted to make sure that didn't happen, but Trixie was her daughter, and she was willing to do anything to find out what happened to her, even go against the cop side of her. "I'll go with you. I need to be there. Trixie is my daughter."
"Very well. Meet me in the club around six," Lucifer said.
"I'll be here. Now, I'm gonna go say goodbye to Beatrice. I should be heading home. I'll see you tomorrow," Chloe said.
Lucifer nodded and watched her go.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Chloe got to LUX just before six. She went straight there after leaving the precinct. She found Lucifer sitting on one of the couches. She immediately went over to him. The club wasn't open yet. It didn't open for another hour or so, and all Lucifer's employees seemed to be gone as well. Lucifer obviously planned to do this privately.
"Hello, Detective. You're right on time. Our guest should be here soon," Lucifer said.
Chloe sat next to Lucifer on the couch. "How did you get Mel to agree to come here?"
"Oh, I just told her it would be worth her while. That's all it usually takes. I have a reputation of making people very happy," Lucifer said with a grin.
Chloe rolled her eyes at him for a second. "What if she tells Malcolm?"
Lucifer shrugged uncaringly before taking a sip of his drink. "Then she does. I don't care if he knows what I'm doing. I'll find what we need whether he knows I'm looking or not."
"You really are sure of yourself," Chloe commented.
Lucifer grinned widely, taking the statement as a compliment. "Indeed! Thank you, Detective."
Just then, the door to the club opened, and Mel Graham walked in.
"Ah, Mrs. Graham. Just in time," Lucifer said as he ushered her over.
Mel Graham glared at Chloe as she walked over. "Why is she here? Is this some kind of trap? I should've known. I'd heard you were her partner."
"No, traps, Mrs. Graham. The detective is here because what I wish to discuss with you concerns her," Lucifer said.
"I'm not here in an official capacity, Mel," Chloe assured her.
"I don't care in what capacity you're here for. I won't help you railroad my husband," Mel said before turning to leave.
"Mrs. Graham, I told you that it would benefit you to meet with me tonight. I still intend to make that happen. As you've shown up, I can only guess that that's what you want as well," Lucifer said.
Mel turned back and looked at him.
"Well, let's get straight down to business. What do you desire?" Lucifer asked as he looked directly into her eyes.
"I…I want him gone. I want Malcolm out of my house," Mel said. After finally looking away from Lucifer, she blinked in confusion. "I shouldn't have said that. I don't know why I said it."
"I'm afraid it's my doing, darling. I have that effect on people. Please, pull up a chair," Lucifer said as he motioned towards a nearby table.
Mel grabbed a chair from the table and pulled it over and sat down.
"Why do you want Malcolm gone, Mel?" Chloe asked.
"Things have gotten progressively worse since he woke up from the coma. He's not like he used to be. He's been obsessed with material things. He buys anything he wants, regardless of the cost, to the point where we'll be destitute soon enough. When he's not doing that, he's eating everything in sight and getting drunk every night. He also has nightmares. One night, he was talking in his sleep. I think he mentioned being in Hell," Mel explained.
Lucifer frowned as he listened to her talk. "Did your husband's heart stop at any point when he was in a coma? Did they have to revive him?"
"Well, his heart stopped, but he wasn't revived. We'd turned off the machines. Then he just spontaneously came back. His heart started beating on its own.
Lucifer found himself in deep thought for a minute. He was certain that Malcolm was definitely in Hell for a while, which was explained by the fact that his heart stopped, but it was impossible that he just came back on his own. It was possible that if medical personnel got to him quick enough that they could've brought him back from Hell, but it was not possible for a soul in Hell to simply come back without any intervention. Someone had to have revived him, and Lucifer could only think of one person. It seemed Amenadiel had become desperate enough to break the rules. Father had a rule against reviving human souls. Lucifer didn't care much about most of his father's rules, but Amenadiel should. He wondered what his brother was up to.
"Has he hurt you or your son?" Chloe asked.
"No, but there have been a couple of times where I thought he might. If I try to stop him from doing something, he'll get really angry, and I've worried he might do something," Mel admitted.
"Let's make a deal, Mrs. Graham," Lucifer said as he leaned forward. If you'll answer our questions honestly, I promise you that I will personally help you get your husband out of your life. It may take time, I will see that it happens."
"You can do that?" she asked hopefully.
"I never go back on my word," Lucifer assured her.
"What do you want to know?"
"The honey that your husband received in 2011. Where did it come from?" he asked.
"I don't know. Malcolm and I had an arrangement. If we came into money, I didn't ask questions about it," Mel said.
"So, you knew he was dirty then," Chloe surmised, trying, and failing at not judging the woman.
Mel nodded. "I figured, but I also justified it as the department owing him after all he'd done for it."
Chloe had a lot she could say to argue that, but she forced herself not to. This wasn't about that. This was about her daughter. "Did he ever say anything to you about my daughter and what happened to her."
"You always blamed him for that," Mel commented.
"He was in my house, getting drunk with my husband when it happened. Wouldn't you blame him if you were in my shoes?" Chloe asked.
"Probably," Mel admitted.
"And that's if that's all he did," Lucifer stated.
"You think Malcolm did something to that little girl?" Mel asked.
"We think it's strange that he came into a lot of money not long after Trixie went missing," Chloe said.
Mel didn't immediately defend her husband. In fact, she looked a little doubtful. "He never mentioned anything, but he did act a little weird. He didn't seem upset that night. I would expect a cop whose friend's kid went missing to be worried and desperate to help find her. He wasn't. In fact, he was upbeat, and a few days later, he started talking about us taking a family vacation. I figured at the time that he was working on something that would get us some extra cash, but I never thought he was involved in a kidnapping. No, I still don't. Malcolm has a child of his own. He wouldn't hurt or use a child that way. At least not then. I'm not sure what he's capable at this point."
"Well, thank you, Mrs. Graham. That's all we need," Lucifer said. The woman clearly didn't know anything else. There was no reason to keep questioning her.
Mel stood up. "You'll still help me with Malcolm?"
"Oh, yes. His days in your home are numbered," Lucifer promised.
"Thank you," she said before heading out of the club.
"He did this. Malcolm took my little girl," Chloe said with emotion.
"Detective, I promise you that he will pay for what he's done, and I will find your child," Lucifer promised.
Chloe immediately hugged her partner. "Thank you for everything. I wouldn't even know this much if it weren't for you. I'll never forget this."
Lucifer hugged her back and smiled. He would do as promised. He didn't care what it took. He would find that child.
