The devil's daughter

Lucifer was baking pancakes in Chloe's kitchen and given the ingredients that stood ready, he was also planning for omelettes. Chloe and Rory were at the bar looking at his activities, waiting for Trixie to arrive.

"But it is all manipulations by dad," Lucifer said to Rory.

"Yes. I have always known I exist because ayaya needed me."

Dad, ayaya. Chloe opened her eyes wide and took a deep breath. They were talking about God, who she met yesterday evening. He had called her daughter-in-law. She had never expected that falling in love with the devil would lead to be welcomed in a celestial family.

"And you have no problem with that?" Lucifer continued.

Rory took a zip of her coffee. "You love Trixie."

He frowned, probably surprised by the change of subject. "Of course."

"Suppose you found out someone would wanted to burn her alive, would you do everything to save her?"

"You bet."

"No limit?"

"Anyone who tries to harm the urchin would face an angry devil."

"If it was Ella, Linda, mom who was in danger, you would do the same for them." It was not a question.

He shrugged. "No doubt. What is your point?"

"I can't tell you Michael's plans. You – I mean ayaya, you, mom, my aunts – have to discover those. But I had to come back in time or else Trix, mom, Ella, Linda, they all would have died."

"Yes? Still what is the point?"

"To be able to come back, I first had to be born."

Lucifer frowned.

"For me to be born, first you and mom had to fall in love."

Chloe could predict where Rory's argument was going. Most likely Lucifer could also, for his head dropped and he took a deep breath.

"For you and mom to fall in love, you had to meet. Mom had to be born. Ayaya had to send Amenadiel to Earth to bless nana. All needed to save Trix, mom, Ella, Linda. You said you would do anything to save them."

"All dad's manipulations," he said, but it lacked the usual anger.

"The meetings, the circumstances, yes. Not the feelings. Falling in love was your choice, was mom's choice. But me coming from the future was the only way around Uriel's pattern reading."

"The only way? How do you know?"

"I did – or if you prefer – will discuss it in detail with ayaya. You said 'anything', dad."

Their discussion was interrupted by Trixie bursting through the front door.

"I will introduce myself to Dan," Rory whispered while Trix shouted: "Mommy, Lucifer."

Trix hugged Chloe and Lucifer and then looked at Rory. Rory sank on one knee and said soft: "I'm Rory."

"You are Rory?" Trixie laughed, bent closer to Rory and whispered. "Was I right? Time travel?"

"Yes," Rory answered and, with a glance at Dan who just entered, whispered back: "Wait until your dad is gone."

Trixie nodded. But her eyes went from Rory to Chloe's belly and back and she asked: "You?"

"Yes."

Trixie hugged Rory who was still on one knee. Dan raised his eyebrows. "Is that the girl you asked me to do face recognition in the database?"

"That is me," Rory said. "I was walking around in the Lux without Lucifer's bouncers permission."

"Burglar? Chlo' what is she doing here and how does Trix know her?"

"Not a burglar," Rory said. "I was looking for my father. I'm Rory Morningstar."

"Morningstar? She is your daughter?" Dan now addressed Lucifer. "Why did you ask me to find her if you know her?"

"Lucifer didn't know me. I only told him yesterday I'm his daughter."

Dan looked at her and Lucifer with disgust. "Chlo', can I have a word outside?"

She walked with Dan through the front door.

"Did he tell you he has a daughter?"

"Until yesterday he didn't know himself, Dan."

"He says. Chlo'. He says. We hardly know anything of him…"

"I know enough," she interrupted him.

"You don't know who your dealing with. Did he ever tell you what he did before coming to LA?"

"I know more or less. Not all details, but enough."

"And can you tell me what did he do?"

"You better not know, Dan."

"Criminal past? Drugs? Blackmailing? Murder? Three or four days a week he is with my daughter, Chlo'. And I don't like it. Listen, I'm grateful he helped me after the Palmetto fallout, but as far as we know he might still have connections in the underworld."

You would be surprised, Dan, she thought, but only grinned.

"Don't laugh about that. And this is the first child that shows up. How much more will come? Did he support the mother? He is a billionaire, but did he pay anything for the girl?"

"Not yet, Dan," Chloe said. "You can't expect that, since he didn't know she existed. But I'm sure he will help the girl's mother from now on."

"But he made her pregnant and left. Chlo' he is a player. He is not…"

"Let me decide myself what he is and whether Lucifer and I are a couple."

"You can't believe he is serious. You really think he will stay with you?"

No couple could know for sure they would stay together, but Rory had said he still loved her when she was old – will still love her when she will be old; time travel and grammar. And her daughter had said they both wanted to carry her soul to heaven. "I believe Lucifer and I will stay together, Dan."

"This discussion is useless," Dan said. "You're so stubborn. See you." He walked to his car without saying goodbye to Trixie.

Inside Chloe found Lucifer putting pancakes and omelettes on plates while Trix and Rory were chatting. "… red. You will see," Rory said. "But not yet when I was born."

"Can you take me flying?"

They were probably talking about Rory's wings.

"You will be my big sister, Trix. Nine years older. It will take some time before I can carry you in my arms. You better ask dad – my dad."

"Lucifer?" Trixie turned to him, with one hand still holding one of Rory's hands. "You said you could take me flying?"

"I said I can take you flying when your mother gives permission."

Trixie turned to Chloe. "Mommy!"

"I told you before, monkey. Dad should also be ok, but he doesn't know Lucifer has wings."

"But it is not dangerous, mommy. And dad took my in a rollercoaster that made three loops and he didn't ask you and that is much more dangerous than flying with Lucifer."

Chloe sighed. That was a discussion she still had to finish with Dan. He had taken their daughter in a rollercoaster ride while according to the rules of that theme park she was too young. 'Only three months too young' had been Dan's defense 'and I was with her'. They had that discussion in the precinct and they were interrupted before she could say what she wanted to say. She was tempted to agree with her monkey. If Dan didn't consult her, why would she consult him? But that was not the right way forward. "I will think about it, monkey. Come eat, you have to catch the bus. Lucifer and I have an appointment with Adriana."

"I can bring her to school," Rory said. "If the two of you take your car to view that house, I can take the Corvette to bring Trix."

"The Corvette?" Lucifer said, sounding as in panic. "Girl, that car is…"

"Is a car I've been driving for almost fifty years, dad," she interrupted him with a grin.

He closed his mouth and stared at her. Then he muttered: "I see. Of course."

"Or Rory can take me flying," Trixie proposed.

"I think mom won't see flying with dad or with me as really different," Rory whispered.

"Ok. The Corvette." Lucifer looked for some moments at his daughter, took a deep breath and raised a pointing finger. At the moment he opened his mouth, Rory said: "But you will withdraw any damage from my pocket money. Yes, dad. I know."

"You heard that before?" Chloe asked and smiled. "Just as me saying you should be careful and home before dark."

"And I should not show my wings to the neighbor children."

"Did, or will, you ever?"

Rory smiled. "Time travel one-o-one. But just suppose I did or will, mom, than you didn't say it often enough." She raised. "Going to do my hair if I have to bring T."

Trixie also left her stool and took Rory's hand. "I go halloween this afternoon with Maze. Maze made a president of Mars costume for me. Raziel will wait for us with lemonade."

"I've seen the pictures…" Chloe heard the beginning of Rory's answer before the two disappeared upstairs.

"The two together are lovely," Chloe whispered.

"The urchin accepts Rory as sister and talks with her as if she knew her her whole life," Lucifer said with a big smile. His expression became serious. "It is worth the manipulations."


They had an early appointment with Adriana Nassar – quarter to eight – to see a house that was for sale in Venice, but within five minutes Lucifer was quite clear. "No."

"I'm sorry, mister Morningstar."

"No reason for sorry. You have to find out what we want. And say Lucifer, Adriana. You're almost family. You are family: You – Linda – Amenadiel – myself."

Adriana smiled, but it was a painful smile. Chloe studied her face. "How is your relation with your nephews nowadays?"

Adriana sighed. "Problematic. We all three want to have it as it always was, but… their mother killed my father. Talking about the business is ok, but apart from that we don't know what to say. There are just awkward silences. I think I should leave the company and start my own firm."

"Which is exactly what your aunt wanted," Chloe said softly.

"Indeed. So that also feels wrong."

"Did you talk with Linda about this?" Lucifer asked.

"Yes." Adriana grimaced. "You know therapists. What does feel right for yourself, she asked. But she is right of course. I need to decide what is ok for me."

"You could also split the company," Lucifer said.

"That's an option." Adriana shrugged. "But I don't have much time to run my own firm. My mother needs attention."

Chloe's phone beeped. "Excuse me," she said to Adriana. She read the message and said to Lucifer: "A murder. A woman shot at a wedding."


"What the hell?" Lucifer said when they entered the crime scene. "Playing zombies," he answered himself a second later."

"What is the difference between a zombie and a dead body possessed by a demon?" Chloe asked softly.

"Zombies only exists in movies and comics. It would be a dead body moved by magic or a virus or whatever. Not possible, detective. Only a demon waiting in hell can follow the trace from a fresh arrived soul to the empty body to use it."

"And your mother."

He nodded. "A god or an angel waiting in hell could also posses a body. True, but apart from my mother, I don't think it ever happened."

They found Dan waiting for them, well waiting for Chloe, next to the victim. "This is Peggy Russo. She's a movie makeup artist from Studio City. Died from a single shot to the chest. Still waiting on ballistics, but it looks like it's a large caliber bullet, most likely from a rifle."

"Anyone see the shoot?" Chloe asked lowering on a knee.

"Ah, we're still combing through the guest list, but so far, no. Everyone was focused on the ceremony," Dan answered.

"What about the wait staff?"

"Questioned them first, nothing," Dan answered. "But we're running everyone's info, see if we have any priors."

"Great," Chloe studied the body. "Dead center shot."

"A well trained shooter," Lucifer said. He looked around and pointed at a crying man. "What is he? Over there with the medics."

"The groom," Dan said. "Hit in the arm. I guess the bride was the intended target, and the groom just got in the way."

"And where is miss Lopez?" Lucifer asked.

"One of her nieces is getting married," Chloe answered, standing up. "She is to Detroit for today." She walked over to the groom.

"I can't believe she's gone," the man whispered. "Why would anybody want to do this?"

"Did Peggy have problems with anyone?" Chloe asked. "Anyone you know of that would've wanted to hurt her?"

"No. Peggy's amazing. She's beautiful and smart and funny."

She asked more questions, but he hadn't more information.

"Detective!" Lucifer called her. He had walked to a pavilion and was surrounded by some women. "The bridesmaids," he introduced them to Chloe. "And this is Shauna. Please, tell the detective, love."

"I told Peggy's ex-boyfriend Jason where the wedding was gonna be," Shauna told, sobbing.

"Are you in love with the groom?" Lucifer said. "This is about jealousy?"

"No!" the woman shouted. "It was Peggy. She was so disgustingly perfect, I hated it. I hoped Jason… I don't know, show up and make a scene. But I never imagined that he would kill her. This is all my fault." She collapsed in a chair.


In the precinct they checked backgrounds of guests, ballistics confirmed the bullet was from a rifle. Jason Myers, Peggy Russo's ex, was brought in for interrogation and Dan could hand Chloe an update on his history: "Three convictions: one aggravated assault, two weapon violations."

Chloe looked at the paper he gave her and nodded. "Looks serious. Lucifer, can you come with me?"

"Where were you between ten and eleven this morning?" she asked Jason.

He shrugged, gave her a disparaging look.

"Difficult man," Lucifer said and bent over. "Mister ex?"

The man looked at him, Lucifer smiled and asked: "Mister ex, what do you desire?"

Jason swallowed, his lips trembled. "I want Peggy back. I want her happy."

"So you shoot her, mister ex?"

"No. No." Jason started to cry. "I would never. I went to the wedding this morning to shout at that asshole she wants to marry, but I saw how happy Peggy looked."

"And then?" Chloe asked.

"I turned around and left, that was long before the ceremony."

"You're sure you left? Witness?"

"I bumped into a musician that came. He had buzz cut and a violin case. Or a guitar case. I don't know, ask him. He cursed at me."

Chloe frowned, checked the file in front of her and shook her head. "They didn't have live music, they had a DJ."

"It was on the park service road!"

"Maybe you're lying, mister ex," Lucifer said. He looked the sobbing man in the eyes and bent slightly to Chloe. "He doesn't look like lying, detective."

"Or this so called musician was the shooter," Chloe whispered to Lucifer. "With his riffle in the guitar case." She thought for a moment. "Sorry, mister Myers. I have to keep you in preliminary imprisonment at the moment, but we will look into this musician."


"Did you find the shells of the bullets?" Chloe asked Dan.

"Yes. CSI is taking a look at them, but we have pictures of the location." He brought up some footage of the shells laying between bushes. "Along the park service road."

"What is that?" Lucifer asked, pointing at the picture at some piece of paper laying between the shells.

"This," Dan answered, turning around and picking up the bag from the table behind them. "A napkin. Smells sweet, Freddy's Dutch Oven is printed on it."

Lucifer smelled it. "Stroopwafel."

"What?" Chloe asked.

"A Dutch cookie. Two layers of baked dough with a caramel filling in between. Freddy has the best stroopwafels of LA. Sells from a food truck."

"We need to find him," Chloe said. "Dan, put a BOLO…"

"He has an app," Lucifer interrupted her, holding up his phone. "To find his truck in case you want to buy anything." He read from the app: "Pannenkoeken, appeltaart, poffertjes, oliebollen, stroopwafel, hagelslag and chocolate hagelslag. I always forget to ask him why mention chocolate hagelslag separately, since the Dutch only call hagelslag hagelslag if it's made of chocolate. Makes you wonder whether he is really Dutch."

"Where is his truck now?"


The truck was on a parking place along Barnard Way. A green food truck with a sign showing the snacks Lucifer had mentioned. "Shall we first order some stroopwafels and oliebollen or shall I first ask about the chocolate in chocolate hagelslag before I forget again, detective?" Lucifer said.

"I suggest we first ask about the shooter," Chloe said and chuckled. "Work first, Lucifer."

He sighed. "Boring, detective. But, please, lead the way."

She bypassed the people queueing at the truck and showed her badge. "Detective Decker, LAPD. Are you the owner?"

"Alfred Loomis, but you can call me Freddy," the man answered. "And let me guess. You look like a chocolade hagelslag kind of girl. Am I right?"

Chloe shook her head. "Sir, earlier today you served a man with a buzz cut, possibly carrying a guitar case. Does that ring a bell?"

"No, sorry, Detective, I don't remember anyone like that. But I wasn't here during the morning shift."

A woman came from deeper in the truck to the counter. "Um, Freddy, I forgot to tell you a guy like that was here when I opened. He was asking when you'd be around."

Freddy looked over his shoulder at her. "Asking for me specifically?" He turned back to Chloe, opened his mouth to say something. Then a gunshot. Blood spattered and Freddy fell at the counter. The people in front of the truck screamed and ran away. Chloe had her gun out in less than a second and looked around.

"That rooftop," Lucifer said, pointing at a building across Barnard Way.

They found the rooftop empty when they reached it. Looking down they had a perfect view at Freddy's truck. Two policy cars and an ambulance were in front of it.

"Why shoot Food Truck Freddy?" Lucifer said. "Just 'cause you were questioning him?"

"No," Chloe said. "He asked earlier today for Freddy already. This was premeditated. The shooter came here to find him, then went to shoot the bride, then came back when he knew Freddy would be here. This guy's got a list. God, who's next?"

The last three words came out without thinking. She realized what she said and looked up. "He knows?"

Lucifer grinned. "No doubt. And although he did talk to you, I guess not about this. Dad will argue we should run our own lives, detective. It would only…" His eyes went wide open for a second.

"What is it, Lucifer?"

"Dad. For you. He just told me you won't need help. You will find the killer soon yourself. What the hell? Dad never answers questions."


Chloe, Lucifer and Dan were meeting to discuss what was found so far. "Ballistics confirmed the same rifle was used in both shootings, but no fingerprints were found on any shell," Dan said.

"This guy paid cash at the food truck," Chloe said. "He really covers his tracks. If I could just find a connection between our two victims. But Peggy Russo and Freddy Loomis seem to have nothing in common."

"Apart from being dead," Lucifer said. "Maybe they were just randomly chosen."

"Mm," Chloe gave it a thought and shook her head. "My gut says no. This guy is too calculating."

"Mrs Loomis, the food truck owner's wife, doesn't recognize the zombie bride, and doesn't think she has any connection to her husband," Lucifer objected.

"I know." Chloe took a deep breath. "Two victims, two devastated spouses." Two spouses… She stared at the pictures. "Is mrs Loomis still in?"

She ran to the meeting room were mrs Loomis was siting. "I'm sorry. I know you're going through a lot. But, do you recognize this man?"

"Yes, that's Edgar... Romero," the wife answered.

"How do you know him?"

"We've worked together. I'm a doctor. He's a lawyer. He handles many of our hospital's malpractice suits. He's married to the other victim?"

"Yes, so the connection we've been looking for isn't between them, it's between you, the spouses. Can you give us a list of all the cases that Edgar litigated for you?"


The head of the hospital's administration simply said 'no' when Chloe asked for the files of the cases Edgar Romero had handled for doctor Loomis. "HIPAA laws requiring extra warrants," he explained. While Chloe argued with him, she noticed that Lucifer had walked away. After twenty minutes she gave up, left the man's office and found Lucifer in the hallway waiting for her, a pack of files under his arm. "What is that?"

"The case files, detective. I just walked to one of the administrators and told her her boss gave permission to see the files."

"That's not legal, Lucifer."

He smiled. "O, my. Detective. Should I bring them back?"

Chloe hesitated for a second. "We only borrow them. Come, back to the precinct. As your dad told us, we will solve it ourselves." She grinned.


"Ok." Chloe laid out the cases from the files Lucifer managed to get. "These are all the cases that involve both Dr. Loomis and our zombie groom Edgar. Six settled, three pending and that last one there was recently dismissed."

"Wrongful death suit thrown out for lack of evidence," Dan read from the file.

"That's frustrating," Lucifer said.

"Could be motive," Chloe added.

"Maybe our plaintiff was pissed about the dismissal," Lucifer said, "decided to settle his grievances another way.

"Let's see... " Chloe looked it up. "Plaintiff, Wes Williams.

"He sued for his wife Cassandra's death," Dan said. "After she lost a battle with… Oh man, I can't even pronounce this..."

"Lymphangioleiomyomatosis," Lucifer said. "Lung disease."

"Yeah, well," Dan continued. "It looks like Wes blamed Cassandra's physician, our dr Sidney Loomis, and the hospital's lawyer, Edgar Romero, got the case thrown out. It's no one's fault for a disease like that."

"Yeah, well, apparently, Wes didn't feel that way," Chloe said. She looked at Dan who was shaking his head. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just…" Dan hesitated. "I kind of feel bad for the guy's situation, you know? I mean, I-I don't know what I would do if my wife…"

"Dan is right," Lucifer interrupted. "I make sure the guilty persons is punished even if the law doesn't help."

Chloe looked and saw both men nod. "Neither of you would kill the innocent people. Lucifer and I go to see him."

Dan turned to a desktop computer. "Let me see if our Wes Williams is in the system."


Chloe and Lucifer had just left the parking garage when Dan called. "No criminal record, but guess what? He's an ATF agent. He served multiple assignments in Mexico trying to take down the cartels. Specializes in long-range marksmanship. Shouldn't you wait for a SWAT team?"

"Ask for one," Chloe said. "We go to his home and wait there."

It turned out they couldn't wait. The moment they parked close to Wes' home, they saw him leaving the house with what looked as a doctor's coat over his arm and a guitar case in the other hand, walking to the car before theirs.

"I get him," Lucifer said. He left their car and was next to Wes' car while it moved forward to leave the parking spot. Lucifer pushed the side of the car while Wes tried to ride away. His push on one side tipped the car over on the other side. The wheels were spinning in air, while Lucifer jumped on the side of the car that was now up. He opened the door, tore the seatbelt and pulled Wes out.

"LAPD," Chloe said and handcuffed the man before he understood what all happened.


Coming home they found the floor covered with candy wrappers and Maze, Trixie, Rory and Raziel in front of the television. Raziel and Rory turned when they entered and gestured to be silent. Chloe didn't speak and walked to the sofa. Raziel grinned, Rory pointed. Chloe saw Trixie asleep in the arms of Maze who was also asleep. "Picture," Chloe whispered.

"We already have taken a dozen, mom," Rory whispered.

After smiling for some more seconds Raziel turned to Lucifer. "Father can't find Michael."

"What? He is supposed to see everything. He is omniscient."

"But neither he nor mom can find Michael. They questioned Ibriel, Varael, Naskiel. These three know no more than Uriel. Michael wanted the Flaming Sword to make things 'right'. They don't know what he means by that."

"But he needed the sword, so he can't execute his plans now," Lucifer mused.

"Do we know that for sure?" Chloe asked. "We don't know his plans, so we don't know what he can or will try without the sword."