Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Diagnosis Murder, and am not writing this for money or fame, just for fun and enjoyment. The only characters I own are Melody Sullivan, Tyson Paley, and a few others (if you don't know them from DM, they are probably out of my own head). Any relation or likeness to anyone living or dead is coincidental. And all that other disclaimer stuff.

Author's Note: This is my first DM fanfic, so be patient with me. It's been a while since I've seen a lot of DM, but I'm getting into it again, so I'm sorry for any wrong names or facts (please point them out in reviews if they are REALLY big). I've had to make up some of the things that I don't know, but I am doing my best. I do not mean to offend anyone with anything in this story.

So, I'll leave you with that and a warning.

Warning: As I said before, this is my FIRST EVER Diagnosis Murder fanfic, so please be kind. No tar and feathers—please! Please Read & Review.

I hope all who read this will enjoy it and take it for what it is—a story written to entertain.

Dinner with Death

Chapter 1

"Dad you got a package! Expecting anything?" Steve called from the front door. "Dad?" Hearing no response, he moved to the office and set the long, oddly shaped box on the desk. He tried again. "Hey dad!"

Steve Sloan stood silently for a moment wondering where his father could be at 7:30 in the morning on his day off. Then he heard it. The distinct sound of a running shower came to his ears—which would explain why his father had not heard him. He made his way to the large bathroom and knocked on the door. The immediate response from the bathroom was the sound of something hitting the floor.

"Hey dad, you alright? There was a package at the door." He shouted. There was no answer, so Steve shrugged and went in to his father's room. "Dad?"

"Hmm…what?" Mark looked up from the middle of his bed. He was under the covers, leaning back on the headboard with a book in his hands and headphones over his ears. "What's up Steve?"

"Nothing…how 'bout you?" He took in his father's smiling face.

Mark shrugged. "Just re-reading a favorite."

"Shakespeare, right? King Lear?"

"Hardly." The white-haired doctor grinned. "Zane Gray. Riders of the Purple Sage."

Another bump from down the hall pulled Steve back to his first thought upon happening on his father. "Who's in the shower?"

"Oh, that's Melody. Don't mind her." Mark went back to his book.

"Who?" Steve asked, his mind racing to find a plausible reason that a woman would be in his father's shower at 7:30 a.m.

"Hi! You must be Steve, I've heard a lot about you." A young woman wrapped in a giant blue towel smiled and put out her hand. Another towel was twisted on her head in the fashion of a turban to hold her hair.

"Hi." Steve shook her hand almost reluctantly.

"Well, if you don't mind, I'll go change into something else." She grinned and walked into the big walk-in closet at the opposite side of the room. A few moments later, she stuck her head out and said, "Oh, Steve, I hope you don't mind, Mark said I could use your conditioner." She grinned and gave the stunned detective a wink before disappearing and closing the doors behind her.

"My what? What's she doing here? And why is she in the closet? And why was she taking a shower in our bathroom?" The questions came in a flood.

"That special junk you buy for your hair. Mel spent the night. We don't have an unoccupied guestroom at present. She asked if she could." Mark answered, being a bit too smart alecy for his own good.

Steve sighed. He was obviously not going to get the answers he wanted, and what business did he have butting into his father's private life? "You want anything extra for breakfast? I brought doughnuts."

"Nothing for me, I'm not really hungry and I'm not getting out of this bed until I have to go back to work tomorrow." Mark wriggled down farther under the blankets as if setting his words in stone.

"Suit yourself." Then remembering the guest—no matter for what reason she was a guest—"Send Mel down, if she wants anything."

Mark nodded, then turned on the Walkman and replaced his reading glasses. Steve turned and walked to the kitchen. Why did his life have to be so complicated?

Fifteen minutes later, the girl stepped lightly into the kitchen. She was now in a robe, but her hair was still up in the towel.

"Man, last night was great!" She said picking out a chocolate doughnut.

"I don't mean to be nosey, but what happened last night?" Steve mumbled more to himself than to her as he poured a mug of coffee for himself.

"Just rolled into LA yesterday. I was lookin' for a restaurant and spotted BBQ Bob's. I went in and I was there till late last night. I won the talent contest, so Jesse gave me all-you-can-eat on the ribs for free. It was great! I hear you're a partner." She finished the doughnut.

"Well…" Steve turned his back on Melody, partly to hide a smile of satisfaction. He always liked hearing good reviews for his restaurant.

"And you're probably wondering where I get off sleeping on your couch, right?" She paused. "It's all a bit crazy. You see, your dad saved my dad's life in the war. Then one thing led to another and my dad saved your dad. They kept in touch off and on until my dad died. Anyway, Mark thought that was enough to justify sleeping on your couch, and I didn't push it mind you, I was making plans to stay at the Motel 6 down the road."

"Really." Steve turned to take in the girl again. Her skin was slightly tanned, but quite fair and her eyes were of the deepest brown. She looked about 23 with a short, slim build.

"Look, I should do my hair and get my clothes out of the dryer. You wouldn't happen to have a hair dryer here would you?"

Steve shook his head.

"I suppose I should give you the full name and a story of my life, you—being a detective and everything—will probably want to check me out. Melody Sullivan. Graduated from Green Valley High, went on to U of Indiana, majored in business and trombone performance. Just graduated last year."

"That's plenty, I believe you." Steve smiled. She was charming and beautiful.

"Thanks for that at least. I won't be in your hair much longer; Jesse's taking me surfing. I'm kinda excited, ya know. I've only been a few times in the Gulf with my uncle who had a farm down there. Growing up in Vermont doesn't really offer any ocean to play in." She left Steve in the kitchen and hurried off to get dressed.

Note: Please read and review and tell me what all y'all think of it. This is actually hopefully going to be a trilogy. I've got a couple of chapters of this story done, but I need to go in a change a few things. Thanks for your time.