Chapter 1: Proposition.

Lexi stormed through the doors of the canteen, letting them bang shut behind her, venting her frustration in an audible groan she flung a plastic chair out and slumped into it, glaring at nothing in particular. Smithy raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner, placing his half read newspaper on the table in front of him he picked up his tea cup.

"Which one was it this time?"

"Both of them!" Lexi growled, moving her neck slowly from side to side attempting to ease the tension. "The house was empty, the suspects had evidently moved on, which clearly wasn't my fault, but that of the informant. DS Carter made a snide comment about uniform, so he got a mouthful from Stone who then disappeared, leaving me to wait for forensics. Then Stuart, promptly decides to start blaming uniform, as soon as he's realised that Stone's out of ear shot – he said that we took too long entering the building allowing them to get away."

"And how did you react to that?" Smithy inquired patiently

"I said that I wished they had been able to help me move house last month, if they could pack up a money printing factory in the time it took us to get out of the van and amble up to the front door, they could have saved me a lot of stress!" Lexi couldn't help but smile slightly "I don't think he expected me to answer back. Best bit was Max then started defending uniform – apparently he couldn't stand the thought of agreeing with Stuart and then they started squabbling like a couple of sea gulls over a chip at the seaside" She finished shaking her head in disbelief, Smithy was chuckling at her metaphor.

"They still aren't getting along from what I hear, looks like it could work in our favour though, if Stuart keeps criticising us and Max jumps to our defence." Smithy finished as Max strolled into the canteen and retrieved a cup of coffee, he made his way over to where the sergeant and acting sergeant were sitting. He flashed a smile at Smithy

"You alright mate? I heard a rumour earlier that you used to be in the forces, that true?" Max questioned eagerly. Smithy nodded in reply, not bothering to cover his obvious confusion at the question. Max then launched into a conversation about weapons and accuracy, which Smithy was happy to be involved in. Lexi sat in exasperation as the conversation continued incessantly for at least ten minutes, until her radio crackled, announcing that her call sign was needed to attend a car accident on the edge of their patch. Max finally acknowledged that there was another person sat at the table, smiling slightly as she stood. He appraised her tightly fitting uniform, showing her slender body, which appeared to have curves in just the right places. Then he raised his eyes to her face, a pretty face, a very pretty face; with smooth skin and bright blue eyes, framed by honey blonde hair that was scraped back into a utilitarian bun.

"Lexi – good work today fighting your corner against Stuart, if he's a pain in the backside again with uniform just give me a shout." Max insisted flashing her a charming smile.

"Thanks" She said somewhat bemused, was he complimenting her? "No rest for the wicked" She grinned as her radio announced more details concerning the incident she was required to attend, Lexi began to reply into the device as she strode out of sight. Smithy was watching Max knowingly, and continued to stare even when Max turned his attention back to him.

"Is she single?" Max asked

"Don't even think about it!" Smithy warned; but Max's attention and interest were drawn to Lexi for another reason that his colleague was not yet aware of.

Three hours later Lexi approached the Superintendant's office warily, she had been called to see Heaton, but had no idea why, she knocked cautiously and was surprised to see not only the Super', but Inspector Gold, Detective Inspector Manson, Smithy and Max already waiting within. Her first thoughts were that she had done something really bad and was somehow unaware of it.

"Ahh Sergeant Brandon, come in" Heaton purred in his overly charming voice.

"No need to look so worried , you haven't done anything wrong – at least not that I know of" Inspector Gold smirked at her younger officer, ushering her into the office.

"Thank goodness for that it looked like a firing squad in here for a moment then" Lexi grinned, closing the door behind her, they all laughed.

"Now then" Heaton began simpering, he made Lexi's skin crawl slightly, she had no idea why "We have a proposition for you. Now you are under no obligation to say yes, but please consider it thoroughly. Neil..." He looked to the DI to explain more fully.

"We've been trying to find a way to catch up with Robert Tremaine for a long time now, and we think we may just have the answer – but it would involve a massive undercover operation. We think we have a way into his company, and from there we will have more access to the kind of evidence we need to bring him down. There is an opening for a job as manager at Tremaine's warehouse in the docks and we think we can put an officer into the position and then make him susceptible to taking on extra activities of the illegal variety." Neil explained. "This is where you come in, we need another officer on hand, to act as back up if necessary and to make the whole cover a bit more plausible." Lexi nodded, slightly overwhelmed.

"Why me?" She questioned.

"You're the right age to match the story, and we think you would fit the cover. Plus you've proven that you have the right instincts for this kind of work in the past." Neil explained kindly, Gina's chest puffed out slightly in pride.

"You'll also be playing the other officer's wife – we needed someone attractive." Max added, Lexi was quietly chuffed at the compliment, until he continued "And she needs to look high maintenance!" Her smile faltered slightly.

"Who is the other officer?" Lexi asked turning to the Neil Manson rather than Max.

"Me." Max answered, as Lexi turned back to his smug face, she wanted to hurl something at him and also Smithy who stood behind him smirking and desperately trying not to laugh. There was silence in the room.

"Now Lexi, you can say no you know that, it is not expected of you, although you were everyone's first choice. You need to be aware that this operation could last some time, possibly six weeks or so, maybe even more." Gina defused the tension. "With your parents in Dubai, we thought maybe it would be easier for you to disappear for a little while. It really is your decision." She emphasised the last sentence. Lexi nodded her understanding and was about to ask for a little bit of time to think about the offer, until she saw the look on Max's face. He had one eyebrow half raised, a slight smirk on his lips, as if he was daring her to say no, to prove she wasn't up to it – she felt as though he were mocking her. Her mind was made up instantly.

"Yes." She stated "Yes, I'll do it!"