I do not own all the characters (they belong to BBC) – but I own Melissa (my made-up character). ;)
It didn't take long for Melissa to realise that DCI Gene Hunt, the man who left Hyde for London, is actually a different person to the one her boss back home had told her. She opened her bag and pulled out a black-leathered wallet DS Tyler had given her. She opened it and inside was a little photo of herself, with a badge which reads "Detective Constable Melissa Simpson of the Met".
"Being an undercover DC sure is hard work", she said to herself.
She was lying on top of her bed when the telephone rang. Sighing, she sat up and answered the phone.
"Melissa speaking", she said.
It was DS Annie Tyler, her friend from Manchester.
"Hello DC Simpson. It's me, Annie."
Melissa was thankful to hear her friend's voice. "Hi Annie. I'm doing fine. How did you...."
"The owner of the place you are staying gave me your contact details before you left for London", Annie interrupted. "Any leads since you arrived?"
Melissa looked at her bag. "Not yet. But I sense another similar victim." She tries to remember what happened during her first day at work. "Hang on, a fifteen year old female was found dead in front of the city hall."
There was a long pause, and then Annie responded. "Were there any resemblance to the one we're working on?"
"I wanted to get a good look at the body, but then DCI Hunt and DI Drake arrived. Maybe it's the same resemblance to that McKenzie case we worked on two weeks ago", said Melissa. "Don't worry; they're going to pay a visit to the morgue first thing in the morning."
She could hear Annie sigh. "I think it's best if you go and have a look yourself. We need to be one step ahead of them if we are to close the cases on both sides."
Annie's right. In order to solve one case, she has to take a risk that will not only put her job on the line, but her trust with the Head of CID.
"Ok, but this will be the last time that I'm doing this", she replied.
"Great. If you have any more information available, be sure to call me or Sam. We're the only ones you're working for at the moment."
"I understand. Thank you." She checks her watch and panic a bit. "Sorry, I got to go. Got work to attend."
She knew Annie was confused. "You working double shifts already?" she asked.
Melissa giggled. "Nope. Just working part time as a chef. I've got a plan that will help give us the 'one step ahead of them' advantage. Talk to you soon."
Melissa put the receiver down, grabs her other bag and made her way downstairs to start her night shift as a part time chef at "Luigi's Restaurant". She knew that this is where her plan will come into effect. Holding her breath, she entered the restaurant and was greeted by the owner.
"Ah, you must be the new chef", the owner said in his Italian accent. "My name's Luigi. I own this place."
Melissa smiled as she shook hands with him. "Yes. My name's Melissa Simpson."
Luigi smiled. "I see you are great at cooking Italian food." He puts his voice into a whisper. "Do you mind making that wonderful lasange you made for two of my regular customers? I just wanted to cheer them up after a long day."
Melissa's face brightened. "Sure, anything to make their bad day a thing of the past."
Luigi was delighted. "Thank you sigorita Simpson."
"You're welcome." She made her way into the kitchen just as Gene, Alex and CID entered the restaurant.
Luigi looked at the pair and smiled. "Sigorita Drake, Senior Hunt, I've booked you a table over here."
He ushered them to a table in a corner and smiled again. "You're in a happy mood Luigi", said Alex.
"I just wanted to give you a taste of Italian by one of the best chefs here in London." He poured both glasses of wine while the dinner's being prepared.
Back in the kitchen, Melissa was spilling out blood, sweat and tears remembering her mother's secret lasange recipe. Adding to the stress, two customers were tasting her dish for the first time. Trying hard not to make a mistake, she carefully added some monzzerella cheese to the topping and puts it into the oven. Fifteen minutes later, she took it out and smiled. "Perfecto!" she cried.
She puts a slice of the lasange onto two plates and finish it off with a salad. Luigi entered the kitchen just in the nick of time. "It's ready", she said. "Perfect, I'll take them to the customers right away", Luigi replied.
He picked up the two plates and took it out to the waiting customers.
