"Hey Stig!" Teddy Venturi greeted his cousin as he walked up the drive. "Mom didn't say you were coming over again tonight."

"She doesn't know. And I don't want her to, okay?"

"Sure. You need something?"

"Yeah. I need you to do some digging for me. Something is going on with my 'rents and I needed to know what."

"They're okay aren't they?" Teddy looked concerned. He loved Auntie Casey and Uncle Derek.

Stig nodded. "They are up to something, and I figure seeing as the 'something' started on Saturday which was when they sent me to stay with your parents, I'm betting your parents know what it is."

Teddy shrugged. "Sounds feasible. So what happened on Saturday?"

"They invited Loopy Lucy's parents over to dinner…and I want to know why."

"Loopy Lucy? You mean that cute chick you are always pranking?"

"Ew! Ted. When did you last have your eyes tested?"

Teddy grinned. "Why does she get under your skin so badly?"

"She's too much of a grade-grubber for her own good."

"From what I've seen of her she seems nice…a bit like Aunt Casey."

Stig sighed. "Well she behaves like a parental anyway."

Teddy smiled to himself, and made a mental note to update his Stig and Lucy observation files as soon as Stig left.

"It'll cost you though."

"Normal rates?"

"Sounds good. I'll be in touch when I have something to report."

"Ok. Laters."

Stig walked down the street and headed off to town to the small diner which was so popular with the high school kids. It had changed names several times over the years, and his father had told him both he and Stig's mother had worked there once, at a time when it went by the ridiculous name of 'Smelly Nelly's'.

These days it went by the name of 'Choke and Float' which possibly wasn't much better, but as of a month ago, Stig too had a job there.

It was Monday night, and many working parents didn't want to cook, so the restaurant was heaving. Stig was kept busy with orders so he had little time to notice the clientele, well apart from the girls. There were always a lot of girls in, and a large number of them came just to have him serve their table. The management knew that. Stig got away with a lot because he was a crowd pleaser.

"Hi, Bethany." He grinned at the blonde cheerleader in front of him, with her father. Dad wasn't too impressed with the way the young Venturi was looking at his daughter, so Stig switched to sly winks as he dealt with their order and moved on. The next table was Angelique. A hot redhead – Stig wasn't as fussy about hair colour as Derek. She simpered as she ordered for her and her cousin, an equally hot girl who hailed from Vancouver and was visiting because her school had a free day.

And then Lucy walked in.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

It was under protest that Lucy went to 'Choke and Float' for dinner sometimes. She knew Stig worked there and he always managed to prank her, even in front of her parents. Tonight they were celebrating Lilly's music exam results.

As (bad) luck would have it, they chose one of Stig's tables.

"Evening. What I can I get you?" Lucy didn't look up. The rest of her family, seemingly oblivious, ordered. Stig couldn't resist. "And for Loopy…I mean Lucy?"

"I'll have the Caesar salad and a small portion of fries…please." She mumbled. He smiled to himself. Caesar salad, small fries and for dessert, the toffee ice cream. Lucy was predictable. She had the same thing every time she came into 'Choke and Float' He often wondered why he bothered asking her. "I should warn you there is a slight delay, we're rather busy tonight, but I'll get that to you as soon as I can." He said politely. He was as capable of turning the charm on as his father.

Lucy was mentally kicking herself for not going to the bathroom before she left the house. Now she was desperate and would need to use the washrooms here. Not a good idea with Stig around. It separated Lucy from her parents.

She excused herself and made for the area indicated by the sign. She breathed a sigh of relief as she dashed in through the door with the picture of a hen on it. (The men's had a picture of a stag).

First half of the mission achieved, she tried to make it back to the table, without him seeing her. It was a busy night after all, it should be possible.

"Hi Klutzilla." Her heart sank as she opened the door with the hen on it. Stig was leaning up against the opposite wall.

"What do you want?" She asked ungraciously. Grace was wasted on this specimen.

"An update. I wanted to know if you'd found out anything." Stig replied. He barely glanced at her, but his eyes took in the tight jeans and pretty jumper she was wearing. It wasn't fair that genetics had coupled such a gorgeous body with such a keener mind. She leaned against the wall beside him, trying to ignore his deep chocolate eyes and the cheeky smirk which he couldn't hide, even when he was talking to her. (Especially when he was talking to her).

"No. I haven't had an opportunity to broach the subject yet. What about you?"

"I've put someone on it. My cousin, Teddy. He's the world's best snoop. If there is something to be found he'll find it."

"Is that Teddy Venturi?"

"Yeah why?"

"My sister talks about him sometimes. They're in the same year group."

"Well he's good at this. He takes after my Uncle Edwin. An inquisitive mind, and a business brain. For a fee, he'll find anything or anyone. He's made a fortune at it."

"Yeah. I'd heard. Didn't he start the business with his wife?"

"Yeah. Aunt Lizzie. Although she's an environmental researcher these days."

Stig wondered why he was wasting his time elaborating with the girl in front of him. He never discussed his family with the girls he dated, so why discuss them with a girl he wouldn't date in a month of Sundays?

"Anyway, he should pull something out in the next day or so."

"You'll let me know."

"Yeah." He paused. "How? I don't really want to be seen talking to you around school."
"God no!"

"What's your email?" he pulled out his order pad.

She gave him her email address and he wrote his down on another sheet, ripped it off and passed it to her.

He straightened, glanced around to make sure no one had seen him talking to Lucy and disappeared off into the restaurant.

"Moron." Said Lucy, softly. A small smile on her lips.