paired {h.s}

part one

I think of myself to be quite a kind person. Saying that makes me sound incredibly big headed but it's true. I always say my please and thank yous when needed, I help out my parents when I can and most importantly, I , Danika Grace Murphy, save people's lives daily.

How, you ask?

Well, that is what you're about to find out. Everyday starts about the same for me. I wake up around 7:30am, brush my teeth, take a shower and get dressed for work at my second favorite place in the world, Mr Whipped's Creamery. Yes, I do work part time at an ice cream shop and yes, I do sometimes eat a bit of ice cream while my boss isn't looking.

I get to work at about 8:45am and end work at 1pm. right now you're probably thinking Danika, what the fuck does this have anything to do with how you apparently save lives?

Well, after I get off from work, I wait for a text from a certain person under the contact name of 'Red-hawk'. Red-hawk is my other boss.

That's it, I have another job. As none other than MI5's greatest female secret agent.

This is a lot to take in at the moment so let's change subject to what's happening right this second. I just finished my shift at the creamery and we all know what happens next. The awaiting of the sacred text message.

Today was pretty busy so I stayed an extra 15 minutes to help until the crowd had died down to a manageable size.  That's what happens when it's practically 28 degrees Celsius outside, which is VERY rare for London.

But nevertheless, I was about to head out when Lydia stopped me. Lydia worked at the creamery too and we were quite close friends, actually. But I could never tell her about MI5. I'd be fired. And maybe even killed by the other agents but let's not go into more detail than necessary.

"Hey, do you wanna come round mine now? We can have a Pretty Little Liars marathon.." Lydia's smile was absolutely huge when she said this which made it even harder for me to decline.

The only really shit bit about being an agent is the fact that you never know if you're going to have any free time so you can't plan forward with friends that much and basically, you have no social life.

Damn. And I really love a good Pretty Little Liars marathon. But I love my job more, hands down.

"I'd love to but-" As soon as I said these couple words, there was a bleep from my phone. I pressed the home button to reveal the text on my lock screen.

red-hawk
get down here asap

Perfect Timing, Red-Hawk. I didn't really want to have to make up another flimsy excuse for why I couldn't hang out with Lydia again.

"I have to go. Like now. I'm so sorry." Grabbing my bag rather speedily, I hurried out the door awkwardly and basically jogged on over to my little white Toyota Prius which was parked on the side of the road about a meter down from the shop.

Driving down to the base took no more than 15 minutes. The MI5 Headquarters was in the midst of busy London, deep underground beneath one of the many skyscrapers placed there. Getting down there was easy.

First, I'd park my car in the underground car park which was for secret agents only. But the general public don't know that. Next, I'd go to the super fast lift that took me straight down to the headquarters. That lift changes your clothes into your secret agent uniform too which was beyond cool.

As soon as I got down there, I walked right over to Red-Hawk's office which was at the other end of the huge headquarters in a huge glass box. I received many waves and greetings from people all around me. I am the best in the business, after all.

Getting to Red-hawk's office, I saw him. He was tapping away on his laptop when I strolled in.

"Got your text. You wanted to see me?" Red-hawk's head snapped up to look at me with pure delight on his face.

"Hey Danika. How is my amazing daughter doing today?" Yes, Red-hawk is my dad. Been in the business for about 25 years passed down from generations and generations of Murphys before him.

"What do you want now?" The way he was talking meant he wanted something. Or he was sweetening me up for something he wanted me to do for him. Either way, I definitely wasn't in any way ready for what he was about to say.

"Take a seat, darling." Dad's eyes darted straight to one of the two creme-coloured swivel chairs placed in front of his desk and then back at me.

There was a small awkward silence in which I slowly sat down in a seat, taking a deep breath.

"I need you to go on a date tonight." He swiveled round his little grey macbook to reveal to me a dating profile.

"A date?" Well, that was definitely uncalled for.

The dating profile belonged to a man by the name of Sam Downs. Pictures of him in several different scenarios were all over his page. One of him bungee jumping to one of him completely shit-faced at a party. He wasn't the best looking guy but whatever.

"You're going undercover as a girl named Rosie Clarke. Here's your character profile." Dad handed me a black file which I opened and skimmed through it carefully.

"So who is this guy?"

"Sam Downs. Real name, James Bruce. Newest con-man on the block. Gives his dates rings that he stole so the tracking device on them goes straight to the girls."

"So it seems like the ring was stolen by the ladies!" I gasped, very excited indeed for this mission.

"Exactly. I want you to wait till you get the ring then arrest him."

Another mission, here I come.