"Your fault, your fault." A heavily accented voice booms from the kitchen as Vincent as Grace near the door. "I told you, didn't I?"

Grace throws Vincent a suspicious look as they push open the silver door.

The Saskia's kitchen has small white tiles along the floor and walls and the kitchen counters are made from a strong silver metal. The kitchen has 8 Whirlpool stoves that flare blue fire when a petite figure roughly flips the pans.

How can she be cooking in this noise?

Grace and Vincent walk over towards a tall, thick man, with greying dark brown hair sticking out from his chefs hat.

"Look Chef Tenco-"Mr.Neita says, his eyes pleading with the man.

"No you look Mr.Nina, I'm tired of this." The man steps back, tiredly leaning against the counters, his back hunched. "I wish I just stayed in Italy, no problems like this there."

"It's Mr.Nieta and," He corrects, gently placing his dark, chocolate hand against Chef Tenco's shoulder. "ya know I'm doing the best I can."

Harsh whispers boom around the room as Grace spots a group of chefs huddled in the corner of the room.

"Your best is not enough Mr.Nina." Chef Tenco sneers, lifting himself off the counter and charging towards Mr.Neita. "I am the most wanted chef in New York, I refuse to deal with this rubbish."

Vincent assesses the situation with sharp eyes before taking an authoritative step towards Chef Tenco.

"Calm down." He says, his hands clasped behind his back.

"And who are you?" Mr.Tenco grimaces, his eyes raking over Vincent's form.

"I'm your boss."

The room echoes with loud whispers but instantly ceases when Vincents give the cowering chefs a harsh glare.

"Now, step away from Mr.Neita and carefully explain the situation."

Vincent walks towards Chef Tenco who's strong resolve crumbles under Vincent's cold gaze.

"I already explain situation." He says, throwing his hands in the air.

"Well, you're explaining it to me now."

Chef Tenco let's out a string of curses, some in Italian.

"Sabotage." He finally says, leaning against the counter. "And Mr.Nina do nothing about it."

Vincent's gaze shifts to a cowering Mr.Neita who's dark skin almost pales.

"That's not true and ya know it Tenco." Mr.Neita surges  up some courage and takes a step towards Vincent. "I tried everything: the police, surveillance cameras, changing the locks and even sitting here in the middle of the night waiting for the the guy and nothing."

Vincent nods his head.

"What happened when you were waiting it out."

Mr.Neita let's out a cough before scratching his neck.

"I woke up in my office."

Vincent let's out a grunt.

"Then what happened with police and the surveillance cameras?" Grace finally says, stepping out from behind Vincent.

The petite girl who had been cooking, takes out a plate and pours the steaming stir fry onto the plate before grabbing a fork and leaning against the counter.

"The damn police is useless, baby." The girl says with a heavy New Jersey accent. "We tell them about the damn sabotage and they wait outside with their damn donuts the whole night and have the damn audacity to tell us that they saw nothing. Like damn them."

Grace lets out a silent cough, stunned at the girls obvious confidence.

"And the cameras suddenly shut down during the time of the sabotage, they're working a few minutes before then everything goes blank for a couple minutes then-"

"Shit hits the fan." The girl interrupts, grabbing a forkful of stir fry and stuffing it into her mouth.

"How long has this been going on for?" Vincent asks, folding his hands. "The sabotage."

"Started when we get that spot on House & Garden," Chef Tenco says, his brows roughly furrowed and his lips sneered. "and when we win that award from New York's Food Association."

"That's right." Mr.Neita agrees, nodding his head. "Right after the award ceremony we come back and there's rats all over the kitchen floor, we thought maybe it was our fault and hired an exterminator but then it happened again and again and again."

"Then just last month all our damn food disappears. Like damn poof." The girl says, her striking blue eyes on Vincent. "We couldn't even open the damn restaurant and just a couple of days ago we had a damn worm infestation. Those damn critters we're coming out the basin, out the dustbin and out the damn fridge. We called the exterminator and you should have seen his damn face. He was like well damn these kind worms aren't indigenous from this damn country, they had to be shipped over here. Like damn, right?"

"Right." Grace whispers.

"So, what happened now?" Vincent asks, his eyes on the Chef Tenco. "Why all the theatrics from that da-, ah, I mean waitress."

Grace lets out a snort.

Damn, just grows on you, doesn't it?

"The lady found a snake in the scullery."

"A snake!" Grace squeals, her eyes wandering along the floor.

"Yep and it's almost as long as my roommates synthetic wig. 14 damn inches."

"Like damn." Grace mimics, just as the girl says it too.

"Where is it now?" Mr.Neita asks, his eyes flickering around the kitchen.

"Where the lady found it. Nobody was going to touch that thing." Chef Tenco says, pointing towards a dark wooden door.

"We've already called the damn extreminator, again." She says, taking the last bite out of her stir fry before putting the plate in the basin and wearily eyeing the drain. "Mr.Boss Man?"

"Yes?" Vincent answers.

"I think that exterminator should be on our damn pay roll by now." She walks back to the counter, jumping up and crossing her legs. "Do you know how many times he's come here?"

"Far too many." Vincent grumbles. "This needs to be sorted out now, while I'm still here."

"I agree," Chef Tenco says, throwing daggers at Mr.Neita. "because everybody here is useless."

Mr.Neita gives him a dirty look, one that would have Grace's mom turning in her grave.

"Any ideas then?" Vincent asks.

Silence.

"Really, nobody has any idea?"

Silence.

Grace looks around the kitchen, almost laughing at the downcast look on all the chefs faces.

"But it could be anyone." Grace finally says. "It could be somebody from the cleaning staff all the way to the guy who does the plumbing. We could interview everybody but that could take ages."

Vincent nods his head before turning his eyes to Grace, a strange look in his eyes.

"So, what's your idea?"

Grace timidly smiles, before meeting the eyes of all the chefs.

"I know a person who's a master at disguise, she doesn't need surveillance footage or even any hints to sniff a rat out. All she needs is an incentive and the mystery of this situation is enough incentive for her."

"So, we won't have to pay her?" Vincent asks, his eyebrow lifted.

Miser!

"No."

"So, what will she do?" Chef Tenco asks.

"I don't know exactly, she'll call the shots but if there's one person out there who can catch this guy, it's her."

The room envelops into another silence as everybody waits, breaths held, for Vincent's answer.

"Fine, call your contact."

"Yass, let's catch this bitch!"

Everybody stops and stares at the blue-eyed chef, as she throws herself off the counter.

"What?" She asks, grabbing a wad of gum and tossing it into her mouth.

Grace shakes her head.

"We'll be leaving now." Vincent says, his feet moving towards the door. "Take care of the snake, continue working, it's business as usual. We'll be back tomorrow."

Grace and Vincent walk out the kitchen towards the limo.

"Goodbye ma'am and sir, have a safe trip." The young boy says bowing as he's little hat tilts over.

"Thank you." Grace murmurs as she hops into the limo.

"Your contact better pan out." Vincent says, opening the armrest and taking out a glass of fruit juice.

Yeah, if she'll even talk to me.

----------------------------------------------------

Hey luvies,

Another chapter written in the great outdoors. I can't lie I was really into this chapter, I didn't even realise when I passed my word goal. Yippee

Any way who's your favourite character from this chapter:

1)Chef Tenco

2)Mr.Neita

3)Girl who's name I still have to decide but we'll call her Madam Damn

4)Screaming waitress

Can't lie my heart is telling me option 4.

Anyway, please Vote, Comment and SHARE THE LOVE