Miranda called Chief Johnson on the way to the chop shop, putting her Bluetooth in so she wouldn't get pulled over.
"Sir, I am on my way to the chop shop with another car."
"Hopefully not with the mayor's?" he chuckled.
"No sir," she laughed. "A couple of jewelry thieves."
"Oh?"
"Yes sir, I was in the right place at the right time I suppose," and she told him what had happened.
He chuckled. "You are something else, detective."
"I know sir, but this should really get me in with those guys now."
"I am sure it will. I will let the FBI know."
"Thanks, sir, and I will call you later."
Bo would like this car, she knew he would, especially after finding out it came from a couple of thieves. Talk about Karma. She was laughing as she pulled up to the garage. She stopped just outside and headed into the office after putting her blonde wig back on that she had stashed in her purse. She nodded at Bo who was sitting at the desk counting money. He looked up at her. "Hey Lara, I thought I told you to come back tonight."
"I know but I have another car for you," she grinned.
"Already?"
"Sure, come take a look."
He nodded and followed her outside. He frowned at her. "Where did you get this car?"
"I stole it from some jewelry thieves, who right about now are being booked into jail, why?"
"Well, considering this car belongs to a drug lord," he chuckled.
"Oops," she laughed with him.
"Yeah oops." He walked around the car, shaking his head. "You took it from the thieves."
"I did. They were robbing the store and took me as a hostage. I took them out, and delivered them back to the jewelry store, along with jewels."
Bo chuckled. "You are something else, Lara."
"So I've heard," she grinned, tossing him the key.
He nodded at one of his men who had come outside. "Hal, take the car inside and get to work," Bo said, tossing him the key.
"Sure thing boss," Hal grinned and headed to the car.
"Come to the office, I am going to call the man whose car you stole."
Miranda swallowed. "Um, am I going to be in trouble?"
"I highly doubt it," Bo chuckled as they went inside.
He told her to sit, then picked up the phone, dialing a number.
Bo put it on speaker so Miranda could hear.
"I want you to hear this," Bo grinned at her.
"Tyrone residence," came a Spanish accented voice.
"Tyrone, let me talk to him."
"He's busy now. He will call you back."
"No, tell him it is Bo, and I have some news for him."
There were a couple of clicks, then, "Bo, what is going on, what is so important that you are bugging me? I am trying to bail a couple of my guys out of jail at the moment."
Bo laughed. "Well Tyrone, I want you to know that my newest employee is the one who just took down your guys, and she stole their car."
"What?" Tyrone bellowed. "How?"
"I don't know, maybe you should ask her."
Bo nodded at her to speak.
"Who are you and what did you do to them?" Tyrone demanded.
"They tried to take me, hostage, I taught them a lesson, they are in jail now, and the jewels are back where they belong."
"The fools, I told them to stay low, and not cause any trouble. I have a big deal going down soon. What is your name, young lady?"
"Lara," she supplied.
"Do you want a job?" he laughed.
"Doing what?"
"Oh, several things. To start with you can be my delivery girl. I will pay you 20k a week if you come and work for me."
"That's not very much. Bo was paying me 5k a car, and I turned in two today."
Bo looked at her shocked that she would talk back to this man.
Tyrone laughed. "Fine, 50k a week, but you had better be good."
"There is none better than me," she told him confidently.
"I can tell. You just took out three of my best men."
"Those were your best men? I am sorry. Maybe you should hire someone more professional."
Tyrone laughed again. "I like you, Lara. Look, I want to meet you, tonight, my place. I will have someone pick you up."
"Fine, there is an antique shop down the street from my place," she gave him the address.
"Good, eight o'clock sharp. He will be in a limo. I look forward to meeting you, Lara."
"I look forward to meeting you also," she told him.
Tyrone hung up. Bo looked at her speechless. "He never invites anyone over. He must be very impressed. And to deliver for him? I am stunned."
"So, is he the big man?" Miranda asked him.
Bo nodded. "But I am sure he will like you, I know he will," he grinned at her, then he shoved a stack of bills to her. "Go buy you something fancy for tonight, you deserve it. Besides he likes his women dressed to kill," he grinned at his pun.
She picked up the bills and leafed through them. "This is 10k."
"I know, buy something expensive."
"Okay, I will, she assured him. "So, does this mean I won't be working for you anymore?"
"I am sure I will see you around," he assured her.
She stood. "Thanks, Bo, and if I see a car I think you would like, I'll make sure you get it."
He chuckled. "Thanks, Lara. For only working one day, you are the best employee I have."
She smiled at him. "Thanks, again. So, can I get a ride back to my place since the car I brought in is being chopped?"
"I'll have Jack take you," he told her. He picked up the phone. "Jack I need you to take Lara back into town." Then he hung up. Jack was instantly in the door. She nodded at him and followed him to a nice sports car. She slid in beside him, and they headed away. She told him where to drop her off, and he did as told, she thanked him, and walked the last few blocks to the hotel. She frowned when she saw Cole's car out front.
"Crap," she cussed. What was she going to tell him this time?
She sighed and headed inside, better to get it over with. She hurriedly tucked the wig in her purse and headed up to her floor.
Cole was leaning against the wall next to her door, and he looked ticked off. He had decided to wait her out, knowing that she would show up sooner or later.
"Mandy," he growled. "Or should I say, Miranda?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are talking about."
"Oh really," he said, frowning. "Why don't we talk in your room."
"Detective," she started.
"Now," he said, growling. He was extremely ticked.
She sighed and opening the door, the two of them walked in. He closed the door firmly behind them. He turned to her and said, "Talk, now, and no excuses."
"What do you want me to say?"
"First of all, who are you, really?"
She frowned. "I can't say."
"Fine, I will tell you. You are Miranda Dylan, a detective from the Georgetown P.D."
"And how did you come to that conclusion?" she asked him, sitting down. He stayed standing and paced the floor.
"Well, let me tell you, Detective," he said with a frown on his face. "There have been too many coincidences."
"How so?"
"Like today for instance. Supposedly you were kidnapped off the street after some men robbed the jewelry store down the street, and a few minutes later you were back, threw the jewels at the owner, and pushed the men out on the sidewalk. All three of them had concussions."
"Why do you think that was me?"
"She matched your description, Mandy."
"Okay, and how many other women live around here that are petite with brown hair?"
"True, there might be a few, but I doubt they would be wearing a black shirt, and if I pulled up the video from the jewelry store, would I find your face on that video?" he asked with a frown.
"Admit it, you are a cop."
"Why do you think so?"
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "There are just too many things about you that scream cop. The whole plane thing, and now this, plus you were probably the one who stopped the museum heist and the bank robbery. How did you do it, detective?"
"Cole,"
"Don't lie to me, please?" he asked, sitting by her, and taking her hands in his.
She sighed as she looked into his eyes. "Okay, you got me, Cole, yes, I am Miranda Dylan, are you happy?"
He nodded. "Actually yes. Then I won't be so damn worried about you."
She laughed with relief. "Seriously?"
He smiled. "Seriously. I haven't been sleeping, because I have been worrying that something else will happen to you."
"Oh, sorry about that. I didn't want you to worry about me."
He sighed and pulled her close to him, kissing her hard. "I should be totally ticked off that you lied to me about who you are, but amazingly I am not."
"I'm glad."
"Why didn't you tell me in the first place, like on the plane? When I was enquiring about you?" he chuckled.
She just smiled. "Sorry, but I am here undercover. I was not allowed to tell a soul who I was. Your chief only found out because he called my chief, and he confessed to him so that he would know what was going on."
"So, a detective," he chuckled, "I can't believe it, but then again, I suppose I can."
She nodded and pulled her badge from the bottom of her purse. He frowned when he saw the stack of money in there.
"Where did that money come from?"
She flushed. "I kind of turned in the car to the chop shop that I stole from the thieves."
He chuckled. "You sold the thieves car to the chop shop?"
She nodded, and he laughed again. "You are really something else."
"Now you realize that," she smiled.
He took her badge and looked at it, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. You had me fooled, that is for sure. So did you take down the guys at the museum?"
She nodded.
"How?"
"Well, I went wandering to the museum that day and heard the head of security talking to one of his men about the crown jewels arriving that night. They had a lot of security, but then I saw the skylight and figured they wouldn't think that anyone would come through there, and I was right."
"So, you knocked the guys out?"
"Yes," she smirked, "and dropped their ropes down inside the museum so the others couldn't escape."
"And the bank?"
"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or maybe the right place," she shrugged. "I went to get some money and stepped into the robbery. They took me hostage, and I ended up diffusing the situation."
"Yes, three men all with holes in them."
Miranda shrugged. "At least all of the hostages made it out okay."
"Yes, they did, and did you diffuse the bomb on the safe?"
Again she nodded.
"That was enough to level the building and then some."
"I know, that is why I had to stop it. They weren't bright thieves."
"I could tell, and last but not least, today."
"What can I say? I am just always in the right place I suppose."
"You are something else, detective."
"Thanks, I think. So, now what?" she asked. "You have to swear you won't tell a soul about me."
"I won't," he promised.
"And us?" she asked. "What about us?"
In answer to her question, Cole sat down and pulled her into his arms, kissing her soundly. She put her arms about him, and he lifted her onto his lap, deepening their kiss.
She sighed against him and he pulled back, looking worried. "Miranda, I am falling for you, but if you have to leave after this is over," he started.
"You could convince me to stay," she said.
He smiled. "You would stay for me?"
"If you will have me. I do kind of like it here."
"You had better believe I want you to stay," he said, kissing her once more. When he pulled back he was smiling ear to ear. "I think my boss would love to have you onboard."
"That's good to know."
"We could partner up."
"You would want to do that?"
"I would."
"Even though we might be distracting to each other?" she asked, running her hand inside his shirt.
He took a deep breath and gulped. "Maybe," he said huskily.
She laughed. "It might not be a good idea, detective."
He chuckled. "You might be right."
Her stomach rumbled then, interrupting them, and he laughed. "Hungry?"
"Yes, some guy I know stood me up today and I haven't eaten."
He grinned. "How about that guy take his girl to lunch."
"I would like that."
"You do know that money goes into evidence, right?" he asked then, nodding at the stack of money on the table.
"I know, even though the man told me to buy something fancy."
"I am sure he did, but how would you explain that to my chief, or yours if you spent it?"
Miranda shrugged. "Not sure, and it's not like I want it."
"Good girl," he said, noticing the other money in the safe as she opened it.
"What is the other money?"
"The mayor's car," she laughed.
"How much?"
"15k for both."
He whistled. "That is crazy. So, when you are ready to take that shop down, let me know, I'll be there to help, okay?"
"I know," she said. She wouldn't tell him about Tyrone yet, he didn't need to know that she was going to meet with the drug lord. He would not be pleased, she was sure of it.