Seven came all too soon, again. Miranda stumbled out of bed after shutting off her alarm and headed to the shower. She checked her wounded arm and saw that is was healing okay, which she was grateful for. She rebandaged it, then called down for room service for all of them. She didn't really want to go out that morning, and if they were going to discuss things, then she didn't want to be overheard.
A knock sounded on her door just as she hung up with room service.
She looked through the peephole and opened the door.
They walked into her room, and Tyler handed her back the diamond earrings. "All set?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yep, good to go."
"You know Tyler, I wouldn't mind having a little earpiece so I could hear you guys, that way I would know what is going on, and if I need your help, I can let you know. I know you were probably going to bust the door down last night when Tyrone threatened me, and I had no way of knowing if you were going to do so. It would be nice to communicate with you."
Tyler nodded, a frown on his face. "We were this close to busting in," he said, holding up two fingers held together.
"I had it under control."
"You were almost killed."
"I know, but if you had barged in, you both would have been killed. He had ten men with guns on me."
Chad cussed. "Dammit Detective, that is so not cool."
"I know, but he thought it was funny that I would threaten him."
"Weren't you a bit worried about dying last night?" Tyler asked, a frown on his face.
"I was, believe me, I really was."
"Let me run next door to get an earpiece," Tyler said, and standing, he headed to the door. He opened it to see Cole getting ready to knock.
He frowned at Tyler, who only nodded and headed next door.
Cole walked in and saw Chad sitting next to Miranda, a hand on her knee, and a frown on his face. He wanted to pummel him, but then he had to remember they were her cousins, right?
Miranda smiled at Cole.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself," he said.
He sat on the other side of her, just as Tyler walked back in, the room service guy following him. He looked nervous, but who would blame him. There were three really large men in the room.
"Ma'am," he squeaked, rolling a cart into the room.
Tyler was smirking, knowing he was intimidating the man.
Miranda stood and smiled. "Sorry about these three, they are my cousins and friend," she replied, nodding at the men.
"Yes ma'am," he said, swallowing, as he eyed Tyler up and down, who at the moment had his arms folded over his chest, his muscles bulging, and a smirk on his face.
"Let me pay you for that," Miranda said, grabbing her purse.
"I got it," Chad grinned, and handed over some cash to the man.
"Thanks," he squeaked, grabbing the cash and putting it in his pocket. "Just leave the cart outside the door when you are done with it," and with that, he ran out the door.
Tyler busted out laughing as he closed the door. Even Cole had a grin on his face.
"Bullies," Miranda said, but she was smiling. She walked to the cart and pulled off lids. "Hope you boys don't mind, but I ordered our breakfast."
They nodded and everyone helped themselves to it.
Miranda sat on the couch, a plate full of food, Cole right next to her.
"What are you doing today?" he asked her but he was watching Tyler and Chad who were watching Cole.
"Probably hanging out with my cousins, why?"
"How about dinner tonight?"
She paled. "I can't Cole. I have,"
"A date," Chad smirked.
She glared at him.
"Well, it is," he shrugged.
"A date?" Cole frowned, making Tyler chuckle.
"Only with those knuckleheads," she said, rolling her eyes.
"So, you could cancel with them and go out with me?"
"Nope, sorry, we don't get to see our cousin that much," Tyler said, and Chad put his arm about Miranda. "It's been what, five years since we last saw you, cousin?"
"Something like that," she shrugged.
"How did you happen to find Miranda here?" Cole asked the men.
"We were passing through town on business," Tyler shrugged. "We found out she was staying here and decided to surprise her."
"And how did you find out? Miranda doesn't like anyone to know where she is at, or who she really is," Cole pointed out.
"Speaking for her now, detective?" Chad smirked.
He flushed. "No, but I know how she is."
"You are right, I don't like everyone knowing where I am," she glared at the men and turned to Cole. "I am sorry Cole, they are bullies."
He chuckled. "It's okay, I know agents when I see them."
The men shot him a surprised look.
"What?" Cole shrugged. "You can't seriously be her cousins."
"We are too," Chad said, hugging Miranda to him. "Just because we might be agents, doesn't mean we aren't family too," he grinned.
"So, FBI?" Cole asked.
The men nodded.
"You are really here to see Miranda?"
"Partly," Tyler shrugged. "We heard she was here, and we are working on a case too, so we decided to come and see her."
"You are really her cousins," Cole said, skeptical.
Miranda frowned. "Cole,"
"Yes, we are her cousins," Tyler ground out.
"Can I see some I.D.?" Cole asked.
The men handed over their badges. Cole nodded, satisfied.
"Very well, that means I can discuss things with Miranda and it won't leave this room."
The men nodded.
Cole sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Something she noticed he did when frustrated.
"What is it, Cole?" she asked.
He sighed. "I found out that the drug lord is having a drug deal late tonight."
"And?"
"I have to be there."
Chad and Tyler both frowned.
"Okay, and?"
"I don't want you to be there."
"Who says I would be?"
"I know you, Miranda, you like to be in the middle of these things."
Miranda sighed. "Look, Cole, I don't even know who this drug lord is, and besides, I am here for the chop shop, you can have the whole drug lord business."
He nodded, looking relieved.
"We will be there though," Chad informed him.
"I kind of expected that," Cole nodded. He looked at Miranda. "What are you doing today?"
"Hanging out with my cousins."
"Good, they can keep you out of trouble," he teased.
"If that would even help," Tyler chuckled.
Miranda slugged his arm. "Thanks a lot, cousin," she said as he rubbed his arm.
"Geez woman, do you work out or something?"
She smirked. "Or something. Keep your comments to yourself."
"He started it," Tyler said, pointing at Cole who only laughed. He then stood up. "Look, I had better head to work. I'm going to be busy today, stay safe, okay?"
She nodded. "I will be. You also, if he is a drug lord, he probably won't hesitate to take down anyone."
Cole nodded. "I will be safe, promise." He kissed her cheek and headed from the room.
She sighed with relief when he left, making the men chuckle.
"Oh, if he only knew you are going to shoot an agent tonight," Chad chuckled.
"He will never find out," she warned him. "Are you going to let anyone know that an officer is going to be there with Tyrone as his girl?"
Tyler shook his head. "No, we won't. If word got out at all about you, then you would be dead."
"So, the trick is not getting shot by a cop while I am making the drug deal and shooting an agent."
"That's the idea," Tyler nodded. "Good luck with that."
"Yeah, me," she said sarcastically, making the men laugh.
"Where are you meeting Tyrone?" Tyler then asked.
"Not sure, I think they are going to call me when they need me."
"We will listen in then," Tyler said, handing over the small earpiece. It was clear and was really small. Miranda nodded and put it in her ear, then put the earrings in that she had in her pocket.
"Okay," she sighed.
"It will be okay, detective, we trust you," Chad said, patting her knee.
"Good, because this is going to be scary."
They both nodded, understanding. They visited for a bit until Miranda's phone rang around 1:00. She picked it up.
"Meet me where we picked you up before, at two," Alex said and then he hung up. Miranda decided she had better get ready. She looked at the agents. "I'd better get ready."
"We'll go and get things set up too," Tyler said. "Be safe tonight."
"I'll try," she said, "and both of you also, and Chad, I will apologize now for what I am going to do later."
He nodded. "I understand detective." He shook her hand, and the two men headed out the door. She headed to the bedroom to change, wearing jeans and a shirt with a blonde wig and blue contacts. She put in the earrings, and the earpiece, then headed out, purse in hand, her gun inside. She would take no chances tonight. If someone was going to get shot, hopefully, it wouldn't be her.