The next few days went by quickly. Miranda stayed low and only went out to get food, then she would cook dinner for Cole and Tyler.
Saturday dawned bright and early for Miranda, but Tyler warned her to stay indoors once again since that day would be the turning point of her career and perhaps her life, so she took the opportunity to call her Chief. She outlined her plan to him, he told her he was proud of her and looked forward to seeing her home soon. She had to admit to him that she missed home. He told her to be safe and that he would see her soon. After she talked to him, she hung around the hotel room, wondering when Tyrone would call.
Cole and the others were preparing for that night, so he and Tyler didn't talk to her that day so they could get ready. She didn't hear from anyone until after 4:00 that afternoon. When her phone rang, she picked up. She knew Tyler would be listening in because he had bugged her phone. "Hello?" she said.
"Lara, this is Alex. The boss said to be ready by six. I'll be by to get you in front of the hotel then. Dress casual, he has clothes for you for the deal."
"I am sure he does," she said.
"See you in a few hours then," and he hung up.
Tyler knocked on her door moments later, and she let him in.
"I heard. So you think the deal is earlier than midnight?"
"Not sure, I guess I will find out though. Are all of you ready?"
"We are, are you?"
"I certainly hope so," she said.
Her phone rang again. It was Cole.
"Hey, Cole."
"Hey love, be safe tonight, okay?"
"I will try my best."
"Do you know what you will be wearing?"
"Not yet. Just don't shoot any females, okay?"
He chuckled. "I won't."
"Good, I'll see you in a few hours. Tyler will let you know what time."
"Okay, see you later." He then hung up.
Miranda turned to Tyler. "How much backup do we have?"
"At least 15 agents and Chief Stratton will have at least thirty or more men, including Cole. As soon as you let us know where and when we will be there. So good luck," he told her hugging her, "and by the way? Chad will be there tonight."
"Coming back from the dead, huh?" she grinned.
"Something like that. He doesn't want to miss out on the action."
"Okay, just don't let any of Tyrone's men see him."
"I will make sure he stays in the background," Tyler assured her. "I'd better head out and get ready," he then said, and after hugging her again, he left the room.
As soon as he left she called room service for dinner but didn't eat much since her stomach was in knots.
She headed to change after eating and put in her earrings and her earpiece, then she put on her necklace.
"Okay Tyler, I'm heading out now," Miranda said.
"Okay, be careful detective, talk to you soon."
The limo was waiting for her as she stepped outside. Alex stepped out and opening the door for her, she climbed in.
"Ready for tonight?" he asked her as he got in to drive. He was the only one in the car.
"I hope so," she said, "I am kind of nervous."
"I bet you are, look, Lara, I have to admit to you something. I know who you are."
She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Oh really? And who am I?" she asked him.
"You are Miranda Dylan, famous detective," he stated.
"And how did you come to this conclusion?" she asked again, not showing any emotion on her face. He grinned, she was good. She didn't show any signs of cracking.
"Because," he lowered his voice, "I am with the FBI. I have been working with Tyler on this case for quite a while."
"Oh really," she said, looking carefully at him.
"Yes, when he told me who you were, I was quite surprised. I have been working for Tyrone for months, just waiting for this opportunity."
"Do you know when the drug deal is?" she asked him.
"No, only that it is late tonight. Until then we wait for Tomori's call. He doesn't want surprises. That is why he is waiting until the last minute to call. Which worries me, we won't have time to get anyone assembled."
"Tomori?"
"Yes, the other major crime boss."
"I see. I really need to watch my back then tonight."
"Most definitely. I hope you are wearing a vest?"
"I am, a light one so that it can't be seen under my clothes."
He nodded in approval. "Good, and let's hope no one aims for your head."
"Well, if Tomori really wants me to work for him, then he won't harm me, right?"
"I hope not," he frowned. "These guys are really bad news."
"Yes, I am sure they are."
"I am quite surprised that Tyrone trusted you so quickly," Alex then said.
"I know, but I guess killing an FBI agent helped."
"You know he isn't dead," Alex said.
"Of course."
"I thought as much. Did you know, you will be supplied with a nice car tonight?" Alex then told her. "A souped-up Viper."
"Nice. So, I am driving then?"
"Yes, less suspicion on Tyrone if a beautiful woman shows up in a beautiful car."
"It's been made bulletproof, just in case the other guys decide to shoot up the car."
"That is good, now if only I was bulletproof," she mused.
"Yes, that would be nice for both of us," he chuckled as he pulled through the gates of Tyrone's place.
Tyrone was waiting inside. He walked forward and kissed her. "You are wearing my gifts."
"Of course," she told him.
"Are you ready for tonight?" he asked her.
"I am a bit nervous."
"I understand that, and I will try and keep you safe."
"Thanks," she told him.
He glanced at his watch then. "It's almost seven. Let's go have something light and then we will wait for Tomori's call."
She nodded and followed him into the dining hall.
Food was brought to them, and they sat eating in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
It seemed only minutes later a maid walked in.
"Tyrone, phone for you," she said.
"Tomori," he grinned, then taking Miranda's hand and they headed to his study.
"Is he the man that wants to hire me?" she asked.
He nodded at her. "I shouldn't have said anything, he has offered even more for you."
"Maybe I should take him up on his offer, then after paying me I can kill him," Miranda grinned wickedly.
"Not a bad idea, but you wouldn't get very far. He has several loyal men that would kill for him."
"Yes, but you do also," she pointed out.
"Not as many," he admitted.
"How many?" she asked.
"He has several hundred."
"I see, so how many will be there tonight?"
"About twenty from each side," he told her.
"Oh, is that to protect you?"
He nodded, "For him and I. You see, we deal with each other, but we don't really like each other. But if we killed each other that would be stupid, we would lose billions of dollars. So we tolerate each other, and then if the cops show up, we have enough men to take them out, while we escape," he told her, then pulled her into his study. He walked to the phone and picked it up.
"Hello Tomori," Tyrone said, putting the phone on speaker.
"Tyrone, it is set, for midnight, on Seer's Peer."
"Good, we'll be there."
"Good, have you thought about my offer?"
"Yes, I have actually, as a matter of fact, she is right here. Talk to her."
Tyrone nodded at Miranda.
"Miss Lara?" he asked.
"Yes, sir?"
"Tyrone and I have been discussing an offer. I want you to come and work for me after tonight."
"I don't know, I really like it here," she said, "besides, Tyrone is paying me more than you ever could."
"Oh really? I thought my offer was quite reasonable," he said.
"Actually, not really. You see Tyrone offered me a new car and a house on top of paying me," she lied, winking at Tyrone, who was smirking.
"Really, well, I shall up that offer. A mansion for you, a new Lamborghini, and 250 grand a week."
Miranda looked at Tyrone who nodded at her.
"Okay, you have yourself a deal. How long do you want me to work for you?"
"Actually I was thinking quite permanently."
"Really, may I think about that? You see I don't know if Tyrone will let me go for that long, him and I have a thing going on," she said, winking again at Tyrone. He winked back.
"You can still see Tyrone. I am right here in town," he told her.
"Good. I will see you in a few hours then," she told him.
"Yes, and you will leave with me."
"Fine," she told him.
"Until tonight," he said, and hung up.
Tyrone grinned at her. "So you have feelings for me do you?"
"Perhaps," she said slyly.
"I know you like me, admit it," he grinned, and pulling her to him he kissed her.
She let him. But his kisses were so awful compared to Cole's.
He pulled away from her then. "You know Lara; I believe that I have very great feelings for you. As a matter of fact, I would like you to be my wife."
Miranda gasped. Uh oh. She could hear Tyler chuckling in her ear. "Way to go, detective, wait until Cole hears about this one," he teased.
She hid a smirk.
"Can I think about that?" she asked.
"Of course, but will you wear my ring?" he asked, and pulling a small box from his desk he handed it to her. She opened it and her jaw dropped. The diamond inside had to be over two carats.
"It is so beautiful," she admitted.
"Will you wear it?" he asked, "just as a promise for now? And then you can decide later if you want to be my wife."
"Give me until tomorrow to decide," she told him, as he slipped the ring on her finger.
"Okay," he told her and kissed her again.
He led her to the door then. "How are you feeling by the way?"
"I'm sore but better."
"Good, just in case you need to run," he said, and then he relaxed on the couch by her in the study and the two visited for a while, swapping war stories. Miranda made up most of them, but Tyrone seemed impressed.
At eleven, Tyrone glanced at the clock. "I think we should get ready to go," he told her.
"Okay," she said.
"I have a nice dress for you, my staff will help you get ready," he told her.
"Thank you, Tyrone," she told him, then they parted ways to get ready.
Miranda excused the two women sent to help her. She didn't want them finding her gun or seeing that she was wearing a vest. They didn't mind being excused. Miranda then dressed in a black dress that came to her knees, with thick black straps, and black flats, and her red wig. She once again hid her gun and badge then headed down to meet Tyrone.
"Nice," Tyrone complimented as she met him at the bottom of the stairs.
"You look pretty handsome yourself," she told him. He was dressed in dark slacks and a dark button-up shirt, a gun strapped to his waist. He grabbed her hand then and led her outside to a dark blue viper. "Our transportation," he smiled.
"It is beautiful," she said, running her hands over the hood.
"It is yours," he told her, and then climbed into the driver's side after opening her door for her.
"So who is doing the exchange?" she asked as they pulled out of the mansion's driveway.
"I am," he told her, "there is a lot of money being exchanged. But you will be right by my side," he told her.
"Who has the drugs?"
"Alex does. He is ahead of us, he is meeting us there."
"That is good," she said, and leaning back she enjoyed the ride. The car ran like a dream, she just wished she could keep it, but it would be entered as police evidence.
Minutes later they were pulling up to the pier. Several cars pulled in behind their car, and moments later a limo pulled in, several dark cars behind it.
As they got out of the car, an oriental man headed to them, and several car doors were opened. Several men gathered around them. Tyrone's men stood behind him, Tomori's men behind him. Alex then came forward with two metal briefcases. He handed them to Tyrone. Then Tyrone handed one of them to Miranda. "I want you in on this," he smiled at her.
She nodded nervously and stepped forward to meet Tomori. He stood by his limo, and eyed her up and down. He smiled at her, then laid his briefcase on the hood of his limo.
Tyrone and Miranda did the same with their briefcases.
"Before we trade Tyrone, I want to check out this beautiful young lady who will be working for me," Tomori said. Miranda looked at him as he checked her out.
"A redhead," he smiled, and a beautiful redhead at that," he told her, kissing her hand.
"So are you going to come work for me?" he asked.
"Yes," she told him.
"Good," he grinned.
"But she is mine Tomori," Tyrone warned, taking Miranda's other hand and showing Tomori the diamond.
"Nice ring Tyrone, but I would have given her a bigger one," he smirked.
"Gentlemen, instead of fighting, shall we get down to business?" Miranda suggested.
"Good idea," Tyrone said as Tomori grabbed Miranda's hand and pulled her beside him.
"Okay, I'm ready," Tomori grinned.
Miranda's heart pounded in her chest, she was hoping no one could hear it.
Tyrone opened his cases. Tomori tasted the powder after opening a bag. He nodded and opened his case to show the money. Miranda then nonchalantly went for her gun. The two men shook hands and Tomori backed away. He suddenly found himself in a chokehold, a gun to his head.
"Guess what gentlemen, I am a cop, and you are surrounded," she hissed.
Tyrone went pale, then he became angry, as floodlights were flipped on all around them, and several officers stepped out of hiding, all with rifles pointed at the drug dealers.
Tyrone pulled out his own gun, and so did his men.
"FBI," Alex shouted, "put down your weapons, all of you, or we will shoot."
"Not you too," Tyrone groaned.
"Drop your gun Tomori," Miranda warned.
But it was Tyrone that growled at her and took aim at her head. She ducked as he shot, and he hit Tomori in the head instead, killing him. She fired back and hit Tyrone in the chest. He fell, and Miranda said, "I told everyone to drop their guns." As several agents and officers ran forward. Both sides of the drug dealers dropped their weapons. Tomori was dead, and Tyrone was severely injured. She walked over to Tyrone and looked down at him.
"Tyrone, might I introduce myself? My name is detective Miranda Dylan."
He paled. "I have heard of you."
"I know, I took down a friend of yours about a month ago."
"I will get my revenge," he warned her.
"I doubt that," she said, kicked his gun away, and hauled him to his feet.
He howled in pain.
"I am hurt, I demand medical attention."
"Oh, you shall get it Tyrone, but then it is off to prison with you for the rest of your life."
Alex walked to her then. "Good work detective," he grinned, taking Tyrone from her, "your name will go down in history for this one," he told her.
"As will yours," she assured him, letting him take Tyrone away. She sighed, it was finally over. She almost felt bad for shooting Tyrone, but then he had tried to shoot her first.
The Chief approached her then. "Good work Miranda, you did a very fine job tonight."
"I'll say," Tyler said as he and Chad walked up to her.
She smiled at them. "Hey, cousins of mine." She then hugged Chad. "How are you?"
"Good, and you?"
"I am just glad this whole thing is over," she sighed.
"You know, you look really good as a redhead," Chad commented.
"Thanks, Chad, but I like my natural color," she told him, and pulled off her wig, throwing it into the back seat of the viper. She shook out her hair. "Much better," she said.
"It was really good working with you," Tyler told her, as he looked around at all the men being rounded up. "We have been after these two for a very long time, and in you come and less than a week, you have them both taken down. I am seriously impressed."
"Thanks, Tyler. But I had a whole lot of help, you know."
He chuckled. "We were backup. You did all the work, detective. I'm going to miss you, you know that?"
"You too Tyler, I'll miss having you around."
"Same here cousin, you know if you want to be adopted, I would take you," he grinned.
"Hey, she's not up for adoption," Chief Stratton laughed, "and Miranda, it was a true pleasure working with you."
"Thank you, sir," she said as she pulled out her badge and hung it from her neck. "You know if you ever need me again, just call."
"I most definitely will," he told her.
"Where is Cole?" she then asked.
"Loading up the drug dealers," Tyler pointed.
"Good," she said.
"Nice ring by the way," Tyler smirked at her, nodding at her finger.
"Wow, did Cole propose?" Chad grinned.
"No, Tyrone," Miranda said, slipping off the ring and handing it to him. "But it's evidence, and I seriously do not want to have anything else to do with that man. But I really want the Viper."
The three men laughed as she ran her hand over the hood.
"After it is booked as evidence I'll see what I can do about giving it to you," the Chief promised.
"You would do that for me?" she asked.
"Of course, especially after what you did tonight. You took down the state's biggest drug dealers tonight. For you, we would do anything."
"Thanks. Now I need to go and talk to Cole and head back and get some sleep. I still have a chop shop to bust. I'll see you gentlemen, later."
"Sounds good to me," Tyler grinned.
"Miranda you can rest on the couch in the lounge while we book these guys," the Chief said. "I don't want you out of my sight for a while, just in case."
"Sure thing Chief," she yawned, making him chuckle.
Cole walked over to them then, and put his arm about Miranda's waist, then kissed her cheek. "Nice work, detective."
"Thanks, Cole," she yawned again, making him chuckle. "Let's get you back to your place."
"I want her at the police department," the chief said, "just in case we need her."
"I want to drive the Viper," Tyler then grinned, eyeing the car.
"No, that is my car," Miranda protested.
"You can have it later, I'll never be able to drive it again," he pointed out, "besides, you are too tired to drive."
"No way, I am driving my girl to the police station," Cole frowned at Tyler.
The chief chuckled. "Well, we know how Cole feels. Okay Cole, take her there, and make sure she rests."
"Like the rest of you don't need rest?" she asked.
"We can sleep later," the chief said, nodding at Cole.
He put an arm about her waist and tucked her into the Viper.
He smiled as he started it. "Nice. I wouldn't mind having one of these."
"Tyrone gave it to me, and the chief said he would try and get it back to me after it goes through evidence."
"That would be pretty sweet," Cole grinned as he pulled out to the road.
He smiled over at Miranda, but she had her head against the window and was sound asleep. He knew how she felt. It had been a long night, but he was proud of her. She had taken down two major crime lords with very little bloodshed. He didn't know if he could even compete with her, she was so good at her job.