When she came to, Joe was leaning over her. "Thank goodness Miranda, I was getting worried, the ambulance will be here in a moment," he told her.
"Joe, did you catch who hit me?"
"No, I heard you get hit though, and after not being able to talk to you, I ran over here, but they were long gone. It looks like they were looking for something. Your place is a mess."
"I noticed. But why didn't they kill me if it was Tyrone?"
"It probably wasn't him, or he would have," he frowned.
"Good thing I put everything in my safe," she mumbled. The pounding in her head was really bad.
"You've got a nice lump, I think they hit you with something hard, whatever it was, was pretty wicked," he frowned, trying to keep her talking, so she wouldn't black out again.
A knock sounded on the door then.
"Come in!" Joe yelled.
The paramedics walked in then with a stretcher, and kneeling by her they got to work.
"Did you see who hit you?" Joe asked as two more officers walked in.
"Hey Oscar and Randy, check the apartment for prints, and anything missing," Joe told them.
The officers nodded in concern as they watched Miranda being loaded onto a stretcher.
"I already called the Chief, he canceled our flights," Joe told her. "You know you won't be able to fly with a concussion, and we are hiding you here in town somewhere until you can fly," he told her.
She nodded. "Joe, will you go to my safe and get my valuables out? Bring them with you, I don't want them stolen."
"What's in there that they would want?"
"Just the necklace and earrings that Tyrone gave me."
"They wouldn't be after those would they?"
"I doubt it, they might be worth some money, but not worth enough to hurt someone over."
"You're right, I will go get them, and make you wear them just in case that was what they were after, and I will meet you at the hospital," he told her and standing he headed to her room.
He was back a second later.
"Code?" he asked.
"My birthday," she told him.
He nodded and disappeared again.
By the time the paramedics had her loaded into the ambulance, Joe was headed back out, and following behind in his car, leaving the two officers to lock up when they were done.
The Chief met the ambulance at the hospital and followed the paramedics in.
He frowned at Miranda, "You haven't even left yet, and you are getting hurt already."
"It wasn't my fault, I surprised whoever it was."
"Did you get a look at him?"
"No, I had no idea anyone was in the house. I thought they had trashed it and left."
He nodded and he and Joe watched the paramedics wheel her into x-ray.
Minutes later the doctor came out and walked to the Chief.
"Chief Johnson, your detective has a minor concussion. I would like to keep her overnight for observation."
"Okay, and I will make sure she has someone stay with her."
"Good idea."
"When will she be able to be on a plane?" the Chief asked.
"Not for a few days at least," he told him.
"I'll stay here Chief," Joe told him, "I have a feeling this is only the beginning. I don't think that attack was a coincidence."
"I don't either," the Chief agreed.
"You can go see her now, she is in room 239 on the second floor," the doctor told the men, and then left the room.
The two men headed to the elevator and up to her room. When they walked in she was awake.
"So, sounds like you will live after all," Joe teased her.
"Right now I wish I hadn't, my head is killing me, but I can't be given anything for a few hours so they can watch the pressure on my brain," she said.
"I'm sorry," Joe told her, and then pulled out her necklace and earrings. "Maybe you should wear these, that way the only way they will be stolen is if they take them off of you."
He then walked forward, and with a little effort was able to clasp the necklace on her and the earrings in her ears.
"Thanks, Joe, think that is why they searched my place then?"
"Wouldn't doubt it, but then, who knows?"
The Chief looked at the two and smiled. "I am going to go get the safe house set up for you Miranda until you are ready to fly out. Joe, keep an eye on her, I don't trust anyone."
"Yes sir," he told his boss.
The Chief nodded and walked out. Miranda closed her eyes.
"Is it safe for you to sleep?" Joe asked.
"No, the doctor said in twelve hours, they want to make sure I don't go into a coma."
"So I need to keep you awake."
"Yes please."
"Okay," he grinned, "so open your eyes."
She did as told even though the light really hurt.
He told her stories and they watched television. Every time she tried to sleep Joe would awaken her. When twelve hours were up the doctor came in and gave Miranda some painkillers, and told her she could sleep. She was very grateful, and within moments she was.
It seemed only minutes later when she was being awoken. The Chief stood over her.
"Sorry to awaken you Miranda, but we have the safe house ready for you, and the doctor is allowing you to leave."
"Where?"
"It's across town. You will be safe there," he told her.
"Now get dressed and I will meet you in the hall," he told her.
"Where's my gun, Joe?" Miranda asked him.
He handed it to her. "That's all you worry about? Why didn't you ask for your clothes?" he smiled.
"Those aren't as important," she smiled.
"How's your head?" he asked.
"Sore, and throbbing, you might have to put my shoes on for me."
"Okay," he said, then helped her stand and handing her some clothes, he closed the bathroom door behind her.
She dressed, and after holstering her gun, she walked out and Joe helped her with her shoes as she sat on the bed. When they went out into the hall the Chief was waiting.
"Chief I need to go to my place and get some clothes before you put me in hiding, and to see if anything is missing."
"Fine. Joe, take her, and meet me at the precinct in one hour, if you are not there, I will call out the SWAT team," he warned.
"Yes sir," Joe told him, knowing he wasn't kidding.
He took Miranda's arm and the two of them headed out.
"One hour you two, starting now," the Chief warned.
When they arrived at the apartment, Miranda gasped. "Joe my car," she sobbed.
Sure enough, parked out front was her car, that had been in the garage, now it was a smoking heap of metal.
"How did they move it?" he asked as they hopped out of the car.
Miranda stood there in shock. Her car, she loved her car. She was angry. She walked around to the back and frowned. Painted on the trunk was a warning, "You have what I want."
"Joe," Miranda said.
He walked around and swore.
"It is Tyrone, what do you want to bet? That creep. What do you have that he wants?"
"He probably wants me. But how did he find me?"
"Who knows, but all the more reason to leave," he said. "Come on, let's get your stuff and get out of here."
"Yes," she whispered and followed him to the door. She handed Joe her keys, he went in first, with his gun pointing into every corner.
"It's safe," he told her.
She walked in then and headed to her room. Joe followed her and helped her pack. After she was finished she looked around.
"Nothing's missing Joe, not one thing."
"So it has to be the jewelry," he told her.
"But why?"
"Let's take a closer look," he suggested.
"Okay," she agreed and the two headed to the kitchen. She took off the necklace and they examined it closely. It seemed like it had a detachable back. Miranda walked to a drawer and pulling out a knife she then pried the back off. Both she and Joe gasped when they saw a small microchip inside.
"That's what they want," he murmured.
"I wonder what is on it, it must be very important."
"It must be, which means your life is in even more danger."
She put the back on with the microchip inside and put the necklace back on.
"Now I have a price on my head."
"You'd better believe it," he told her, "so we had better get out of here in case they are watching this place."
"I am sure they are," she said and grabbing her suitcases the two of them headed to Joe's car.
"Don't you think they know where the chip is at?" she asked as they got into Joe's car.
"Obviously not, that is why they searched your place. And if Tyrone knew about it and gave it to you, then he must have been planning to keep it, or you. Or sell it to Tomori, but his plans went awry."
"Yes, because I killed Tomori."
"Exactly," Joe nodded as he started his car.
"I am so mad right now Joe I could really hurt someone," Miranda fumed. "I loved that car."
"I know," he said.
"I will get my revenge," she ground out.
"Over a car Miranda, and a drug dealer's car at that."
"So? It was a Viper, and besides Chief Stratton gave it to me."
"I know, but revenge Miranda," he grinned, as he pulled out onto the street.
"I am really angry," she pointed out.
"I know," he laughed.
"It's not funny Joe."
"No, but you are. You look so cute when you are angry."
"Oh knock it off Joe," she said, getting angry with him.
"Why? You are a beautiful woman," he told her.
"Thanks, Joe, but I don't want compliments right now; I want you to feel bad because my car was burned up."
"I do feel bad," he told her, "but you will have to get over it. That could have been you."
"You're right," she sighed and looked into the rearview mirror.
"Step on it Joe, we've picked up a tail," she warned.
He glanced in the mirror. Sure enough, a dark sedan was following them.
"I'll try and lose them, call the Chief to have him send backup," Joe frowned and hit the gas. The car sped up also.
"Control, this is 212, we have picked up a tail, we need backup ASAP. We are on Tulman and Parker."
"10-4, 212, backup is on the way, keep us affront of your position."
"10-4."
She then stayed on the radio as they wove through the streets at a high rate of speed.
The car was gaining on them. Then a bullet shattered the back window.
"Duck down!" Joe yelled at Miranda.
"Shots have been fired!" Miranda yelled at the dispatcher, "Where is our backup?"
"They should be approaching you now," the dispatcher said.
Sure enough, four cop cars pulled up right behind their tail. The occupants of the car then took off down a side street, the officers following.
Joe didn't slow down. He raced, lights and sirens going as fast as he dared all the way to the station.
When they pulled in, officers were waiting for them and hurried them inside.
"The officers just shot and killed the two occupants," the Chief told them as they hurried inside. "They wouldn't give up, they were firing at our boys, they fired back."
"This is getting bad," Miranda said as they walked to the Chief's office. "I think I know what they are after."
She showed him what was in the necklace and he whistled. "I wonder what is on it?"
"Not sure, but they burned my car too," she frowned. "I loved that car."
"That's all she complained about all the way here," Joe chuckled.
"Don't worry about the car, Miranda, I am just glad you weren't in it," the chief frowned.
"I know," she sighed, "that's what Joe said."
"You had better keep that necklace with you at all times."
"I will, and once we get to California, I will give it to Tyler, he can decipher it."
"Okay, but then what about the chip, we can't hand it over to them."
"Yes, we can, a fake one with a virus on it," Miranda told him.
"Good thinking Captain. Now you will wait here until dark, then we will take you to the safe house, we have to make sure you are not followed at all costs."
"Yes sir," she said and sat down at his desk.
"Are you hungry?" he asked her.
"Not right now. I need to let this adrenaline rush wear off and then I will be."
"Okay, let me know when you are, but for now fill out your paperwork on those guys, and on your car. You will be compensated for it, even though it probably won't be a Viper, at least it will be a car," he apologized.
He handed her some papers and she got to work, shaking her head the whole time. She couldn't believe that Tyrone had hidden a microchip in the necklace, but she shouldn't have been surprised, and now, since he was on the loose, he could come after her to try and retrieve it. She just hoped she would have the upper hand, her life depended on it.