Miranda was back up at seven, feeling worn out, but she had things to do. She had a bath to keep her bandage dry and ate after having called room service. As she ate she turned on the t.v. to catch the morning news. The news reporter was standing outside the museum that had almost been robbed. "We are here reporting live on a robbery gone bad," the woman said. "Late last night six men tried to rob the crown jewels of Spain that are on display here. The police chief is holding a police conference to tell us what happened." She then walked over to where other members of the media were standing.
Miranda smiled when she saw Cole standing behind the police chief.
"Last night we apprehended six men who were trying to steal the crown jewels. Four of the men were found inside after having tripped a silent alarm. We then found two men out on the roof, knocked unconscious. The men claimed they were the only ones there, but we are asking for help from the public to see if there was another person here last night. If anyone saw anything, let us know."
He then answered some questions from the media, but Miranda wasn't paying attention. She was watching Cole, who was watching the audience. He was so incredible looking. She really needed to stay away from him though. He would not be pleased if she found out she kept lying to him.
She checked the time. Maybe it was time to go out and have a bit of fun, and she was bored. Not that she wanted to stir up trouble, she just wanted to do something. She wouldn't need to get to work until later.
She put on a blonde wig, put in blue contacts, put on a tight black skirt, but not too tight, so her gun wouldn't stand out, with a tight black leather top, that showed off some cleavage, and then some thigh-high black boots. She then put on some makeup. She didn't even recognize herself, and she had to admit, she looked good.
She then headed down the stairs and outside to the valet. He eyed her up and down, his eyes full of lust.
"Good morning, Miss," he stuttered.
"Good morning," she replied with an English accent while she handed him her valet card.
He nodded and hurried away. She smiled at how flustered he was, but then she knew she would turn some heads.
Moments later the guy pulled up in her convertible, and she tipped him. "Thank you, kind sir," she said.
"My pleasure Miss," he grinned at her.
She then made a show of climbing into the convertible, hind end first, then her legs, ignoring the men on the sidewalk who were watching her as she did so.
She then waved at the valet guy and drove away, chuckling to herself.
If they only knew how dangerous she was. She had her gun strapped to her leg under her skirt. She was glad her shirt covered her bandage too, she didn't need anyone questioning why she had a bandage on her arm.
She decided to wander the streets so she would know where she was going if she needed to lose someone, or if she had to chase someone, and being in disguise, she figured she wouldn't run into Cole, well, she hoped not, but then again, maybe it would be okay to run into him.
She drove down the road, passing the police department. The media was just leaving, and she smiled. She wondered where Cole was. Maybe she would go and find out. Would he recognize her? Probably not. Time to see.
She pulled into the parking lot and got out, smirking at the whistles from some of the officers who were totally checking her out.
She smiled at them and waved. They all waved back.
When she walked in, there was a desk behind bulletproof glass and a door that had a keypad on it. That was smart, especially in the city. Miranda walked up to the window, and the woman sitting there eyed her up and down.
"Honey, if you are looking for your pimp, he is probably across the street at the jail," the woman said.
Miranda tried not to laugh. "Oh, no, I don't even know what a pimp is. Sounds exciting though," she gushed in her British accent.
The woman snickered. "What can I do for you?"
"I was actually hoping to see Detective Cole."
"I see, well, no wonder you are dressed like that. Honey, you and every other bimbo wants to see that man. Don't tell me, you lost your cat?"
Miranda bit back another laugh. "No ma'am, he helped to rescue me on the airplane the other day, and I wanted to thank him."
The woman frowned. "I'm sure you would," she muttered, then added, "You were one of the passengers?"
"I was."
"I see, well, the detective is busy right now. Can I get your name and number?" the woman asked her.
"Oh, no, that is okay. I can check back later," Miranda assured her.
The woman nodded and watched as Miranda walked out the door. Cole walked up to the dispatcher just as Miranda left. He had been in his office filling out some paperwork.
"Who was that, Irene?" Cole asked the woman.
"Oh, hey Cole, that was some lady, said you helped save her on the plane the other day."
"Did you catch her name?"
"Nope, she said she would check back later to see if you weren't busy."
Cole frowned. It couldn't have been Mandy, she was brunette, but then she had used a French accent the day before.
"Did she sound American?" Cole asked.
Irene shook her head. "Nope, British."
"Interesting," Cole muttered and walked out the door, but he couldn't see the blonde.
He heard a whistle then and watched as the blonde peeled out of the parking lot in a convertible. She waved again at the officers who were whistling at her, and then spotting Cole, she winked at him, then drove away.
He frowned. "That had to have been her," he muttered. He needed to get her, she never did come in to file the police report the day before.
He ran to his car and drove out of the lot, hoping she wasn't too far away. He called it in. "Put out an APB on a blue BMW convertible. She is a witness for the plane crash the other day and I need to talk to her."
"10-4. You get a plate?" the dispatcher asked.
"Yes, it's BNY 322."
"10-4. All units, be on the look out for a blue BMW convertible. Plate BNY 322. The woman is a witness in the plane incident two days ago. Detective Cole needs to speak with her."
"10-4," came the response.
Miranda knew that Cole knew who she was when she waved and winked at him as she drove by him. She could tell he was trying to figure out if it was her, but then when he started to run, she figured he was going to his car to chase her. She didn't mind being chased by the handsome detective, but where could she park so that he could find her. Then she smiled, the museum would be the perfect place.
A few minutes later Cole heard, "I found her. She's pulling into the parking lot of the museum that was almost robbed last night."
"10-4," Cole said.
"Want me to hold her here?"
"If you would until I get there."
"10-4, no problem with that one," the officer chuckled.
Cole grinned, but then he frowned. What if it wasn't Mandy? Then he had a lot of explaining to do.
Miranda parked the car and got out to stand by the car, wondering if the museum was even open, not that she cared, she would stay and wait for Cole, knowing that she had been spotted by a cop that had turned onto the street behind her. She acted nonchalant as the police car pulled in beside her and the officer got out of his car.
"Ma'am," he said, trying not to ogle her. "I was told to keep you here. Detective Cole Ipson would like to speak with you."
"Oh, okay, I was just going to thank him for saving me on the plane the other day. I was there when it was hijacked and never got the opportunity to thank him. He is such a nice man, saving all of us. But I didn't want to bother him, I know he is a busy man."
"He is, but he wanted to talk with you, and I can see why. You are really beautiful."
She blushed. "Thank you, sir."
"So, you were a hostage on the plane, yes?" he asked her.
"Yes, and the detective was so brave. He helped take down some of the hijackers, but his girlfriend that helped him, she was pretty amazing too."
"Yes, so I heard," he said dryly.
"It's too bad he has a girlfriend, that man is seriously sexy."
The officer chuckled. "He does get a lot of women after him, but none of them half as nice looking as you," he admitted.
"Oh, that is so nice of you," she smiled.
Moments later Cole pulled up beside them and hopped out of his sports car. His car was sexy, just like the man himself.
"Thanks, Will."
"No problem man. She's a looker, I can see why you would want me to stop her."
Cole chuckled. "I am not pursuing her to date her, I needed to ask her some questions."
"Sure you did," the officer teased. He tipped his police hat to Miranda. "Nice meeting you ma'am, don't let the detective intimidate you."
Miranda smiled. "Perhaps you should stay in case he gets out of hand?"
Will chuckled and Cole frowned. "I think she will be just fine, Will, I got this handled."
"I am sure you do," he snickered, and then getting back into his car, he headed away.
Cole came up to Mandy and looked at her.
"Mandy?"
"I am sorry sir, but no. I don't think you have the right person," she said with her British accent.
He frowned again. "I could have sworn you were a woman I met on the plane."
"Oh, we did meet on the plane," Mandy gushed, stepping up to him and putting a hand on his arm and batting her eyes at him. Cole finally noticed her outfit. He shook his head. No wonder the other officers were whistling at her.
"I wanted to thank you, kind sir, for helping all of us on the plane, it was such a valiant thing you did," she said.
He looked down at her hand. "Well, yes, thank you, but it wasn't just me."
"Oh, I know, there was that woman that helped you too, but between you and me, I think you did all the work. She was just there to distract the men while you took them down, right?"
Cole chuckled and shook his head. "No, she really did help out a lot. As a matter of fact, I needed her to come to the station to fill out paperwork about the plane incident."
"I see," Miranda said, looking adoringly up at him. "I wish I was in her shoes."
"Why?" Cole chuckled.
"Well, you seem to be enamored by her."
"I do?"
"Yes, the way you talk about her. I can tell you like her," she teased.
Cole chuckled. "Well, she was a very beautiful woman."
Miranda nodded. "Yes, I am sure she was, but not half as lovely as me," she said, pointing to her body.
Cole bit back a laugh. "I don't know, Miss."
"Oh, please call me Daphne."
"Daphne," he chuckled. "I am sure that you have very fine assets, but you really aren't my type."
"Oh, that is too bad," she sighed in disappointment. "I was hoping to get it on with you."
Cole looked at her in surprise, and she blushed bright red. "Oh my, did I say that out loud?"
He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Yes Mandy, yes, you did."
Miranda laughed at him. "I still don't know who you are talking about, detective."
"Oh really," he said, pushing the sleeve of her tight shirt up to reveal the bandage.
"Dammit," Miranda said in her regular voice, "You weren't supposed to see that."
Cole busted out laughing. "Mandy, you are something else."
She sighed and took off the wig. "Okay, you got me."
"Why the get up?" he chuckled, watching her fix her hair in the car mirror.
"Oh, I just thought I would have some fun on the town today."
He shook his head. "In that outfit, I am sure you would get plenty of attention, and not the right kind."
"Oh, I don't know, I was kind of liking it," she chuckled.
He just shook his head. "How is your arm anyway?"
"It's okay."
"Mandy, is it really?"
"Okay, it hurts like hell, is that what you wanted to hear?"
He chuckled. "Yes. That means I know you aren't okay. I want you to come with me and we need to get you checked out."
"No, I don't want to be checked out detective, unless you are the one doing it," she said cheekily.
"Mandy," he shook his head, chuckling again. She really was something else.
"Detective, you have better things to do than to worry about me. Did you find your kidnapper yesterday?"
He nodded. "It was a family dispute. The mom wasn't supposed to have custody of her son, she took him from the park while the dad wasn't looking. But we found her a few streets away at the ice cream store."
"Happy ending then."
"I suppose so," he shrugged. "Now are you coming with me, or am I going to have to cuff you?"
"Ooh, playing dirty are we detective?"
He chuckled and leaned down to her, his breath warm on her ear. "Only if you want me too."
She blushed, and shivered, making him chuckle. He then brushed a light kiss on her cheek. "I like you, Mandy, you are something else."
"I am not sure if that is a compliment detective."
"Oh, it is," he chuckled. "My car, or yours?"
"Can I meet you there?"
"I don't think so, because you will just take off again, and I do not want to chase you down."
"You don't?" she grinned, opening her car door.
He closed it and shook his head. "No, Mandy, I don't. Although, chasing you might be fun," he winked, making her blush again.
"Okay detective, I give up, I will go with you," she sighed.
He grinned. "Good girl."
She grabbed her purse and locked the door of the car and then climbed into the passenger seat of his car.
He climbed in and looked over at her. "I like you better in not so revealing clothes," he stated.
She grinned. "Good to know, detective, but I thought all men liked women dressed like this."
"Oh, we do," he growled, "but I don't like other men looking at you like that."
"Ooh, a little jealous, detective?"
He nodded. "I am."
"Why? We aren't dating."
"But I would like to date you," he said.
"Oh really."
"Yes, really."
"But I won't be here for long, just a few weeks."
"Unless I talk you into staying."
"I don't know, detective, I have a life in Colorado."
"And an ex-boyfriend," he pointed out.
"Yes, you are right," she sighed.
"By the way, you need to not wear such a tight skirt, I can see the outline of your gun," he chuckled.
She blushed and pulling her skirt up, she pulled it out, making him almost crash.
"Woah there detective," Miranda laughed. "Never seen a woman's legs before?"
He took a deep breath. "None half as sexy as yours," he admitted, making her blush again. "Why are you packing today?"
"It's easier to access it on my leg than in my purse."
"In case your ex shows up?"
"Yep."
"Did he know you were headed here?"
"I do have his credit card," she said, making him chuckle.
"But he can trace where you have been with it."
"I know, but I used to be the one who was in charge of the money, he doesn't have the password to the account, so I am hoping he won't be smart enough to call the credit card company and see where I charged things at," she lied.
"Don't you have any other money?"
She sighed. "I do, but not much. Life as a social worker pays okay, but not as well as people think. I was paying our rent, and everything else. The only thing he bought was new cars, new boats, whatever he could. He didn't care about the bills, that was all me, and he told me that had to come out of my paycheck."
Cole winced. "Why?"
"Because he wanted to make sure I wasn't after him for his money."
"And now?"
"Now I am running, because he became violent," she said.
"Wow," he whistled. "Some life you have."
"I know," she sighed. "But what can I do?"
"So, are you going back home, knowing that he is there?"
"That is where my job is."
"So quit. I know you can get work here," he said.
"Don't tempt me, detective."
"Oh, I will," he teased her as he pulled into the parking lot of the precinct. He parked in a spot reserved for him, and then helped her out. Some other officers saw him help Miranda out and they whistled.
"Who's the babe, Cole? She single?" one of them hollered.
"Nope," Cole replied, tucking an arm about Miranda's waist and heading inside with her.
The same woman was at the desk as they walked in and she did a double-take. "Wait, weren't you a blonde a while ago?" she asked.
Cole chuckled. "She was wearing a wig, Irene."
"Oh, well, you look just as lovely with brown hair. I see you found the detective."
"I did," Miranda smiled at her, "and no, he's not my pimp either."
Irene blushed bright red.
Cole laughed. "What was that about?" he asked, as he put in the code to the door and opened it.
"She thought I was looking for my pimp, and told me to go across the street to the jail."
"Irene," Cole said, but he was laughing.
Irene blushed again, and Miranda laughed. "No offense taken, Irene. I dressed like this for fun, not as a prostitute, I promise."
"Good to know, because Cole usually doesn't go for that kind of girl," Irene replied.
Miranda could tell the woman had a serious crush on Cole, but who wouldn't?
"Mandy is just visiting from out of town," Cole explained, "we were on the plane together the other day."
"She mentioned that," Irene said, noticing that Cole had his arm about Miranda's waist. She frowned then, but Cole wasn't looking, he was leading Miranda through the mass of desks and officers.
The officers working at their desks all stopped what they were doing to ogle Miranda.
"Wow, detective, I want her number," one of them said, making the others chuckle.
"Sorry, I'm taken," Miranda replied, and kissed Cole on the cheek, surprising him. He tightened his hold on her and kissed her cheek. "Yep, she's mine, sorry guys," he said.
She smiled at him, and he winked at her, then he led her into his office. He showed her to a seat, and then he opened a cabinet behind his desk and pulled out a first aid kit. He then came to sit by her and lifting her sleeve, he unwound her bandage.
He frowned. "Your arm isn't healing."
"I know."
"You need to get it checked out."
"I will."
"I want you checked out now, Mandy."
"Detective, it isn't that important right now."
"What is?" he frowned as he wound another bandage on.
"I have better things to do than to spend my time in a hospital."
He shook his head as the door opened. Cole looked up.
"Hey, Chief."
"Cole, who is the lovely young lady?"
"Mandy," Cole said. "She was on the plane with me the other day."
The Chief chuckled. "So you are the elusive one," he said, leaning against the desk and eyeing her.
"She is running from a very violent ex-boyfriend, so she is trying to stay under the radar," Cole supplied.
"I see, but dressed like that? That's not very under the radar," he chuckled, making her blush.
"I usually don't dress this way," Miranda said. "I just did today, and your dispatcher told me that my pimp was across the street at the jail."
The Chief burst out laughing. "She did?"
Miranda nodded, with a smile. "She did, it was hard not to laugh."
"I am sure it was. So, young lady, I heard you took down a lot of those hijackers."
"No sir, I was more of a bystander," she shrugged.
The Chief chuckled. "That is not what everyone is saying. They said you took all the men down by yourself, and that my detective here was the backup."
"People can exaggerate sir."
He chuckled. "You are a modest one. What is your last name, Mandy?"
"Winters," she supplied, thinking of her fake I.D.
"Winters, so if I pull you up in the system?"
"You won't find a thing, sir," she replied.
"Good to know. So what do you do for a living?"
"I am a social worker sir."
"I see, so if I call your boss he can verify your employment?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good," he said, and then walking to Cole's desk, he sat down and picked up the phone. "Number?"
She sighed, she was in for it now. If her chief answered they would find out who she was.
"Sir, is this really necessary?" Cole interrupted him.
"I want to verify that she is who she says she is," the Chief replied. "She seems too calm, too well trained to be a social worker."
"My dad was military," Miranda said.
He nodded. "What branch?"
"Marines, sir."
"Ahh, that makes sense now," he said, putting the phone back down. "Are you an only child?"
"I am sir."
"Did your father teach you to shoot?"
"He did. He took me out every weekend from the time I was ten."
"Good man," he nodded.
He then looked at Cole who was watching Miranda. "Detective, has Mandy filled out a statement yet?"
"No sir, she hasn't."
"Well, get on it, and Mandy, be nice to my detective. He is the best one I have," he grinned, and standing back up, he left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Okay, that was weird," Mandy said.
Cole chuckled. "That it was."
He stood and went to a filing cabinet and pulled out a paper, then handed it to her with a pen. "Just fill in what you can."
"But Detective, I really don't want to do this."
"Just sign it under an alias, and don't worry, your ex won't be able to find you, okay?"
"Thanks, detective."
"Cole, please," he said.
"Cole, thank you, again."
He nodded and came to sit by her.
A few minutes later she handed him the paper.
"You signed your real name," he said, after reading it.
"You said I would be safe."
"I promise you will be," he acknowledged. He then said, "Join me for dinner tonight?"
She grinned at him. "Sure, why not? You can show me around the town."
He smiled. "Okay. Can I come and get you at six?"
"Sure, I'm at the Ritz Carlton."
"Wow, fancy."
"Yes, thanks to the ex and his credit card," she chuckled.
He grinned. "You are really sticking it to him, aren't you."
"I am," she agreed.
"Good girl."
Miranda laughed. "Thanks."
He walked out of the office then but waited for her. He then tucked an arm about her waist as they headed to the front of the building.
"Don't scare her away detective," one of the officers joked, "We all remember what happened to your last girl."
"What girl?" another one said.
"Exactly," the first one said, making everyone howl with laughter.
Cole just shook his head. "Thanks a lot, guys. Now she will think I have girls hanging on my arm all the time."
"They want to be," another joked.
"Do you blame us?" Miranda said. "Look at him, he is hot stuff."
That sent the men roaring with laughter again. Cole flushed and hurried Miranda out the door.
"Thanks a lot," he said as he helped her into his car.
"Hey, I was just telling the truth," she smiled.
"Thanks. I think you are hot stuff too," he said, climbing into the car.
"Thanks, detective," she replied as he pulled out to the street.