A little while later Tyler's cell phone rang. "Tyler," he answered.
"Where are you?" Stratton asked.
"Miranda's hotel room."
"What is taking you so long?"
"I am making another fake chip."
"Is the decoy there by you?"
"No, she is asleep on the couch, why?" he asked, looking at Miranda who was sitting by him and listening.
"Good. I don't want her to know what is on that chip. Did you find out?"
"Yes, and I don't think you will like it."
"Probably not. We'll discuss it later."
"You had better believe it."
"When will you be done?"
"I'm halfway through," he said.
"Okay," he said, "call when you are done, I am giving the officers a few hours break until then."
"Sounds good, I'll call."
He hung up then. "Stratton is worried, we had better hurry."
"Okay," she said and helped him finish. It took another hour, but they were able to do so. After they were done, Miranda stood, stretching out the kinks.
"I think I need some sleep."
"Yes, you do," he agreed, and packing up the computer, he handed her the chip with the virus on it. She put it into the necklace and they headed back out, Miranda locking the door behind them.
"Let's get out of this dump," she said in her nasally voice, as they got into Tyler's car.
He laughed at her. "Remember Miranda, if you keep talking like that, it will become permanent."
"Just like crossing your eyes?" she whined and did so. Tyler busted into laughter.
"You are too much, now knock it off so I can drive," he laughed.
She grinned at him. "Okay, I'll stop for now, but just wait until we get back to the hotel," she grinned.
"You had better be nice," he warned her.
"Oh, but I shall be," she grinned devilishly.
"All right what is up your sleeve this time?" he asked as he pulled out onto the street.
"Oh nothing," she replied innocently.
"Never mind, I don't want to know," he said, shaking his head.
It only took a few minutes to get back to the hotel, and Tyler followed her inside, along with the officers who had been tailing them.
When Miranda walked into the room, Cole was sitting on the couch. He threw her a dirty look when she walked in. She tried not to laugh, but it was very hard.
"Oh, it is you who are guarding me tonight," she smiled, "I am so glad."
He stood and glared down at her. She then sauntered up to him and wrapped her arms about his neck.
"I can be her you know," she purred, and then she kissed him.
Cole looked like she had just slapped him. He stared at her in utter shock and then threw her away from him.
"Don't you even do that again Carla," he growled angrily. "You will never measure up to her. Because of you, she is being held hostage." He then glared at Tyler, "I think I will be guarding her outside the door tonight," and he stomped out.
Miranda burst into giggles. Tyler shook his head at her.
"Way to go, Carla, you were just put on his 'to shoot,' list," he teased.
"Here I thought he would like me. I am so disappointed," she smirked. "It's not like his girl, this hotshot detective is here anyway."
"No, and only because she was trying to save you, remember?"
"I know, but I like Detective Ipson, and if the detective is out of the way, well, you never know, I can pretend to be Miranda."
The door slammed open then, and Cole came storming in, angrier than she had ever seen a person.
"If you ever speak about Miranda again, I will personally shoot you," he growled angrily, coming to within an inch of her. "You are the one who should be in her place, you are the one who should end up dead!" he yelled. "You are the sorriest cop I have ever had to deal with, I will make sure when this assignment is over that you are demoted to Janitor!"
"Look who's talking, Mr. High and Mighty. If you were so good then how come you aren't out there rescuing her right now?" she fumed.
Tyler stepped between the two.
"Enough, out of both of you. Cole, outside. Carla, in your bedroom right now," he said, getting angry. He shot a warning glance at Miranda.
Miranda shot Cole a look of loathing and stormed away, slamming her bedroom door shut.
Tyler shook his head, wondering what was going on with Miranda. She obviously was still ticked off at Cole.
"Cole, you need to work on that temper of yours. She is here to help us, if she escapes during the night then it will be your fault. Then we will be without bait, and without a microchip, so keep your thoughts and actions to yourself, got it?" Tyler ground out.
"She drives me insane," Cole fumed. "I heard every word she said in here. I will be so glad when we can go and get the real Miranda tomorrow."
"I know Cole, but until then we all have to tolerate each other."
"Fine," he fumed and headed out the door.
"Cole, I don't want you outside the hotel. Just outside the hotel room door," Tyler warned him.
He nodded and left the room, trying not to slam the door behind him.
Tyler bit back his laughter. Miranda was really good, he had to give her that.
He knocked on the bedroom door then and entered without knocking. Miranda was sitting on her bed, her head in her hands.
"Are you okay?" he asked, walking to her.
"Yes," she said, looking up at him. "I just have this really bad headache."
"Gee, I wonder why," he grinned, "I'll be right back with some aspirin." He left her door open as he went in search of some.
She heard the room door open again. "Tyler I am sending in two more men to watch her," Cole said.
"Fine Cole."
"What's wrong?" Cole then asked Tyler.
"She has a bad headache."
"Sure she does, she just wants some sympathy," he muttered.
Miranda ignored his comment since Cole really thought he was talking to Carla. She could say something, but she didn't want to damage their relationship anymore. She had already yelled at him earlier, no need to make things worse.
Cole left the room again slamming the door behind him.
Tyler walked into the bedroom with the aspirin, the hugest grin on his face.
"He so hates you," he laughed.
"I know, isn't it hilarious?" she giggled and took the aspirin from Tyler. She popped them into her mouth.
"You are really good detective," Tyler said, "but don't hurt him too bad when he finds out it is really you, he will have his feelings very hurt," Tyler whispered.
"Okay, I'll play nice, I promise. I don't want him to get so ticked off, that he breaks up with me," she whispered.
"Good idea," Tyler grinned. "Goodnight detective."
"Goodnight Tyler," she smiled and he walked out.
After Tyler was gone, Miranda stood and put on pajamas. She knew that Cole was mad, but that would make things better for later, right? Kiss and makeup? She just hoped he wouldn't be too upset when he realized she was playing the decoy.
She got into bed but suddenly came up with a plan. She smiled, and getting back up, put clean clothes on and her diamond earrings, then climbed into bed. She waited until it was quiet, then she got up and opening the window, she climbed out and scaled down the fire escape.
"Going somewhere detective?" Tyler whispered in her ear. He was outside the hotel doing guard duty. She didn't even jump. She just turned around and smiled. "Yep, got to go save the other detective."
"Tonight?"
"Of course, why not do a surprise attack?"
"You are very sneaky."
"I know that, so are you going to help me? But I don't want you to go in with me, I just need a ride and some explosives."
"Explosives?"
"Yes, surprise attack, remember?"
"Sure," he grinned. "I know someone who can get us some."
"Good, so come on," she said.
They stuck to the shadows then snuck to his car that was parked in the back parking lot. When they got in he looked at her. "We are going to be in major trouble, you know that."
"Not me, nor you, but my decoy will be, it is she that is escaping, remember?" she grinned at him.
"Of course, blame it all on her, as if she isn't in enough trouble already."
"I know, but it shall have to be that way, I'm sure all will be forgiven later," she said, as he pulled onto the street.
He spoke into his phone as he drove. "Call Ferrel."
"Hello," came a groggy voice a moment later.
"Ferrel, it's me, Tyler."
"Hey man, look, I've been good, what do you want from me?"
"I need a favor."
The man sighed. "Fine, what?"
"I need some explosives."
"Why?"
"Don't ask. Can you meet me outside the gunshop on 5th in 20 minutes."
"What kind?"
"Something to blow up a house with," Tyler said, looking at Miranda. She nodded at him.
"Fine, but you owe me after this."
"No, you still owe me for keeping you out of prison."
"Fine man, I'll be there," Ferrel said and hung up.
"Are you sure it is safe?" Miranda frowned.
"He's harmless, well, mostly. He likes to sell things that go boom to people he shouldn't. But the FBI uses him to get us supplies when we have certain missions that require secrecy."
"I see," Miranda said.
A few minutes later, Tyler pulled up to the gunshop. He looked around, making sure no one was around. "You might want to duck down. I don't want Ferrel knowing you are here."
She nodded and tucked herself under the dash. Tyler waited a few minutes, and then he opened the car door to meet with his man.
"Here man, don't say I didn't help you," Miranda heard.
"Ferrel, you have done a great service to your country," Tyler told the man, throwing a bag onto the back seat of the car.
"Yeah, yeah, as long as it keeps me from prison," the man muttered.
"It will believe me," Tyler said, then hopped back into the car and pulled out to the street.
He then looked over at Miranda, who sat back onto her seat. "There's enough explosives to level his house."
"Good," she said.
"Need some help?"
"Nope. I don't want you in trouble. But give me a headstart before you let anyone know that I escaped."
"How long?"
"A good hour or so. I don't want any officers hurt when the house blows up."
"Okay, but if you need me," he said.
She pointed at the earrings. "I have these in."
"Good, but you won't be able to hear me."
"No, but you can hear me," she said.
He nodded and a few minutes later, he pulled down the street from Tyrone's after some direction from Miranda.
"You are sure he is there?" Tyler asked.
"Yes, he is, that is where the decoy is."
"You be careful Miranda."
"I will be," she nodded, and after grabbing the bag, she smiled at Tyler, then hopped out of the car. He sighed as he pulled away, hoping that she would be okay. But he had to make it look like she escaped, that he wasn't helping her, so he headed back to the hotel.
As soon as he pulled in and got out, Cole headed towards him, and he wasn't pleased. Several officers were outside also.
"Cole," Tyler said, walking up to him.
"She's gone."
"Who?"
"That stupid decoy. I don't know how she got out without anyone seeing, but she did."
Tyler frowned. "Why?"
"Probably couldn't handle being here. Not that she was any use to us, but there goes our bait."
"It will set us behind," Tyler frowned, but we could find someone else."
"We'd better let Stratton know," Cole frowned.
"Yes, we had better," Tyler said.
"You don't think she would be stupid enough to go and rescue Miranda, do you?" Tyler then asked.
Cole frowned. "She wouldn't. That would be suicide, and she's not that great of a cop."
Cole dialed his chief and let him know what was going on.
"Get back up over there now!" the Chief yelled. "If that decoy gets hurt, or worse yet if she ends up getting Miranda killed, there will be some heads rolling," he growled.
"I will get right on it sir," Cole said. He hung up. "You heard him."
"We will probably want as many guys as we can get over to Tyrone's."
Cole nodded and pulled out his phone to call for backup, shaking his head the whole time. If Miranda ended up dead, he would kill the decoy.