FINE LINE - T. BRADFORD

36

"Did you get a description?" Mirana asks.

"Better. He gave me the woman. Now we're gonna catch her in the act," Valerie says and Mirana stares at her in shock.

"You lied to me," Mirana says.

"No. No, I-I didn't. I told you I was gonna help you, and this way I was gonna get a killer story and you were gonna get a high-profile arrest," Valerie says.

"Two things," Mirana says. "One, I'm a rookie. I can't just run around arresting people by myself. Two, I'm pregnant, I can only be on active duty with a partner"

"You've got me," Valerie shrugs and Mirana sighs deeply. "Holy crap. That's Alex Shaw"

"The movie producer?" Mirana asks and Valerie nods.

"His wife is super pregnant. This is suddenly a front-page story," Valerie says, grabbing her phone. "This is amazing! Oh, no, no, no, no. They're gonna leave. Let's go"

"What?"

"I booked the room right next to hers. Come on! Let's go, Mirana,"

"You did what?" Mirana asks following Valerie through the hotel.

"Oh, God. Quick. Take a selfie with me," Valerie says, lifting her phone. "It's too far away. I can't see their faces. I need to get closer. Come on"

"You get any closer, you'll get clocked," Mirana says as she pulls her phone out.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to call Tim," Mirana says. "I need a senior officer here. Especially if the armed accomplice shows up"

"He'll just steal the credit,"

"I could lose my job being here with you," Mirana hisses. "So either I call Tim, someone who will actually help or I call 9-1-1 and blow your whole story"

"Fine," Valerie sighs, opening the door to the room she has booked.

Once the door is closed, Mirana lifts her phone to her ear, running her free hand through her hair.

"Mira?"

"Hey," Mirana drags the word out. "You know how you love me-"

"What have you done?"

"So, Valerie found out there's a Murphy scam happening by the same duo all over the city," Mirana says. "She invited me for a drink. Turns out she's brought us to the hotel of the next scam"

"What?!"

"Look, you can shout at me later and tell me I shouldn't have trusted the press," Mirana says. "But soon, an armed man is going to show up so te necesito, Tim"

"Where are you?"

"Room 739, Coldwater Hotel," Mirana says.

"I'm on my way now. Don't leave the room. I love you, even though you're a pain in the ass,"

"Back at you,"

As she ends the call, Valerie watches her with a mixture of concern and apprehension. "Is everything okay?"

"Tim's on his way," Mirana replies.

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A knock sounds on the hotel door and Mirana reaches for her off-duty weapon as she peers through the peephole. She sighs in relief when she spots Tim and swings the door open to be met by his unimpressed stare.

"I'm in trouble aren't I?" Mirana asks.

"Mm-hmm," Tim nods before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Are you okay?"