Edward by Marcus LaGrone

didn't know she had toured off
world.  I've been told she was good, but I didn't know, or appreciate, how
good she was.”
    Gillian smiled, “I do confess, after all the frenetic
activity of a live concert, sitting back and just listening to piano is quite
relaxing.  Don't tell Tatiana, it'll ruin my reputation.”
    “I heard that!”

8 
     
     
    Things felt wrong as soon as Edward stepped off the
elevator.  It was going to be a long night.  Like the morning, there
was a mob of fans waiting outside.  Instead of the protestors of the
morning, there was a plethora of media hacks with cameras in hand. 
Tabloid vultures, ready to document exactly what Tatiana was or wasn't wearing
as she headed out for the night.  They were a hazard of the course,
unfortunately.  It wasn't up to Edward to judge people,
he was there for one thing: protect the client, protect Tatiana.
    Unlike the morning crowd, this one pressed tight up against
them.  It was work to force their way through the mob.  On more than
one occasion he had to stand his ground and forcefully clear a path.  He
was about ready to call in Alex for help when they finally reached the refuge
that was the waiting car.  Edward let out a sigh of relief as the door
opened for Tatiana and she threaded her way over to the vehicle.
    Edward's nose itched.  He hated when it did
that.  Urban smells often set him off, he was a
creature of the high forests.  Ugh!  It was a nasty sweet smell and
it wasn't Tatiana's perfume but it was prevalent, something from the car. 
The back of Edward's mind clawed at him as Tatiana climbed into the car.  Cyclohexanone.  That is what it was.  Why did he
remember that?  He hated chemistry. Why did he remember that name? 
Solvent... it was a solvent... why would he know a solvent?  All the
chemistry he knew was...
    Edward screamed into his comlink as he grabbed Tatiana and
yanked her out of the car.  She was in no condition to move fast enough so
he threw her over his shoulder and launched back into the crowd, screaming for
everyone to take cover.  Two long heartbeats later the rear of the car
exploded in a sharp blast followed by sooty billowing flames.  
Edward held Tatiana tight and fast until he heard the unique gait of Shukurae
running up to him.  Much to his surprise, not only had he raised his Live
Steel armor, but he had also cocooned Tatiana in it as well. 
    Tatiana was a mess, battered and torn dress, she would have
been mad, furious in fact, but the shock on her face
as she stood there watching the car burn said it all.
    “Alex, let's get her back upstairs.  Kadu point!”
    Edward scanned the crowd for Gillian,
she had gotten caught up in the crowd, separated from the two of them. 
That may have saved her life.  Gillian.  As a matter of ethics, they
were going to need to expand their view to cover her.  Edward gnashed his
teeth as Kestrel's words caught up with him.  There were too many neutrals, they could not protect them all. They had to stop
this at the source.  They had to find the bombers.  Well, they had
the first bombing on their watch, and it was the worst one yet.  Time to see if they could learn what and who was involved.
    Jake's voice sparked over the comlink, “Cameras caught it
all.  Trevor is working it now.  How bad is it on the ground?”
    “Injuries appear to be superficial,
a few will need formal treatment.  No fatalities.  Chauffeur took the
worst, concussion and ruptured eardrums at the very least, but doesn't appear
to be life threatening,” came the chatter over the
link.
    “Jake, you and Paul still covering the
tower?  We're going home and we
don't want any cheap shots as we go back in,” barked Edward.
    “You are covered.  No concerns.  Just get her
inside.  Nice work on the armor by the way.”
    Edward nodded as he and Alex escorted the catatonic Tatiana
back to the elevator.  Gillian, with blood running down her arm, quickly
caught up with them.
    “Is she