Edward by Marcus LaGrone Page B

Edward.   
    Kestrel knocked on the frame of the room, “Is it okay to
enter?”
    Edward smiled broadly, “Of course.”
    “Ma'am,” began Kestrel to Gillian, “we have our medic out
on the landing.  It would be best to get that looked at.”
    “Just call me Gillian, and thank you.  Thank you
all.”  She smiled as she left to the atrium.
    Kestrel nodded to Edward, “You have a moment to talk, or do
you need some more down time?”
    Edward started to get up and realized that Tatiana was
sprawled across his lap and already starting to sleep.  “Whoa!  That
was fast.”
    “She probably needed it.  Mild
shock.  So long as nightmares don't chase her.  Natural sleep
is best;  I'm glad she's passed out on her own.”
    “Indeed, but I don't think you, of all people, came up here
to talk about Tatiana.  It's the bomb.”
    “The bomb indeed.  How did you know it was there?”
    Edward knitted his eyebrows as he tried to think back
through it all, “There was a weird smell.  I think you once told me it was
cyclohexanone.  Did I say that right?”
    “Yep, commonly found in leftovers from RDX and HMX
production.  That implies a commercial, or more likely, a military
explosive and not a homemade explosive.  That is also consistent with the
sharpness of the explosion.”
    “Um... were the previous bombings using those types of
explosives?”
    Kestrel shook his head, “No.  Most of the previous
were simple pipe bombs.  This is a whole new level of yuck.”
    Edward took a deep breath and thought it all over, “Did
they escalate just because of us?  Or were they going to escalate anyway?”
    Kestrel shook his head, “We have no way of knowing. 
But we have a lot of data tonight.  I'm sure we'll find something to work
with.”
    “A lot of data?  How so?”
    “Well, all those media vultures were taking a lot of
pictures.  Rather than trying to sequester them all, Trevor is buying them all.  We have a herd of photos of everyone in that crowd at every
angle for almost thirty minutes before it all went down.”
    “Do you think the bomber was in the crowd?  Was the
bomb in or under the car?”
    “A quick look implied under, and sitting
on the ground.  That means someone
in the crowd dropped it and kicked it under the car.”
    Edward nodded, “And with everyone taking pictures, we
should be able to ID everyone there.”
    Kestrel nodded before changing the subject, “You did an
awesome job there.  Not just pulling her clear, but that weird Live Steel
thing too.  You completely covered her up.”
    Edward smiled and looked down at the sleeping form of
Tatiana, “Yeah... I didn't know I could do that.  I just had to, so I
did.”  Edward laughed, “I'm starting to sound like Llewellyn now.” 
How much more?  How much closer did that push him?  He was a High
Silver, he had to be.
    “That's no bad thing.”
    “Hey, Kestrel, I'm sorry.  You were right.”
    Kestrel looked confused, “Sorry for what?”
    “I was all cavalier about this assignment, but looking
around after the bomb went off just drove home how many neutrals there
were.  I can't save them all.”
    “No.  No you can't.  But I'll wager you do a
better job than just about anyone else I know.”  Kestrel smiled. 
“We’ll get them, that's our job.  Your job is to
watch out for her.  You did great, don't sell yourself short.”
    “Thanks, Kestrel.  That means a lot coming from you.”
    Kestrel smiled, “Well, I got to go.  Your night has
come to an end; mine has just started.  Take care and try to get some
sleep of your own.”
     

9 
     
     
    The next morning was a welcome change on all levels. 
Tatiana was scheduled to spend most of the day practicing at the concert hall.
 The transportation had been shifted from luxury stretched limo to an armored
car driven by a Shukurae with a second in the front passenger seat armed and
armored to take on all comers.   Edward was surprised to see fans
gathering at the door