Edward by Marcus LaGrone Read Free Book Online Page A

you.”
    “Last time I let you try and set me up, I ended up eating
lunch with a banker.”
    “I did apologize for that too.  He was a real estate
broker, not a banker.”  Gillian sighed, “How about this: as a first round,
bounce your lunch dates off of the new security team first.  At least we
can rule out the complete idiots and sociopaths that way.”
    “Was that a stab at Constantine?  He wasn't a
sociopath, just heavy in to goth.”
    “Actually I was thinking of Evan, but Constantine was more
than a little creepy...”
    The conversation went back and forth all the way back to
the hotel.  It sounded more like a mother-daughter conversation than an
agent-client one, but they both had a lot to vent.  And both parties had
their salient points.  Yet even as they radically disagreed with each
other neither raised their voice nor become abusive.  It was a good
relationship and it served them both well.  How did they ever become a
team?  Edward laughed to himself, not unlike himself and Kadu.  Each
very different, but polite and professional and, well, much like family at
times...

7 
     
     
    A late lunch back at the penthouse spilled into late
afternoon as the pair of women snacked and discussed practical points of the
music business for hours.  Finally, around four in the afternoon, Tatiana
retired to her room for an afternoon nap.  The plan was, a quiet dinner at
nine and then out club hopping until midnight.  All in a
day's work.  Edward took the opportunity to take a break for food
himself as well as a quick nap when Alex came in to relieve him.  Alex was
a good man.  He wasn't a Silver, but he was a fellow Highlander and quite
impressive with Live Steel himself.  They were in good hands.
    “So how is the client in person?” asked Kadu as she watched
Edward wolf down his food.
    “She seems quite nice, a bit naïve, but it is very
interesting to watch her turn her charm and presence on and off.  Like
flipping a switch!  Curious which personality is the real one.  I imagine the answer is quite complicated.”
    “Indeed, and her agent?”
    Edward cleared his throat and downed half of his glass
before replying, “She is sharp, professional, very well organized and a good
foil for Tatiana.  They have a very frank relationship and openly talk
with each other.  I'm curious how those two met since they are so
different in so many ways.”
    “Do you think it is important enough that we should use our
resources to check into it?”
    Edward thought for a moment, “Yes, actually.  She also
mentioned her sister's life had been saved by David and his team. Curious about that.  Speaking of curious, what became
of Charta and his goon at lunch?”
    “Charta visited the hospital for a series for broken digits
in his paw.  Do you prefer paw or hand?  I am unclear on the optimum
translations at times.”
    “Paw, hand, whatever,” laughed Edward.  “And his goon?”
    “He is currently in some small amount of procedural trouble
with the local authorities over his sidearm.  He was licensed to carry a
sidearm, but not that particular one.  There is a one thousand joule limit
on sidearms carried by civilians in public.”
    “Anything on him being floored by Gigi?”
    Kadu flashed a toothy grin, “I'm am
not entirely clear on all the particulars of the exchange but I do believe he
solicited meeting her again in a social manner later this week.”
    Edward laughed, “Well good for him!  Heck, good for both of them.”
    “So you are heading out again this evening?”
    “Yes indeed.  What's bothering you?”
    “Trevor has requested, and I concur with the asking, that you
start carrying a comlink with you.”
    Edward nodded as he poked at the remains on his plate, no
frills but filling food, “Yeah, as much as I hate those things, I agree: that
sounds like a good idea.”
    Kadu smiled in what Edward could have sworn was a motherly smile at Edward, “Fantastic.  I had a prepared speech I was