Agent Kelly Tomlinson

Forty Six

Louis's POV

No one has gotten a wink of sleep all night. Liam, Zayn, and Niall were ordered to stay with Harry and I until the police were 100% certain that we were safe from whoever set off that explosive during the interview. Police cars and armed security wrapped around the perimeter of my house and the neighborhood, barely letting anyone in or out of the development.

Kelly hasn't returned any of my calls or texts. I haven't seen her since we left for our interview and I was getting nervous that something went terribly wrong. She asked me to cover for her and that was the last I've heard from her. What was I supposed to say to cover for her? What would make sense that would explain why she disappeared after a bomb exploded? So I told everyone that the police wanted to ask her a couple of questions because she was a witness. I'm pretty sure they bought it, but after not hearing from her in a while, the boys were starting to grow worried, especially Harry.

When we first got home, he ignored the police's order to stay in their sights and locked himself in his room. He was constantly checking his phone, keeping his head down, and pacing the room. He eventually came down when Liam forced him to eat dinner. He barely spoke a word as he gingerly sipped at his soup.

Our faces were plastered on the evening news. Word got out about the explosion from the interview. One reporter called it an act of terrorism, and another said it was a hate crime against boy bands. None of them had the actual facts. Zayn and Niall watched the tv on the couches, biting their fingernails to the nubs. Liam sat next to Harry, not saying anything but just being there in case Harry did want to talk. I was sitting at the kitchen table, trying to answer my mother's blazing and worried texts. I was stupid enough to tell her that I hadn't seen Kelly in hours. Now I was dealing with the consequences of an overly concerned mother.

"Dammit!" Harry smacked his phone against the granite countertop followed by a high pitched crackling noise from his phone screen. "Louis, is Kelly answering you?"

I've never felt more inclined to admit to Harry what was going on. I could physically see the hurt and worry behind his eyes and the stress and tension in his face and shoulders. Not that what I was going to say would make him feel any better - in fact it would probably make him feel worse - but at least he would know the truth.

I bit my lip. "Sorry mate. I keep getting her voicemail. I'm sure she'll call soon."

"I mean why would the police want to question her and not the rest of us? Hell, we were there too!"

"I'm not sure, Haz." I avoided his gaze by typing another text to my mom.

"Louis!" Someone screeched from the lobby area. I immediately recognized the voice as El's. She was standing in the front doorway being blocked from coming inside by the two police officers. "There you are. Tell them I'm with you."

"Yeah, she's okay guys." I waved her through. We've been in situation's like these before, only it was never about a life or death situation. Eleanor crushed me in a tight embrace and kissed me desperately. "I'm okay, baby."

She pulled back and slapped me in the chest. "Dammit Louis! I thought you were really hurt. Why didn't you call me sooner?"

I sighed. "It's been a crazy couple of hours." Eleanor's facial expression softened and she held my hand understandingly. "Come on. Everybody's in the kitchen and living room."

"Where's Kelly?" Eleanor asked, looking around.

This is where it gets hard. Lying to the boys was one thing, yes it was definitely hard, especially lying to Harry, but they didn't really question it. Eleanor? She would be able to see right through me.