"Very little actual power as far as most police are concerned," Ed admits. "It's mostly observation and analysis with some experimentation and extrapolation. Handling evidence, giving information to the police to act on."

It could be just the sort of thing that someone like him, a marked, could get away with doing. It's mentally challenging but holds little authority. And Ed generally gives an air of being fairly easily cowed.

The way the waitress' mark is flaunted makes Ed feel slightly uncomfortable, touching his own buttoned up shirt collar with tie. "Coffee, thank you." If it's a good cafe, which it seems to be fairly good, it will include milk and sugar on the side to mix as he wants.