sean could see karen hughes snapping away with her camera , whitey powers leaning against the doorjamb , looking in , taking notes , the assistant me on his knees beside karen hughes , a goddamn platoon of uniformed troopers and bpd blues milling behind those three , connolly and souza studying something on the steps , and the big brass frank krauser from bpd and martin friel from state , sean 's commanding officer standing off a bit along the stage that stretched under the screen , talking to each other , heads close and tilted downward .