“So I go to court for a mind-numbing afternoon of listening to an ill-prepared Crown witness, and you manage to save your client from being killed, get your hand busted, and begin negotiating an immunity deal?” Eddie asked, dipping a piece of pita bread into a bowl of hummus.

Kate swallowed an olive, savoring the salty after bite on her tongue. “That pretty well sums it up. Please tell me this isn’t what my life will be like at Bent & Lange from now on.”

Eddie chuckled. “Stop complaining. You love it.”

“Stop leading the witness, Mr. Bent.” Kate popped another olive into her mouth. But maybe she was an adrenaline junkie—and just hadn’t realized it.

“By the way,” Eddie added, “I think the Crown will offer a deal to Leah. This case is too high profile to risk letting the mastermind off the hook. The media are going nuts.”

Her phone rang.

Eddie gave a satisfied smile. “What did I just say? I bet it’s Hillcroft.”

Kate glanced at the number on her screen. “You guessed right. I guess that’s why they pay you the big bucks.” She answered the phone. “Kate Lange.”

“Kate, it’s John Hillcroft. It’s a gorgeous evening, so I won’t waste your time. We have a deal if your client comes through with our conditions.”

Kate caught Eddie’s eye and mouthed, “Yes.”

Eddie raised a brow.

Kate put down her fork. “My client is prepared to testify against her boyfriend, the suspect who is currently the subject of the police search. She believes he is in possession of her laptop.”

“Why does she think he would take it?”

“Before I divulge any more information, John, do we have a deal?”

He exhaled. “If your client is telling the truth that she doesn’t know where it is, we are prepared to grant immunity. However, if we discover that she’s lied about any of these conditions, the deal will be off. For good. Understand?”

“Yes, of course. The boyfriend’s name is Aiden Boyne. His last known address is on South Street in Halifax.”

“We will run a check on him and verify your client’s information. I’ll call you soon.” The phone clicked in her ear.

“Congratulations.” Eddie handed her a mug of tea. “You just negotiated your first immunity agreement.”

“Thanks,” Kate said. “But I think the media will claim she got off too lightly.”

Leah Roberts was officially the most hated woman in the world right now. So far, they’d been able to keep that fact from her. She was not permitted any laptop or mobile use. But eventually, she would find out about how her actions had resulted in exactly what she had feared: becoming an exile. She might not be forced to flee her country, but her country had expelled her from their good graces with a vengeance.