Kate exhaled. “It’s difficult, Leah. My duty as a lawyer is to you. If I represent Joey, there could be a conflict. I might use different tactics for each of you. And they could be at cross-purposes.”

She stared at Kate. “You mean, you’d throw my brother under the bus to defend me?”

“I have a duty to mount the best defense I can.”

“What will happen to Joey?” Her eyes were huge in her face.

There was nothing Kate could do but tell her the facts in the gentlest possible way. “If the police find evidence to charge him, he will be arrested as an accessory, or for obstruction.”

Leah closed her eyes for a moment, processing. So much to process. It was as if her client had dropped a match and sparked a wildfire of unintended consequences: Salma Owen’s death, Joey’s misguided attempt to help her, Mel Owen’s thwarted vengeance. “However, I’m hopeful that Matt will be able to find out Aiden’s identity.”

“Do Matt and Joey know that Aiden had a knife?”

“Yes. I told him. Do you think he would use it on him?”

“I don’t think so,” Leah said slowly. “My gut tells me that he’s a coward. I don’t think he’d take on Matt.” Then she grimaced. “But my gut hasn’t been too reliable. I fell for the guy, remember?”

“Leah, we all make mistakes. You’re trying to make amends. Not everyone has the courage to do that.”

Her words were intended to comfort, but they felt hollow. The encroaching night ushered a despondency into the room.

Kate cleared her throat. “Do you know why Aiden would want to meet with Matt? Has he planned any other exploits?”

Leah shook her head. “I don’t think so. Maybe he wants to stop the doxx. It was supposed to happen tonight.”

“Why would Aiden want to stop the doxx?”

“To sell the data on the Dark Web. I wonder if he had planned this with Tr0lz.” Panic returned to her gaze. “You’d better get the laptop from Matt. Could you give it to the Crown in exchange for Joey’s immunity?”

“Leah, you have to understand something. The minute Matt gives me the laptop, I am in possession of evidence of the commission of the crime. It is my duty to hand it over to the Crown, regardless of an immunity deal.”

“But you can use it to negotiate a deal for Joey, can’t you?”

“I can try. But if the laptop establishes that you have illegally obtained data on your laptop, you will face a whole host of other charges, including criminal harassment and interception of communications.” Kate hesitated. “And if the files contain information that could help a state hostile to Canada, and those files have been shared online by Matt—or anyone else—you could be charged with treason.”

“Like Edward Snowden.”

“Exactly.”