Maybe that’s what bothered Kate the most. Eddie was her go-to guy, the mentor who had a sage answer or an alternative point of view to the questions that Kate could not answer. But now her go-to guy was an unknown.

Just like her father had been.

And every romantic relationship she had. Ethan, Randall…they all left her for good reasons. But it didn’t change the fact that they left. And she was alone.

Kate rapped on Matt’s hotel door, standing in front of the peephole.

The door swung open. A man with olive skin and wary eyes gazed at her. She guessed he was maybe a year or two older than Leah. He wasn’t overly tall for a man—Kate’s height—with broad shoulders and a fit build. A dark, mottled wound marked his forehead, partially covered by a gray beanie. The band of the beanie was soaked with blood.

“Matt. I’m Kate Lange. This is my partner, Eddie Bent.”

Matt’s nostrils flared as his gaze darted to Eddie. He could smell the booze radiating from Eddie. “Come in.”

They stepped inside the suite. Matt locked and bolted the door behind them. Kate saw the back of a familiar white-blond head, slumped on the sofa. “Hi, Joey.”

Joey jumped to his feet. “Ms. Lange.” His hair hung in greasy strands by his ears. His gaze was haunted. Hunted. “How’s Leah?”

“She’s doing better.” Kate gave him a reassuring smile.

“Have you talked to my parents?”

“They are very worried about you, Joey. Why haven’t you gone home?”

A flush reddened Joey’s cheeks. He threw a quick, revealing look at Matt.

“I told him not to, Ms. Lange,” Matt interjected. “The police will arrest him. I told him to wait until we find out Aiden Boyne’s identity. Then we can leverage it to get Joey off the hook.”

“The Crown won’t add Joey to Leah’s immunity deal, Matt.”

Joey’s gaze became panicked. “You mean I’m going to prison?”

Kate shook her head. “We are going to offer the laptop in exchange for immunity for you.”

“But you just said that the Crown wouldn’t include me in Leah’s immunity deal.”

“This is in lieu of Leah’s deal,” Eddie said.

There was a look of disbelief, of protest on Matt’s face.

But he said nothing.

He knows that this is the right thing to do.

“Give Ms. Lange the laptop, Joey.” He jerked his chin toward Kate.

Joey hugged it to his chest. “I can’t.”

“Joey, Leah was very firm in her instructions. Please, give me the laptop.” Kate held out her hand.

Joey threw an anguished look at Matt.

Matt gave a small nod.

Joey handed Kate the laptop. “I don’t want you to trade this for immunity for me. I wouldn’t get much time for being an accessory. But Leah could have a long sentence.”