He had made his lover, the crew of the USS Flint, and the entire city of Halifax, a terrorist target.

A SIRT officer helped Harry to his feet and ushered him out of the terminal and into a SUV. As they headed toward Halifax, he placed frantic phone calls to the Defense Minister and a US naval contact that he thought might be able to reach Rob.

Dear God, please don’t let him be killed.

His other line beeped. “This is Lt. MacKay, Maritime Forces Atlantic.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.” He watched the endless trees pass by as they sped to the city. The airport was so damned far away.

“I need to inform you that USS Flint was docked at CFB Shearwater at 0445, sir.”

“Can she be moved?”

“Not in time, sir.”

“You have to stop the container ship.”

“We’re doing our best, sir.”

“Why can’t the captain seize control of the helm?”

The lieutenant’s voice was strained. “The hack has undermined the ship’s computerized steering systems. It also locked the new coordinates into the autopilot system. Plus the Petrel has unusually tall sides that is causing a windage issue. The ship keeps drifting eastward.”

CFB Shearwater was eastward.

His heart pounded so fast he could barely speak. “Is the sub evacuating?”

“There is a skeleton crew trying to secure the nuclear reactor in the engine room and neutralize the armaments.”

“Call me when you have a plan of action.” He hung up the phone.

It killed him to be watching trees rush by his window when all he wanted—all every cell in his body desperately needed—was to be on the harbor, making sure that Rob was safe.

Chapter 60

Chapter 60

5:08 a.m.

“It’s Detective Ellis. I need to speak to Leah.”

Kate could hear the desperation in his voice. She glanced at Randall. The police had called less than ten minutes ago to speak to Leah. And now they called again.

She passed the phone to Leah. Both she and Randall made no pretense of listening intently.

“You saw the ship?” Leah asked in response to Ellis’ statement.

Kate and Randall exchanged looks.

“No, there is no way to override the hack. It’s too complicated. You need the jammer.”

A pause. Then Leah said, “No, I don’t have one.”

Randall jumped to his feet and grabbed the phone from Leah. “This is Randall Barrett. I have a jammer on my boat. It’s tied at the waterfront. By Bishop’s Landing.”

He raced to the door, Kate on his heels.

“Kate, stay here.”

“No bloody way.”

They ran all the way to her car. Kate drove while Ellis briefed Randall over the phone. Then Randall said, “The jammer has a range of 100 feet. But I’ve never used it.”