“I heard that part about Matt Leon,” Eddie said. “So the Crown has washed its hands of jurisdiction?”

“Yes.” Kate thought of the hacktivist. Matt barely clung to life. He had risked so much for Leah—and for the city of Halifax.

“I’m calling Harry Owen.”

“That’s the spirit.” Eddie bit into another macaron.

Kate dialed Harry Owen’s number. His voice mail answered. “Harry, this is Kate Lange. I’m getting straight to the point: all of your constituents owe Matt Leon, as does the Government of Canada. You better do your very best to get him off the hook with both the Canadian and US governments. I would hate for this to become an election issue.” She hung up. “Do you think that’ll work?”

Eddie nodded, brushing a crumb from his shirt. “It just might. Now call your actual clients with the good news.”

* * *

If the war room had buzzed before, it now vibrated with energy. Pearson strode into the room, wearing his uniform, his gaze focused. “I need a debrief. Press conference in thirty minutes. But before I start, I want to thank you for your quick actions today. The containers on the Petrel have been secured and as of 1700, there is no risk of a breach. I want to commend you on the excellent team work, especially Cooper, Riley and Lamond. Some quick thinking there.”

There was a quick round of applause. Riley shrugged. Lamond grinned. Cooper relaxed back in his chair. He was now part of the team.

“Okay. I need a status update. Cooper, where are you with the APB on Tr0lz?”

Every major city in Canada, as well as US cities on the Eastern Seaboard, had received an APB for the hacker Tr0lz. “We’ve sent one out across Canada, as well as the US.”

“Have you found a photo to use?”

“No. We have sketch based on descriptions from Matt Leon.” He had regained consciousness a few hours ago. “There have been no sightings as of 1700.”

Pearson did not appear surprised. “Keep on it. And flood social media. Riley, was FIS able to find anything before CSIS showed up?” Canadian Security Intelligence Service had sealed off Tr0lz’s apartment. Rumor had it that they had uncovered her connection with the Port of Antwerp’s recent hack, as well as contacts that had created ‘great concern’ for the government.

Riley shook her head. “I dusted her computer for prints, but CSIS has taken all the evidence.”

“We’ll have to wait until they release it.” If ever.

“How could she have disappeared?” Lamond asked. “We were at her apartment within minutes of Matt Leon’s phone call.”

That was still something the team was trying to figure out. But with CSIS now on the scene, that might remain unanswered.