Mackerel had to keep his focus on the conversation.

‘You can make it up to me,’ Forest was saying. ‘You can help me avenge Mum.’

‘What happened to Jesse? Tell me,’ said Davey.

‘What happened to him? Do you know what they did to me!’ shouted Forest.

Mackerel pressed his ears so close to the metal it was painful. Tears sprang up in his eyes.

If Davey was alive, then everything would be fine.

He felt dizzy. He felt sick.

His brother was alive.

‘Please don’t tell my family. If Blackbeard knows I’m alive, he’ll kill me.’

‘Who the hell is Blackbeard?’ said Forest.

Mackerel’s heart lurched. The elation he’d felt a second ago collapsed into pieces.

Blackbeard. Blackbeard is after Davey.

That’s why Davey wanted everyone to think he was dead.

Oh shit . . . oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

‘Blackbeard is already in town. He wants Dempsey Abalone all to himself. And I just . . . I thought you were safe. I need you to remember that I warned you, and then vouch for me when the time is right.’

A flicker of movement. Someone was coming around the main building. Mackerel quickly moved around the side of the shed, keeping himself out of view.

Then he realised he needed to get away. If someone saw him acting suspiciously, they might come over and find Davey hiding in the shed . . . and then the news would be out . . . and Blackbeard . . .

He limp-hobbled back inside the aquarium. Back to the Land of the Seahorse. He’d have to work the rest out later.

Forest was drenched in sweat by the time he got back.

Mackerel, sitting on a bench bolted to the wall, grabbed his shoulders. He could feel the boy trembling. ‘I was this close to calling the police. Where the hell did you go?’

Forest pushed him away.

‘Mackerel, you’re not gonna believe this . . . your brother is alive. I had to be sure that . . . I just had to be sure. But if he hasn’t left yet, he might still be there, and together we can . . .’

Forest really does trust me, thought Mackerel. A renewed protectiveness for the boy settled firmly across his shoulders. Better not tell him I was spying on him.

Mackerel hurried behind Forest as they approached the pump shed.

Forest opened the door and they both stepped in. It was damp and dusty, full of cobwebs and the smell of chlorine, and a loud rattling came from the big pump right at the end.

‘Davey?’ Mack called.

There was no one inside.

They stepped in further, peering into the darker depths, where crates and boxes were stacked beside pipes leading down into the ground.

Scuffling sounded in the bushes outside, and the door slammed shut, followed by the sound of a heavy bolt.

‘Davey!’ shouted Mackerel, running back to the door. ‘Bro!’