‘He faked his death. He’s still alive, Shelby.’

She leaned forward. ‘Why the hell would you say that?’ Her eyes flicked between his, fast, searching for something. She turned to Forest, who nodded.

‘He’s telling the truth,’ said Forest. ‘I saw him, too.’

‘What are you trying to do? It’s not funny.’

Slowly, struggling to find the right words, Mackerel explained to Shelby what had happened under the water. That the body must have been a double, that Davey had attacked him under the water.

Shelby leaned back, still angry, but also showing frank disbelief in her face, in her folded arms.

Mackerel realised he had muddled his explanation. It happened when he was anxious – he stuttered and said the wrong thing . . .

‘Have you been using again, Mack?’

‘No! I haven’t!’

‘Do you think there are people out to get you? Are voices telling you that —’

‘It’s not psychosis, Shelby! This is really happening!’

‘No, it’s not. Why would he fake his death?’

Why?

Mackerel took a deep breath, maybe the deepest breath he’d ever taken in his life, filling his lungs for whatever he might encounter in the stormy sea he was about to dive into . . .

‘Because Davey runs one of the biggest drug-import operations in Australia.’

Shock, followed by amusement, followed by confusion, followed by . . . fury.

‘Bullshit,’ she said.

Forest’s own eyes had grown wide. ‘What?’ he whispered.

It couldn’t be helped. Forest had to know, for his own protection. They both needed to know.

‘Dempsey Abalone is the front for a drug-smuggling business. It has been for years. Jesse was in charge last, now Davey runs it. Ivy’s involved too.’

Shelby bit her lip so hard that little drops of blood had gathered under her teeth. ‘He’s alive.’

‘Yes, Shelby,’ said Mackerel. ‘He’s alive.’

‘My gun-hiding bastard of a husband is a drug dealer . . . and he’s alive. Swear to me you’re not making this up. Swear to me.’

‘I swear.’

Forest looked at his hands, shaking his head softly, muttering to himself.

Shelby reached for her chai, raising it to her lips with shaking hands, then put it back on the table without taking a sip. Forest stood up and began pacing beside the window, close enough that he could still listen.

‘You looked me in the eyes, two days ago, and told me that Davey wasn’t dodgy,’ said Shelby. ‘You lied to my face.’

‘I was trying to protect you,’ said Mackerel, as he thought about the next thing he had to say. ‘But now you need to know, because you and Kane could be in danger.’

‘Danger?’ said Shelby instantly.

‘Another drug baron has come to town. The Dread Pirate Blackbeard.’

‘The . . . what?’