‘He’s a crime lord . . . and a very bad one at that,’ said Mack. ‘The way I first heard it told, he was born on the east coast of New Zealand, his father a drug lord who killed for fun. No one knows who they were, but the rumours are that Blackbeard killed him before he turned fourteen, and took over his father’s business. And went hard . . . in trafficking. In all sorts of trafficking.’

‘That all sounds completely made up,’ said Shelby.

Mackerel knew he was rambling, botching another explanation, but he needed Shelby to understand. Forest stopped pacing and sat back down at the table, next to Shelby, so he could study Mackerel’s face. He did his best to explain the way the Business used the abalone diving as a cover, trying to make her understand how it all worked, the threat Blackbeard posed now that Chips was left in charge . . .

‘So my husband is a coward, too?’ said Shelby. ‘The moment another drug dealer shows up, he fakes his death? Leaves me and Kane to fend for ourselves? That’s not the Davey I know.’ She laughed once, loud and humourless. ‘But I suppose what you’re saying is I didn’t really know him at all?’

‘No, he’s not a coward. There’s something else going on,’ said Mackerel. ‘I just don’t know what.’

‘You should’ve told me. I deserved to know.’

‘Shelby . . .’ How could he make her understand? ‘It was better that you weren’t involved. Davey always wanted it that way. This just isn’t a woman’s world . . .’

‘Are you serious? I can’t believe . . . for a start, if both Ivy and Chips are involved – they’re women.’

‘Yeah, but . . . look, it takes a special kind of woman to . . .’

‘Just shut up, Mack. Stop talking.’ She drank from her chai, turning away from him. ‘Davey is a drug dealer.’

‘Yes,’ said Mackerel. ‘But not like your normal drug dealer. He’s a lot more successful than —’

‘That doesn’t make me feel better, Mackerel! So, Davey is alive, but he’s a criminal.’

‘Yes.’

‘And no one ever told me because, and I repeat, it isn’t a woman’s world?’

‘No, Shelby, that’s not the only reas—’

‘Go to hell.’ She breathed deliberately through her nose, her shoulders rising and falling with the effort of keeping herself under control.

‘Shelbs, it’s not like that . . .’

‘Go to hell.’ She took him in. ‘You and Davey both.’

She dashed out of the café, her handbag swinging.

‘It was the right thing to do,’ said Mack, even though Forest hadn’t spoken. ‘She deserved to be told the truth.’

‘You know what you have to do now,’ said Forest, his voice shaking. ‘Go follow her.’

CHAPTER 27

FOREST

Dempsey Abalone is a front for a drug syndicate.

Forest’s ears were ringing. He could taste metal.

I’ve walked right into the middle of a gang war . . .