An hour’s drive into Hobart. An appearance before the judge that took next to no time at all – he suspected that, considering the tragic circumstances of his brother’s death and the grief of his widow, his lawyer had had something to do with that. There was a fee to pay for changing the conditions, which he paid from the money Shelby had already transferred to him, and then . . . he was driving back to Big Mane’s to pack up his belongings.

In a daze, he knocked on Big Mane’s bedroom door. ‘Hey, we should talk . . .’

Big Mane opened the door, wrapped in his shower robe with a console controller in his hand, gaming headphones over his ears. ‘Why? Everything okay?’

Mackerel hadn’t wanted to say anything unless his bail change was approved, but now that it had . . .

‘The good news is, you won’t have to see my ugly mug so often . . . my bail address got changed.’

‘What? Where are you gonna go?’

‘I’ll be staying with Shelby.’

The visible relief on Big Mane’s face hurt him.

‘Am I that hard to live with?’ said Mackerel in a small voice.

‘Nah, mate. I think that staying with Shelby is a bloody good idea. It can’t be good for her to be rattling around that big house, just her and the kid. And now I won’t feel guilty when I leave after curfew and you’re stuck here alone. Plus, no more cops banging on the door at all hours of the night.’

‘You said you slept with ear plugs!’

‘Bro, I lied so that you wouldn’t feel bad. I just didn’t want you feeling worse than you did. You already feel guilty about too much stuff that isn’t your fault.’ He put the controller down and started getting changed. ‘Only problem is, who’s gonna cook and clean for me now? Are you saying I’ve gotta get a missus?’

Mackerel chuckled. ‘Or learn to cook for yourself.’

Big Mane started pulling empty suitcases out from under his bed, chucking one to Mackerel. ‘Let’s get your shit packed up, then. Hurry up and get out of my house and into your fancy mansion.’ He laughed, making it clear it was a joke.

‘You know . . . I’m really grateful for —’

‘Yeah, I know, mate, you’ve told me a million times. Especially when you’re drunk – then you’re even noisier about it. I love you, mate. I believe in you. I think you’ve got what it takes. And I’m honoured to call you my best friend.’

That was too much. Mackerel looked away, blinking very hard.

‘What days are you gonna come over to play Xbox?’ said Big Mane. ‘Or are you gonna ditch me entirely?’

Mackerel pulled himself back under control and said, ‘Lock it in for every Friday. Xbox Fridays. And . . . if you’ll still have me, I’ll still work for you.’