Ahab was determined to get to him. And everything Forest had learned about the man suggested Ahab would get what he wanted, sooner or later. Even though he’d told himself earlier that night that he was going to avoid Ahab . . . maybe it was better that it happened on Forest’s terms than his, where he could control the interaction.

And if the Treasure Cave was what Blackbeard wanted, if Forest and Ahab found it together, the old man might know what to do with that information. He might actually be able to keep Forest safe – he clearly thought he was in danger.

It was worth a shot.

CHAPTER 35

AHAB

The next morning, Ahab was on his balcony with De Corrado, Keegan at his feet. He felt gritty from lack of sleep – he’d had nightmares about Chips. Being with De Corrado didn’t help, it only made him feel more guilty. He’d witnessed a murder and hadn’t told the police. Chips’s parents weren’t around, as far as he knew, but she did have a big sister somewhere. She deserved to know. And the crew . . .

Well, Ivy knew. Ivy could tell them, if she felt it necessary.

If you tell anyone else, you’ll only make things worse. You need to think this through. Chips can’t get any more dead. You can’t save her, but if you’re smart about this, you might be able to save everyone else from Blackbeard.

‘Are you sure you’ve got enough protection on Forest?’ said Ahab suddenly. ‘I went by Ivy’s place last night. One officer doesn’t seem like enough.’

‘I heard about that,’ said De Corrado delicately. ‘I was wondering if you were going to bring it up. You never seemed like the grovelling type.’

So Linda had told De Corrado what she’d seen? Ahab couldn’t be angry about that – she was doing her job well.

‘I’m running out of options to talk to Forest. It seemed the only way.’

‘You’re also the one who told me that having someone tail Forest wasn’t going to get him to open up to us,’ she added.

‘I know, I know,’ muttered Ahab.

‘Look, I’m going down to Hobart today,’ she said. ‘We’re joining the team down there, following a lead from the Crime Stoppers hotline. I can almost guarantee it’ll amount to nothing, but . . . do you want to come? Get you away from here for a while? You might need to bring your own car, I plan on staying there the night. Unless you want to stay too?’

De Corrado kept talking, but Ahab had tuned out when he noticed Keegan stirring, his hackles raised. He knew Keegan’s moods – he’d spotted another dog.

Ahab’s eyes caught on a small figure walking up the street, a dog at its heels.

A familiar dog, and a familiar figure.