Ahab scowled, but he shut the door and walked back around to the driver’s seat.

‘Okay, imposter. Who do you think is going to convince me to trust you?’

‘Davey Dempsey,’ said the boy. ‘He’s still alive.’

What? No, not a chance. What kind of game was he playing now?

‘You’re lying,’ said Ahab.

‘I’m not, and Mackerel can prove it.’

‘Davey . . .’ Ahab laughed harshly. ‘I saw Davey’s body with my own eyes.’

‘Ask Mackerel if you don’t believe me.’

Ahab frowned. Was it possible?

This was all too much.

‘Fine.’ He turned the ignition. ‘We’re going back to the Mermaid’s Darling, and then you’re going to tell me everything.’

‘No, old man,’ said the boy. ‘I’ll tell you only what you need to know.’

The way he spoke, the words he chose . . . even his voice was different now. ‘Who the hell are you?’ said Ahab.

‘I’m Forest Dempsey. And if you don’t want me telling the whole world Davey Dempsey is alive, you’d do well to remember that. Which means you use my name. Say it. Forest.’

‘Why would I care who you tell about Davey?’ said Ahab, rapidly getting the sense that he’d lost all control of this situation.

‘Because if Blackbeard finds out Davey is alive, Shelby and Kane will be in danger. And you wouldn’t want their deaths on your conscience, would you?’

Ahab’s knuckles were white where he gripped the steering wheel. ‘You’d put them at risk?’

‘Not unless someone put me at risk,’ said the boy . . . no, Forest, if he insisted on being called that.

‘Where is Davey?’ said Ahab.

‘Take me to Frankie, and then let’s head back to your place,’ said Forest. He rummaged in the centre console of the car until he found a cigarette and a lighter. Rolling down the window, he lit it up. ‘Let’s go. It’s been a long day.’

CHAPTER 38

MACKEREL

Mackerel drove the Jeep towards Hobart, Shelby scrolling on her iPad beside him, her feet up on the dash.

‘It sounds so easy,’ said Shelby. ‘And anyone can just . . . download instructions for how to cook this stuff.’

‘Why would they want to?’ muttered Mackerel.

‘Because look how much you can sell it for. No wonder Davey never worried about money.’ There was a forced lightness to her voice. Or at least, he hoped it was forced. ‘There’s plenty of recipes,’ said Shelby, still scrolling. ‘Not all of them are dangerous. Some of these are so simple . . . I wonder if everyone else knows ice is this easy to make?’

‘It’s not easy, it’s fucking dangerous. You’ve heard of homecook lab explosions, right?’ said Mackerel. ‘Besides, most of it’s cut with shit that will erode you from the inside out.’