Ahab let Davey climb through the trapdoor first, up into the pump room, where Forest was waiting.

‘You ruined everything,’ Davey roared. He launched himself at the boy.

Unsure if Davey would keep his word to not hurt the boy, Ahab swiftly clambered up after him.

Davey had Forest pushed into the corner, but Forest didn’t back down, holding his chin up defiantly.

‘Don’t you dare judge me.’ Forest’s voice had taken on a harsh edge. For the first time, Ahab wondered if he was actually older than he looked. ‘You, a drug dealer, bringing that poison into people’s lives, bringing that world close to your family!’

‘You don’t know anything about this world, you little rat. I was protecting this town – before you came along and ruined everything!’

Forest laughed. Davey looked about ready to knock him out.

‘Enough,’ said Ahab. ‘Both of you.’

‘If I didn’t run the Business, someone else would,’ said Davey, ignoring Ahab. ‘Someone worse. So you don’t get to lecture me on ethics.’

‘Yes, actually, I do,’ said Forest. ‘Imagine me as karma. I’ve come to fix your mess. I am Forest Dempsey, and neither of you can prove otherwise.’

‘Enough,’ said Ahab, letting his voice fill the whole room. Both of them turned towards him. ‘You’re both responsible, and both of you will help me sort this out.’

‘How can we possibly do that?’ said Forest.

‘We find Blackbeard. We protect Shacktown. That way, we get Davey back to his family safely.’

‘You want to take out Blackbeard?’ said Davey. His voice broke. ‘How?’

Forest wrenched himself free of Davey’s grip.

‘We find out who Blackbeard is; we get into his inner circle,’ said Forest.

‘And just who do you think is going to manage that?’ said Davey. ‘There’s no contacts of mine I can trust. Unless you’re getting in the game, Ahab?’

‘Of course not,’ said Ahab, frustrated with himself. The boy had the right of it, but that didn’t mean it would be possible. ‘I need to think it through. I can’t think of anyone who we can trust with this.’

‘Idiots,’ said Forest. ‘You’re both idiots. Obviously there’s someone you can trust.’

CHAPTER 40

MACKEREL

Mackerel was awoken by something patting against his window.

He was a light sleeper these days, something in his subconscious always waiting for the police to knock. But as he groggily came to, something tweaked that the noise was coming from his window, not the door.

Suddenly he was wide awake. He scrambled for the cricket bat under his bed and in moments his back was against the wall, ready for the intruder to enter. His thoughts flashed to the man who’d been in the roof, searching for Davey’s bolthole . . .

Another soft knock against the window.

This wasn’t someone breaking in.

He edged over and pulled back the curtain.