Within seconds the two of them were tearing each other’s clothes off, Davey wincing as Shelby caught skin with her nails. Forest quickly fled. Ahab, after a series of protests that went ignored by the couple, finally left the room too, dragging Mackerel with him, who was watching events unfold with horror.

Seated at the bar of the Mermaid’s Darling, with Forest and Ahab beside him, Mackerel received a text from Shelby: You can come back up now.

Ahab entered the room first, his anger filling the space. Davey put his hand protectively over Shelby’s leg at the sight of him.

‘If you ever, ever do that again – in my room – I’ll castrate you,’ said Ahab.

‘Oh, I’m terribly sorry,’ snapped Shelby. ‘I just found my husband returned from the dead.’

Her husband looked like a beaten dog. ‘He’s right,’ said Davey. ‘We can’t do this . . . you should go.’

Shelby’s eyes went so wide Mackerel thought she might pass out with rage. ‘Excuse me? You’re lucky I don’t throw you out that window. If you’re talking about Blackbeard, I’m staying. I can help.’

‘Everyone shut up,’ said Ahab.

‘Well, if we’re telling secrets,’ said Davey, ‘I’ve got a pretty big one too.’ He glanced across at Forest.

‘Enough. Don’t you dare,’ thundered Ahab. ‘I didn’t invite you here for a happy reunion. We have a mission.’

‘To kill Blackbeard,’ said Forest quickly.

‘No,’ said Ahab. ‘To find Blackbeard and then tell the police.’

‘We’re already doing that,’ said Shelby. ‘We have a plan.’

‘Shelby,’ said Mackerel, ‘don’t . . .’

‘I’m starting my own drug cooking business. Mackerel and I are going to infiltrate his organisation and take Blackbeard down from the inside,’ said Shelby.

Silence greeted her words, and Mackerel groaned. ‘She . . . it’s not like that.’ Except it was like that. He prepared himself for Davey, or Ahab, to come at him. Would he even fight back?

Davey turned to Mackerel, his hand back on Shelby’s thigh. ‘What is she talking about?’

‘I’m gonna cook ice,’ said Shelby easily. ‘It’s going to be the best product Blackbeard’s ever seen.’

‘Are you insane? Do you know what he’ll do if he finds out you can cook?’ hissed Davey.

‘You don’t get to tell me how to live!’ she shouted back. ‘Not anymore!’

‘You’re actually going back to this life, Mackenzie?’ said Ahab, making his disappointment clear. ‘And dragging Shelby into it?’

‘It’s the only way,’ he muttered, feeling miserable. He could’ve told Ahab it was all Shelby’s idea, but that felt weak, not taking responsibility for his decisions. Even though he hated Ahab being disappointed in him. ‘Only for a week. Just one week, then we’re done.’

‘You knew about this?’ Ahab had turned on the boy.