Did Ahab have the right of it? Should they just go to the police and have them sort it all out? Throw Davey in a dark hole he’d never get out of?

You’re just tired, he chided himself. Get some sleep or you’ll go crazy like the Witch.

He had to see what this Treasure Cave housed. That was the next step for his side of things. Let the family figure out Blackbeard.

He climbed into bed, but sleep wouldn’t come. His mind kept turning back to the boy in the boatshed.

It would explain a few things about his behaviour, his anger, about why he thought Forest Dempsey haunted him . . .

Poor Huck.

But why hadn’t he trusted Forest with the truth?

CHAPTER 43

MACKEREL

The morning after reuniting with her husband, Shelby was full of a new fever.

The sun was shining on Homeward – the Black Wind had eased by daylight. The locals called it a False Wind. But nearly always, if a Black Wind began at night and ended before the dawn, that meant it’d come back twice as strong within the week.

Black Wind at night, death is in sight.

A False Wind meant Shacktown locals started battening down the hatches. Mackerel felt like he should be out there doing the same for Homeward.

But right now he nursed a coffee, willing his eyes to stay open. Last night he’d stayed up late with Shelby, answering more questions about the world of drug dealing. Today, she wanted to try cooking for the first time.

‘Are you sure you’re ready, Shelbs?’

Kane was going on another daytrip up the coast with Fiona’s husband and sons. Fiona herself would be rejoining them at Homeward soon.

‘I have to try. We can’t afford to waste time.’

‘You’re sure you know how to do it?’

‘Please, Mackerel. Who’s the chemist here? But I thought of . . . another ingredient that will help us. I’m going to have to head back to Hobart. But while I’m gone, I have a surprise for you . . .’

Mackerel did not trust Shelby’s surprises. ‘What now?’

‘You said that status and image are important in this world, right? That’s why Davey always insisted on showing off how rich he was. Expensive clothes, heavy jewellery, had his hair and beard trimmed fortnightly . . . I thought bling was just a Hollywood thing, but I did some research last night – did you know there are some fascinating journal articles about the sociology of drug culture?’ She tried to hide a yawn and failed.

‘How much sleep did you get, Shelbs?’ She must’ve been reading well into the early hours.

She flapped his remark away. ‘Long enough that I heard the False Wind stop. Anyway, if we’re to be taken seriously, you need a makeover.’

‘What?’ said Mackerel. He could see where this was going and he hated it. ‘No.’