He drove up to Shelby’s house, his mind turning with ideas and potential. He glanced over at the security men who were still working to turn Homeward into a veritable fortress, ensuring no one would be able to enter the place without Shelby’s say-so ever again.

When he limped in, it made Shelby look up. She caught his new energy immediately.

‘Mackerel?’ she said uncertainly.

‘I don’t like that name,’ he said. ‘Call me Mackenzie from now on.’

‘What happened to you?’ she said.

‘Have you got all your equipment?’

‘Yeah, it’s out in the car.’

‘Then let’s go see what you can do.’

CHAPTER 46

FOREST

Ahab watched Mackenzie’s boat until it had rounded the cliffs and was out of view. Forest thought on what Ahab had said.

‘You’ve never mentioned your father before today,’ said Forest.

‘Why would I? You’ve never mentioned yours.’ Ahab turned. ‘I’m assuming you do have parents, somewhere? Waiting for you to swindle the Dempseys out of everything they have?’

‘No parents. Just me.’

‘What was your father like?’ said Ahab.

‘Honestly, I don’t remember much,’ said Forest. ‘I remember he used to hit me.’

Ahab snorted in sympathy. ‘At least you’ve got that in common with us Dempseys.’

‘Are we looking for this cave or not?’ said Forest. He slipped his BC back on, tightening the straps.

‘Let me check your air first,’ said Ahab.

‘I’ve already checked it.’

‘Well, let me check it again.’

‘It’s almost like you don’t want me to drown,’ said Forest lightly.

‘Couldn’t care less,’ said Ahab.

‘Okay, then I’ll leave my marker buoy behind,’ said Forest. He hopped up on the rail and let himself fall into the cool press of water.

Kicking his grey fins, he dived down into the colourful world. The water was soft and heavenly cold against the skin not covered by the thick wetsuit. He loved the pressure of the mask against his face, the tang of oxygen from the regulator in his mouth.

He let himself sink all the way to the sea floor. Down here the fish-filled reef gave way to a comparative wasteland of rippling sand. With a hand at his buoyancy control, which even Ahab said he was near-perfect at using already, he swam a lap around the bottom of the reef. He’d already done this, in the other direction, but there was no harm in . . .

There was a dip in the sand here. If he’d seen it before, he hadn’t noticed it. Looking at it now, there was something about this little crease in the sand that was different. He swam towards it, holding on to the reef as the surging current tried to wrest him away. He ran his fingers through the dip . . .

An opening.