But before that, he was responsible for his family. He had to talk Mackenzie out of joining Ivy’s plot.

Ahab pounded on the door to Homeward. ‘Mackenzie!’

He kept pounding until the door was yanked open. It was Kane.

‘He’s gone,’ he said. He wiped his eyes. ‘I think he was on something.’

‘Why are you crying?’ He felt a chill. ‘Did Mackenzie do something to you?’

‘What? No,’ he snapped. ‘I just don’t want him to become addicted to ice again! Dad told us all about our ice-addicted uncle.’ He caught Ahab’s expression and rolled his eyes. ‘He wasn’t dangerous! All he did was play Xbox, and then he got a call from Mum and basically sprinted out the door.’

Kane took a moment longer to appraise him. ‘But why are you here?’ he said. ‘Are you part of it too?’

‘Part of what?’ said Ahab.

‘Whatever secret stuff is going on between Uncle Mack and Mum,’ said Kane. ‘I know something’s up, I’m not an idiot. Are they having an affair? Mum looks at him sometimes the same way she used to look at Dad.’

‘They’re not having an affair,’ said Ahab firmly.

‘So why are you looking for him?’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Ahab, turning to leave.

‘Don’t leave me here alone!’ said Kane. ‘I’m coming with you. Someone needs to tell me what the fuck is going on.’

‘Language,’ warned Ahab.

He didn’t want to bring the kid with him. The last thing he needed was someone else to take care of, asking him questions he didn’t want to answer. But he also couldn’t leave him behind either. If something went wrong with Ivy’s attempt to sell the Golden Sunshine, if Blackbeard traced it back to Shelby, he’d have to get Kane out of this house anyway.

And if Ivy had already called Mackenzie . . . when all of this was over, Ahab would have to swallow his pride and buy a mobile phone.

‘I’m looking for Forest. You can help me search.’

‘Where is he?’ said Kane.

‘If I knew that, I wouldn’t be searching for him,’ said Ahab testily.

CHAPTER 51

MACKENZIE

The high had faded at last, midway through an Xbox session with Kane, and he’d fled to his room. He was exhausted, thirsty and filled with shame.

Lying back on the plush bed, fiddling with his gold chain, he remembered everything he’d done – he groaned, remembering the houseboat and his arousal. What would Shelby think of him? Would she have told Davey?

His phone rang. An unknown number. The cops sometimes called to check in on him . . . he answered.

‘Davey was alive and you didn’t tell me?’

It was Ivy.

He’d never heard this sound in her voice. So defeated. So . . .

He sat up on the bed, pressing the phone against his ear. ‘How?’