Ahab had lit a cigarette, his own window rolled down too. If they pulled this off, how would Kane react when Davey re-entered his life? Ahab hadn’t given thought to it, but now it was front and centre. His dad might return, and continue to run the Business – and with Shelby knowing about it too, how long could they keep Kane in the dark? He and the kid weren’t close anymore – not since Ahab had accused his father of being behind Jesse’s disappearance – but that didn’t mean Ahab had stopped caring about him. But Kane was a Dempsey to his bones. He even looked just like Davey, and he wasn’t stupid either. Did that mean he’d take to the Business too?

Would the curse come for him?

The Bone Cave. Once Ahab told the right people about it, the ocean around here would be safe from harm. He was sure of it. And then, without Dempseys being able to plunder the ocean, the curse would be lifted. Right?

Ahab thought back to that little coffin, so many years ago. Had he been a coward, not to try for another child? Would any kid of his have turned out like Kane?

‘Ivy said she saw him walking towards the boulder field,’ said Ahab, as they rumbled down the road.

‘The boulder field?’ said Kane with sharp suspicion. ‘Is Forest involved in all of this, too?’

‘No,’ said Ahab.

‘Liar,’ said Kane waspishly. ‘I’m sick of you all keeping secrets. You know who killed Dad.’

Ahab took a puff. ‘You think he was murdered?’

‘Dad would never dive during a Black Wind, everyone knows that,’ said Kane.

Ahab drove the rest of the way without answering questions or letting himself be goaded into conversation. He couldn’t understand why Forest would have gone back to the boulder field – they’d already explored that cave together, and the boy had been there by himself before that.

He’d soon find out, he supposed.

He pulled up in the boulder field’s gravel carpark with a skid.

‘You stay here,’ he told Kane.

‘Like hell,’ said Kane. ‘I’m coming.’

‘You’re staying here, boy,’ thundered Ahab.

Kane sat back with a grunt. Ahab didn’t have time to babysit someone else’s kid. It was already indignity enough to be chasing after Forest like this. But he still felt a moment of pity. He thought his dad was dead, after all. He didn’t know what Ahab knew.

‘Look, kid,’ he said. ‘Chin up. Things aren’t as bad as you think they are. Watch the car.’