‘You didn’t believe him? You interrogated him?’ said Shelby, outraged.

Ivy put a hand on Shelby’s knee. ‘It’s okay, dear. They had to. Forest is the heir to a multi-million-dollar business. When he comes of age, he will have a greater share in Dempsey Abalone than Davey.’

Disgrace churned in Mackerel’s stomach. He, of course, had no part in the inheritance anymore. But he didn’t mind; he’d give everything he owned to his nephew if it’d help him even a little bit.

‘We’ll still need to run a DNA test and compare it against yours, Mrs Dempsey, or yours, Mackenzie,’ said Detective De Corrado. ‘As unlikely as it is, we still need to make sure.’

Ivy frowned. ‘What? Didn’t you just say he’s the real deal? Surely he’s been through enough.’

‘It’s standard procedure,’ said Detective De Corrado. ‘You just said yourself that he’s the heir to a —’

‘Forest answered all your questions,’ interrupted Ivy. ‘He knew the colour of his bedroom walls!’

‘Mrs Dempsey, your family’s is a large fortune —’

‘I know perfectly well what Forest means to this family,’ said Ivy. ‘We’re not running a DNA test.’

‘Let me be clear. I don’t need your permission,’ said Detective De Corrado. ‘As far as the law is concerned he’s an unidentified minor.’

Ivy turned to Dr Joseph. ‘Could you leave the room, please? We have family business to discuss.’

Dr Joseph huffed and disagreed, but the detective nodded and dismissed him from the room.

‘And Shelby, could you be a dear and check on Forest?’

Her daughter-in-law looked like she had a mind to disagree, but Ivy fixed her with a warm smile and she gave in.

Only Mackerel and Ivy remained with the detective.

‘Well?’ said Detective De Corrado. ‘What’s the big secret?’

‘There won’t be a DNA match between us and Forest,’ said Ivy. ‘Because Forest was adopted.’

Mackerel’s mouth dropped open but he quickly closed it.

What?

‘That . . . isn’t in his records,’ said Detective De Corrado. ‘And clearly you didn’t know,’ she said to Mack.

‘Yes, I did,’ lied Mackerel, his mind turning.

‘And yet, it’s all true,’ said Ivy. ‘It was very hush-hush.’

‘You’ll have to explain, please,’ said Detective De Corrado.

‘I’ll explain nothing,’ said Ivy. ‘Forest doesn’t even know himself. He has no reason to. There will be no change to his record, and you’ll tell no one else. Am I making myself clear?’

‘Some of the other detectives told me your family had crooked dealings,’ said Detective De Corrado, eyes on the old woman. ‘Was this one of them?’

Ivy straightened in her seat, letting the aura of her wealth gather around her – a subtle change in the way she spoke, disdain in her eyes, her handbag falling to the floor, discarded.