‘Then let us know the moment he says a thing, and anything we can do to help,’ said Ivy, dragging Mackerel’s attention back into the room. ‘Very well. Goodo. Carry on. Let’s go back in and see him.’

Shelby reached out and Ivy gripped her arm tightly as they re-entered Forest’s room. Mackerel stood up to follow them.

‘Poor kid,’ Detective De Corrado murmured.

Mackerel wasn’t sure whether she meant the trauma Forest had suffered or the fact that Ivy now had her talons in his life.

CHAPTER 7

MACKEREL

Over the next hour, Forest still wouldn’t speak about what had happened to him, and wouldn’t say anything about Alexandra or Jesse. He talked haltingly about times before he went missing, asking lots of questions about each of their lives. Mackerel dodged most of those questions, too embarrassed to admit he was out on bail, due for sentencing in seven months.

But then Forest lost energy, right in front of their eyes, slipping into longer and longer bouts of drowsiness, until he fell completely asleep. They left with a muted farewell to avoid waking the exhausted child.

Ivy wanted to stay in the city, close to Forest, so Shelby and Mackerel drove back to Shacktown alone.

It was mid-afternoon and the traffic was heavy, reminding Mackerel why he preferred the quiet of Shacktown. Shelby had no issues navigating the city, lane switching as they made their way over the bridge. He remembered that Hobart was her home town, before Davey had swept her off her feet.

Davey, who still hadn’t answered his phone. Every missed call put Shelby more and more on edge.

‘Have you ever known Davey not to answer his phone?’ she said.

Mack shrugged. ‘Maybe he dropped it in the water? Maybe he —’

‘Why did Ahab blame Davey for their disappearance, seven years ago?’ she asked. ‘No one would ever tell me. Not the truth, anyway.’

Mackerel shifted in his seat. She was bringing up things he couldn’t talk about with her.

He could hardly say, Because Ahab suspected Davey of getting rid of Jesse in order to take over the Business. He was furious that Forest and Alexandra had been swept up in it. But Ahab wasn’t thinking clearly – he blamed the Business for bringing in the ice that killed his mother. He wanted to go to the cops to bring it all down . . . until Ivy intervened. Like she always does.

‘What did Davey tell you?’ said Mackerel.

‘Don’t,’ said Shelby. ‘You always do that. All of you Dempseys. Dodge questions, say stuff that doesn’t mean anything. And I hate how you roll over for her!’ She pounded the steering wheel. ‘You barely said a word in there. You need to stand up to her.’

Mackerel was confused. ‘Stand up to who? Ivy? Shelby, I know it’s been a big day, but you’re talking crazy.’

‘It’s not funny, Mackerel.’