He wondered how Davey and his crew had been able to keep Blackbeard out so far. The usual ways, he supposed. Actively working to uncover any of his agents, likely bringing them into the fold through slick politics, or more often making a brutal example of them.

They held all the infrastructure, and with Ivy’s uncanny ability to find the right cops to bribe, Dempsey Abalone would make it hard for any competition to muscle in.

‘Someone else will take care of it,’ Mackerel said aloud. ‘I’d only screw things up.’

Pounding on the bathroom door. ‘Pizza’s here, bro. Let’s get shitfaced.’

Mackerel dried himself on a towel that definitely needed a wash.

He thought of Shelby again.

She deserves to know.

CHAPTER 8

FOREST

Forest stood at the window of his hospital room, still in his gown, watching the cars on the street below. He’d woken from a restless sleep to find it was early evening. He rested an arm against the frame, deep in thought.

Exhaustion dragged at his body. The world felt like it was tumbling around him. Like he was still in the ocean.

‘I’m in over my head now, Zeus,’ he said.

Zeus lay asleep on Forest’s bed – at first the authorities had wanted to put the dog in a kennel, but Dr Joseph had agreed his companionship would be good for Forest, provided the dog didn’t leave the room and enter the rest of the hospital.

Forest was grateful Dr Joseph had intervened – the hospital room, as nice as it was, felt like a prison. Uniformed police waited outside. To protect him, they said.

There was a knock, and a nurse entered. ‘Hi, Forest,’ she said. ‘How are we feeling?’

‘Fine, thank you,’ he said. He sat down in the chair, holding out his arm so she could check his blood pressure. ‘How are you?’

‘Better than you, I imagine. Anything you’d like me to tell the police?’

‘Not right now, thank you.’

They were relentless. He stayed silent for the remainder of her checks.

When the nurse made to leave, she hesitated at the door. ‘Anything else you need?’

‘I . . . well . . . n-no. No, it’s fine.’

‘Forest, if there’s anything I can do for you . . .’

He licked his lips. ‘I don’t want to make extra work for anyone . . .’

She let the door swing shut and crossed her arms. ‘Don’t be like that, Forest. How can I help?’

‘C-could I have a milkshake?’

Her face softened. ‘Of course, sweetheart. I’ll go find one for you. What flavour?’

‘Thank you . . . strawberry, if they have it?’

She left and he returned to the window, watching the moving cars.

He had to get out of here.

He had to make contact with Huck, before Huck did something stupid. What was the best way to get out of here, and back to Shacktown?