The local police were already out and working the scene, calling loudly to each other to be heard over the Black Wind. While De Corrado met up with them, Ahab decided to walk his own lap around the expansive mansion. The local cops acknowledged him and called him over, but he kept to himself, his torch beam crossing with theirs, the blue and red of the police lights setting the whole scene flickering.

His mind kept turning. He was concerned by what Shelby had told him – Davey was still missing. Forest’s reappearance had left Ahab in an impossible position – he needed to work with the police while keeping Davey’s drug business secret. Unless . . . should he tell De Corrado? Would it help bring Alexandra back?

No. Shelve it until you’ve spoken to Forest.

Ahab knew the criminal world, knew how it twisted and turned. If he revealed the Business right now . . . It would cause more harm than good, even if he could get through the layers of bribed cops Ivy had in place. What a bloody mess.

He ignored the rational voice at the back of his head that told him he was just making excuses because he wasn’t ready to break his promise to his mother yet.

And why had he promised to tell De Corrado when he was lying? What good would that do anyone? He half suspected her of dosing his drink. How had he dropped his guard like that? And now he’d said it, he couldn’t back down.

When he’d completed his lap, he returned to the side of the house. While most of the architecture was monolithic, there was a small alcove here, somewhat disguised by a trellis and climbing plants. To Ahab’s eyes, the trellis’s slats were a much heavier wood than Shelby’s landscapers had used elsewhere. And he knew why.

His torch beam caught a bundle of broken leaves, then followed a path of destroyed greenery up to the roof. Someone had climbed this trellis, the broken stems marking out long strides.

He flicked off his torch, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and began to climb, keeping to the same line, holding tight as the wind tried to pluck him off.

The roof of Homeward was a timber addition that reached right over the edge of the building, providing a spectacular entertaining area. There were a couple of police officers there right now, looking for footsteps in the rooftop garden beds.

Ahab knew the timber roof housed something else Davey had commissioned during its construction.

Staying as close as he could against the external wall, hoping no one saw him, he reached the slats of the gabling. Testing each, he found a disguised door. He pulled it open on its swinging hinge. Inside, he found a small enclosed area.

A drug dealer’s bolthole.