No, there he was. Halfway up the cliff.

He was climbing a rope ladder, hoisting it up behind himself as he went so Mackerel couldn’t follow.

Mackerel was stranded. It wouldn’t be long before one of the white-wall waves crashed onto the shelf and sucked him away. He pushed himself up against the cliff face as a wave slammed onto the shelf and sucked away his BC.

He shouted up at the assailant, curses and murder. The man still wore his hooded wetsuit and scuba mask. He wasn’t taking any risks – he didn’t want Mack to recognise him.

Whoever he was, he’d intentionally put Davey’s body in Devils Kitchen, for everyone to see. It made no sense.

Mackerel clung to the cliff. Without the calm of the bubbles, he was just a normal bloke. Scared shitless and waiting to die. One big wave and he was done.

But when the assailant reached the top of the cliff, without even looking back, he threw the ladder back down.

For Mackerel.

Mackerel wasted no time, shimmying up the rope latter as fast as his dud leg allowed, a terrifying ascent as the ladder swung in the wind, scratching his arms on the rough rock, the Black Wind whistling through his ears and sucking at his breath.

Finally, he reached the top.

His assailant was long gone.

Mackerel slumped to the ground, pulling in breaths, clinging to the earth. Dry land. Safe.

And all around him, the Black Wind hummed her song.

Davey’s dead . . .

He broke.

CHAPTER 14

AHAB

It was late afternoon at Ivy’s house and Ahab stood inside, for the first time in years. He leaned against the doorpost of the corridor, peering into the lounge room, itching for a cigarette. The room was filled with family – distant cousins, aunts, uncles, from both Joel’s side and Ivy’s side – who spilled out of the open double doors and onto the timber deck.

Dempseys were big on having family nearby in times of crisis. Because Ahab had played a role in the attempt to retrieve Davey’s body, Ivy tolerated his presence, if only for a short time. Ahab was sure it was only to save face. She paced near the doors, walking inside and out, inside and out, biting the head off anyone who looked at her. She’d been the same at the memorial service for Jesse, Alexandra and Forest, when they’d been declared legally dead.

Forest had returned to the family yesterday, filling a hole. Now Davey had been wrenched away.

Jesse and Davey. Two sons. Both of them claimed by the sea . . . and, Ahab suspected, by the Business.

He felt sorry for Ivy. Imagine being in control of everyone around you, and yet still losing that which was most precious. It was unimaginable . . .