‘Which would make sense,’ said Frankie easily. ‘See, trauma can really ruin your body, but it can also ruin your mind. Turn even the sharpest little mind into complete mush. Mushy, like soggy mushrooms and rotten potatoes. No matter how clever you think you are. No matter how many people might get hurt.’ There was a bite to her voice. ‘But sometimes it’s good to talk about it. Sometimes people, like me, are even trained in talking about it. But, if it’s too much for you, we can talk about something else. Anything else, really.’

‘I want a different counsellor,’ said Forest.

‘I’m afraid, in this case, I’m all you’ve got,’ said Frankie, with a sad smile. ‘But I hope that, in time, you’ll learn to trust me. That’s all you have to do. Just trust me.’

‘I’d trust you a lot more if you let me go back to Shacktown.’

‘Really, is that so?’ Frankie leaned forward again. ‘Convince me.’

CHAPTER 19

MACKEREL

Mackerel had signed into the station for the day, gaining a frosty reception from the officer on the desk – Linda must have given them a report of his words last night. Then he’d gone to the pharmacy and taken his meds, finally. He felt better already. And, even better, the pharmacist had given him the briefest of hugs and expressed her condolences for Davey.

Now he was walking back to Big Mane’s house to get ready for a day working on the boat. There was no spring in his step – the loss of Davey was still an all too fresh wound, and there was still the problem of Blackbeard – but at least today would be better than yesterday.

At least, that’s what he thought until he saw the Mercedes SUV parked out the front of Big Mane’s.

Ivy.

She stepped out of the car and beckoned him closer. She looked haggard from grief; he doubted she’d slept.

He limped over.

‘Tell me everything that happened last night,’ she commanded.

He answered quickly and obediently, not taking his eyes off her black sandals, but left out the fact that Ahab had been there.

‘You were the one he came to see? You’re the one he trusts?’ she scoffed. ‘Heaven help us, I’ll never understand males. And you told the police nothing?’

‘No,’ he said, glancing up at her.

‘Of course not.’ She bit her lip in thought. ‘Good. Now, obviously, you will not speak to Ahab again. I don’t care if he appears on your front doorstep on the verge of death, you don’t let him in. He made his choice: he’s not part of this family. I’m disappointed in you.’

He ducked his head lower.

Without another word, she turned away and climbed back into her car.