‘I was hoping you might help me make some sense of it all, but I was wrong, hey? Family business stays family business?’ Shelby’s eyes glittered with tears. ‘I’m starting to put two and two together, here, just so you know.’ She wiped her nose. ‘How long ago did you and Davey deal drugs together? Was he doing it when I married him?’

‘Shelby, the money you gave me . . .’ said Mackerel, trying in vain to get things back on track.

‘Come back when you’re ready to talk.’ She slammed the door in his face, taking the gun with her.

Mackerel sat in his car in Homeward’s driveway. The panic he’d felt at the sight of Shelby holding a gun still had him on edge. It wasn’t right for her to be exposed to Davey’s world.

He looked up at the house, a memory of childhood laughter in his mind.

I’ll own a mansion of my own, one day, said Davey. He would have been about ten, but he already had the swagger of a good-looking youth, swiping at seaside grasses with a stick.

We’ll have enough for ten mansions, said Jesse, with all the confidence of being the oldest. He strutted ahead of the other two, feet crunching in the sand.

Me too, said Mackerel, the youngest. Chubby and clumsy, following behind, carrying an armful of cuttlefish backbones. I’ll have the biggest mansion out of everyone.

You? Jesse scoffed. You’ll be lucky to get a rowboat. He laughed cruelly. Davey followed suit, although he looked back at Mackerel guiltily.

Mackerel had just grinned, his only real defence at being the butt of Jesse’s jokes – the butt of everyone’s jokes. But he must’ve felt defiant that day, or excited by the idea of his own mansion, because words leapt out of his mouth. I’ll have the most money of all the Dempseys.

At this Jesse had turned and knocked the cuttlefish out of Mackerel’s hands. You? You won’t get a cent. Dad hates you and Mum thinks you’re useless. You’re an embarrassment to the Dempsey name. He pushed Mackerel over and laughed, encouraging Davey to join in. Fatty little Mackerel, you’ll die homeless and drug-addicted like Ahab’s mum will. Everyone knows it.

You’re wrong, he’d said.

Jesse had punched him in the face so hard Mackerel’s whole world became dizzy stars. When he came to, Jesse had strolled on ahead, up the stairs to Safe Harbour, but Davey was helping Mack sit up, hand on his shoulder. It’s alright, Mack. You can live with me in my mansion. I won’t let you go homeless.