‘Don’t they know how stupid that looks?’ Aiden whispered to me, without turning his head. ‘Are we in some kind of retro Western? If I had stagecoaches I’d get them into a circle.’

I didn’t say anything. My brother might be able to joke, but my mouth was dry and I felt that familiar urge to visit the toilet.

‘You do the talking,’ I said, and Aiden laughed.

The group stopped about four metres from us. Xena took an extra stride forward, then paced a few steps from side to side, her brilliant green eyes never leaving Aiden’s face.

‘I thought I told you not to come back here,’ she said. ‘What’s your problem, rich kids? All that money made you deaf?’

We didn’t say anything. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my brother clasp his hands in front of him and move his legs apart. The movement made a couple of the kids tense. We waited.

‘Well?’ said Xena. ‘Nothing to say?’

‘Sorry,’ said Aiden. ‘All my money has made me deaf. You’ll have to speak up.’

It might have been my imagination but I thought I saw the flicker of a smile cross the girl’s lips.

‘What do you want?’ she said.

‘Just to talk,’ said Aiden. ‘And I’m prepared to pay you for your time.’

‘Ziggy said. So show me.’

Aiden reached into his pocket and took out the ring and the watch. He held them out in the palm of his hand.

‘One-carat diamond in the ring, I think. The wristwatch is a Rolex. Solid gold.’

‘What’s a wristwatch?’

‘It’s how people used to tell the time, back in the day,’ I said. I don’t know where I found the courage to speak, but the words were out there now. Xena turned in my direction. I was pleased. Up to this point she’d ignored me, as if I wasn’t worth bothering with. ‘You wouldn’t believe how much this thing is worth,’ I added.

‘I probably wouldn’t,’ she said. ‘I tend not to believe too much that strangers tell me.’

‘My father paid one hundred thousand dollars for this watch,’ said Aiden. ‘That’s worth a few minutes of your time, isn’t it?’

Xena crossed her arms.

‘I don’t believe too much that strangers tell me,’ she repeated. ‘You really do have hearing problems, don’t you?’

‘Hey, look. Up to you,’ said Aiden. ‘If you can afford to give up one hundred thousand dollars because you don’t want to talk, then okay. We’ll just go.’

Xena laughed.

‘I don’t think so,’ she said. ‘There are nine of us and two of you. Ziggy told me you know how to fight, but your sister here … well, no offence, princess, but you don’t scare me too much. So what if I decide to just kick your butts, take what you’ve got and —’