When the blast was over, Tony ran to the entrance and peered out. He saw his pride and joy, his beautiful Rolls Royce, in flames. People in the street were screaming and running, scared out of their wits. Some had been hit by flying glass and were bleeding. Others had been thrown across the street by the force of the blast.

Jake was shaking. ‘Shit, Tony, look at the mayhem. Look at those people, they’re hurt.’

‘Collateral, Jake. They’re not dead. It’s two in the morning, there aren't that many people around. Call the fire brigade.’

Jake took out his mobile, but it wasn’t needed; he could already hear the sirens. ‘That second explosion must have been the petrol tank blowing,’ he said. Tony had explained all that to him when he had worked as a mechanic and said just how easy it was to put a load of explosives in a car and wire it to the ignition.

Once the firemen started putting the flames out, and the police and the ambulance arrived, things seemed to calm down.

A crowd had gathered from nearby streets and restaurants, and the police moved them back. A detective saw Tony standing outside the club and he started asking him about what had happened. Happily, Tony told the truth: his friend, Marlon, was using his car and it had blown up.

Tony had the sense to look distraught and shocked, and feigned dizziness, which meant he had to sit down. The detective told him they would be back tomorrow to discuss things further, and left. The whole building was taped off for the time being and outside stood the charcoal shell of his car.

‘Bye, Marlon, rest in peace,’ said Tony. He looked at the doors, which had been blown in, then turned to Jake. ‘Right, let’s call someone to sort these doors out. We’ll have to redecorate, as well – the walls are black with smoke. Time to get down to business.’

‘You’re a cold bastard at times, Tony. What about those other people going about their business in the street? Some got hurt.’

Tony smiled and shrugged his shoulders. ‘What about them? I never put the explosives in the car, you did.’ He walked away, leaving Jake standing there, feeling guilty.

7

THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS

When the police arrived the following morning and stated the obvious – that they thought the explosion was meant for Tony – he went into full acting mode, looking distressed and worried.

‘Do you have any enemies that might have wanted to do this?’ The detectives looked at each other and then down at the floor. They both knew who and what Tony was, and what the answer was, too, but they had to ask.

‘No, officers, but a man in my position has many enemies, I suppose.’

‘We want no repercussions from this, Mr Lambrianu. Leave the investigating to us. Do you understand? Let’s face it, we’ll know whose door to come knocking on if people start dropping like flies.’