‘More champagne,’ shouted Tony, trying to fight his way back to the bar and away from the crowds. For the moment, he just wanted to stand and watch all the people that were in his club. What only a few hours ago had been a ghost town was now a thriving, noisy nightclub, crammed to the rafters with people enjoying themselves.

Tony felt a tap on his shoulder and was pleased to see Marlon, the South London mob boss. As a gesture of goodwill, he had made a point of sending him a personal invitation.

‘Nice club, Tony, business must be good.’ Marlon smiled and shook hands with Tony and Jake, as though they were old friends. ‘Your DJ isn’t so hot, though. Tell you what… I know a young guy, freelancing, he’s good, gets the people going. If you like him, you do and if you don’t, no skin off my nose, he doesn’t work for me.’

Tony felt this was Marlon’s reciprocal gesture of goodwill; he was trying to help him. He knew he had a lot to learn about the nightclub business and was prepared to listen to friendly advice.

Sharon was mingling with the women and showing them the ladies’ room, which was large and full of mirrors, and even had a sofa inside it. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. And the night was a great success. Then Jake walked over. ‘Have you seen who’s just walked in, Tony?’

Tony looked across the room and again, his heart sank. He took a deep breath, expecting trouble. Walking towards him was the detective from Scotland Yard who had been involved in the diamond heist investigation. It all seemed like a million years ago now. Jake and himself had been sent to Amsterdam to pick up the bossman’s diamonds – his share of the heist that Don Carlos and Ralph Gold had organised. But the bossman – otherwise known as Charlie Jenkins – and his sidekick Eddie had set them up and tipped the police off to save their own skin. Tony had turned the tables on him and set him up in return, leaving a big prison sentence hanging over the bossman, if he actually survived jail once the other inmates found out he was a police informer.

All of this swam through Tony’s brain as he watched the detective walk around his club, almost tainting it. He didn’t make his way towards Tony and Jake; instead, he walked up to Ralph Gold and shook his hand as though they were old friends. They were talking and drinking, and even Ralph’s wife, Julie, was joking with him and trying to encourage him to dance.

‘Friends in high places, eh?’ said Tony, looking at Jake and then back to the three of them, laughing and joking together.

As the night went on, Tony began to relax. He had made a point of drinking with Marlon until Marlon had been swept away by some young woman who wanted to dance. He began to mingle, and to enjoy himself. He started to introduce himself to people and everyone seemed pleased to meet him. It felt like a parallel world. Not that long ago, these people would have passed by him in the street, without giving him a second look. Now he was Tony Lambrianu, the club owner and their new best friend!