Jake knew it was time to change the subject; this was only winding Tony up more.

‘I heard through the grapevine that there’s a big money poker game going on this afternoon. Do you feel lucky, Tony? I’m sure our professional card sharp, Graham, has put a few tricks up your sleeve.’ He elbowed Tony in the ribs and smiled.

At last the smile appeared back on Tony’s face. ‘I reckon I could risk some of our hard-earned money on the cards; it’ll get me in the holiday mood.’

Jake phoned Sharon to book some flights to Italy for himself and Tony, and he also told her they would both be gone all afternoon. He said he was going to get Tony to wind down a little. Even she gave a sigh of relief and sounded as if she would be glad to have him out of the way for a while.

16

RESPECT

After a late lunch, Tony and Jake went to the poker game. It was at a closed local club they all knew and it was high stakes. The players were all businessmen who liked to take off the odd afternoon and have a little fun in their free time.

Eight of them sat around the table. The stake was a minimum of 1,000 pounds a game. Jake watched as Tony shuffled the cards like a professional. He knew he wouldn’t have let Graham get off with just showing him the right way to play cards, he knew Tony would also know how to cheat.

The atmosphere was tense. Tony made a point of losing a few hands of cards gracefully, and the whisky was poured. Then he started to win, and win fast, claiming that at last he was having a lucky streak. It was finally left to Tony and an estate agent, who only dealt in big properties.

Everyone else had decided the game was getting out of hand and had folded.

On the table between Tony and the estate agent was 80,000 pounds in cash. Normally, anyone who was out of their depth would have thrown their cards in by now, but the estate agent was determined to take that money off Tony and make him a laughing stock, as well. Tony put another ten thousand pounds down on the table, thankful that he had helped himself to a lot of money out of the safe before they went. He was determined not to back down to this man.

‘Your call,’ said Tony calmly, giving his friendliest smile. He could see the sweat on the man’s brow. All the other men were watching intently, and not a word was spoken. It seemed as though everyone was holding their breath.

‘Will you take a credit note?’ the man asked Tony. He was wiping beads of sweat away.

‘No, I don’t do credit, and if you’re out of your depth, you should have folded. You shouldn’t be sitting at this table with these fine gentlemen if you can’t cover your bets.’ Tony reached forward; if the man couldn’t double his stakes the money was his. He put his hand on the huge pile of money and looked at Jake.