‘Yeah, sweet little thing. No trouble. Didn’t cry once. Come to think of it, he didn’t say anything.’

Snorting in derision, Alfie snapped, ‘Are you surprised? He was probably terrified … What’s his name?’

‘Taylor.’

‘And who does he belong to?’

Sally blinked, looking more uncomfortable than she did already.

Alfie tilted his head and, frowning, spoke with dangerous menace. ‘Who, Sally? Who does he belong to?’

‘Alan.’

Shocked, Alfie stared at Sally. ‘Alan? Barry’s friend?’

‘Yeah. He’s a druggie and he’s known Barry for a while. Anyway, Taylor’s mum went off when the kid was a baby and Alan had him.’

‘What about what he went inside for? I don’t get it. Surely, social services must’ve known he’s not safe to be around kids?’

‘Don’t ask me. From what I understand they thought he’d been rehabilitated. You know, saw the error of his ways. So, he got the kid back and moved away from the area. I suppose the authorities lost touch with him. Happens a lot.’

‘So, Alan sold Taylor to Barry?’

‘Yeah, for a thousand quid. No doubt Alan’s already pissed it away on gear. But Barry’s quids in. A kid like Taylor will go for a lot of money.’

Alfie sat down, letting the information wash over him. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It was one thing being a drug addict and another thing being a cruel, heartless, calculating monster. A thought came to him. ‘But hang on, you said, the more people go to the auction. He’s not doing it online?’

Sally spoke flatly as Anthony lay motionless at her feet. ‘No. A lot of people who aren’t big players prefer to do it more discreetly. That way they know who they’re dealing with. Online, it could be anyone, anywhere in the world, and like I mentioned, you really have to be sophisticated, know what you’re doing, otherwise the police will be knocking on your door before the auction’s even over.’

‘So where and when is Barry holding it?’

‘I don’t know.’

Alfie sneered. He bent down to Anthony, putting the gun against the man’s head. ‘Come off it, Sally, you said yourself that he wants you to drum up business, so all it will take is a call from you to let him know a regular client is interested in Taylor. Either that or I do what I’ve wanted to do since I walked in here. What’s it going to be?’ Alfie undid the safety latch on his gun. ‘Your choice.’

‘All right … all right. It’s going to be held in a couple of days’ time at a warehouse in East London. I don’t have to call him though because you just need to take an entrance ticket and they’ll let you in.’

‘And how do I get one of those?’