The crowd laughed while Alfie paled, trying to keep his shaking to a minimum whilst Barry continued to talk. ‘Anyway, I’m delighted to be back, and I’m hoping that I’m going to be around for a while this time. You’ll be seeing a lot more of me … and my products.’

The crowd broke out into applause and Alfie bit down so hard on his lips that he could taste the blood in his mouth.

‘Anyway, enough of my chat, gentlemen – let the bidding begin. But before we do, I’m sure you want to see exactly what your hard-earned money is going to buy. Am I right?’

A resounding cry of, ‘Yes, yes, show us!’ was heard around the room.

Barry grinned and from the side of him and off camera, he pulled Taylor into shot.

On seeing Taylor, seeing his haunting, bewildered eyes look out at the crowd, look out at him, the bilious, nauseous sensation engulfed Alfie again. He rubbed his eyes, wiping the sweat that had trickled down into them away, and he fought the urge to run.

Barry, chuckling, and still holding on to Taylor’s arm, said, ‘Whoever is the lucky winner, let me tell you, you won’t go wrong with this product. Quiet and no trouble at all. And the best thing, gentlemen, is that the original owner of this product is comfortable with the deal. It’s a clean slate, so once it’s yours it’s yours. In other words, no one will be looking for it. So, with that in mind, who wants to start the bidding? Any takers for fifteen thousand?’

‘Fifteen here!’ A man Alfie couldn’t see properly raised his hand over in the far corner.

‘Twenty-five!’ A louder shout from the front caused the crowd to titter with laughter as he waved both hands in the air enthusiastically.

The room fell silent causing Barry to intervene. ‘Come on, twenty-five grand – that’s a giveaway.’

‘Fifty.’

A couple sitting in the shadows raised their hands and Barry giggled. ‘Now that’s more like it. Do I hear sixty?’

A large fat man, who was as well dressed as Rupert, raised his hand. He spoke with a Scottish accent. ‘Here, I’ll offer sixty.’

Rupert who was bouncing on his seat with delight and sitting next to Alfie, suddenly shouted, ‘One hundred thousand pounds!’

Around the room, oohs and ahhs were heard, and Rupert, smelling of expensive aftershave, smugly leant over to Alfie and whispered in delight, ‘I reckon he’s mine. I know none of this lot will go that high. I tell you what, when I pick him up, you can come with me if you like, have a bit of fun.’

He squeezed Alfie’s leg then winked at him to which Alfie said, ‘No thanks, mate, and I’d appreciate it if you’d get your fucking hand off me. Wouldn’t want it broken, would we?’