Rupert’s face drained of colour. He looked taken aback and retreated into his seat.

‘So, at a hundred thousand pounds, going once, going twice,’ Barry shouted out to the crowd.

‘One hundred and fifty!’ Alfie’s voice boomed out as he waved his hand in the air and from the corner of his eye, he could see Rupert looking agitated, an expression of fury on his face.

Rupert called out, ‘Two hundred thousand.’ He side-glanced Alfie with a sneer.

‘Two hundred and fifty.’

As Barry’s face was projected on the screen it was clear to Alfie that Barry couldn’t believe his luck.

‘Three hundred thousand!’

‘Three-fifty!’ Alfie shouted again, hoping Rupert would back down, desperate for him to.

‘Four hundred thousand!’

Alfie turned to stare at Rupert, feeling the whole crowd looking at them with interest and amusement at the spectacle. ‘Four-fifty. Four hundred and fifty thousand pounds.’

Furiously, Rupert hissed at Alfie, ‘You better make sure you have the money. I’ve seen what they do to people who don’t pay. They check you know, so whatever’s in that bag of yours, make sure it’s enough.’

‘Oh, don’t worry about me – I’ve got the money all right. The question is, have you?’

Haughtily, Rupert turned his nose up at Alfie. ‘Damn right I have … Four-eighty!’

The tension rushed through Alfie. He had only another twenty thousand before he reached his top bid and ran out of money. Taking a deep breath, he called out, ‘Five hundred thousand! I offer five hundred thousand pounds.’

A scream of excitement sounded somewhere in the room as Rupert leant in to Alfie.

‘Whenever anyone starts to go up in twenties, I’d say they’re running out of money, wouldn’t you?’

Alfie shook his head, speaking quietly through the side of his mouth. ‘I think you’re speaking about yourself there, Rupert. I’m just being sensible. How about you?’

He held Rupert’s gaze as his heart pounded in terror – this was it. There was no more, and he couldn’t even pretend there was. Panic stifled him as he watched Rupert raise his hand in the air, a wide smile spreading across his face. ‘Five hundred thousand … and …’ He paused and rummaged in his pocket, pulling out a ten-pound note. He glared at Alfie then shouted. ‘And ten pounds.’ The crowd cheered but Alfie buried his face in his hands as the room began to spin, his whole body beginning to shake. He’d almost done it, he’d almost saved Taylor, but now what would become of him? In horror he listened to Barry count down as well as listening to Rupert giggling next to him. ‘Five hundred thousand and ten pounds, going once, going twice …’