‘What would make this album worth two thousand euros is if this record had been one of the limited number of export copies pressed for distribution in Portugal, where Odeon had a distribution centre. And we would know that if the record had an Odeon sticker on the back of the sleeve that covered the Apple logo, but this doesn’t. So this was pressed in the UK, which indicates it was by EMI and not the company’s subsidiary. This brings down the price significantly.’ Rick saw Penny exhale with some relief, but with further questions on her face. ‘Don’t worry, it’s still a first edition,’ her companion reassured her. ‘It’s just not a member of the very rare pool of Odeon pressings. Your father probably wouldn’t have had that in his original collection in any case.’

Penny nodded with understanding. ‘So what’s fair?’

‘Five hundred tops,’ her companion answered, looking Rick square in the face.

He must be joking. Five hundred? No way!

‘Not a chance. Fifteen hundred,’ he countered.

‘Too high. Six.’

Narrowing his eyes, Rick felt a surge of adrenaline. If the guy wanted a bidding war, that’s what he would give him.

‘Fourteen.’

‘Seven.’

‘Twelve.’

‘Eight hundred.’

Beginning to feel angry, Rick shouted, ‘But that’s what I bought it for!’ Immediately, he knew that he had said too much, because the other guy smiled widely. Rick had just figuratively shown the entire table what he held in his hand.

He witnessed a smile that passed in between the two across the counter, and wondered if it was too early in the day for a drink – or at the very least a drag of the joint he had in his pocket.

‘Nine hundred then,’ Penny offered diplomatically.

Rick considered her counter-offer – it would be a small profit – and it would also turn that record into liquid funding for the store. Not a huge return on his investment, but a return just the same.

But what about his dignity? he thought. Rick wondered if he could get another fifty out of her?

‘Nine fifty,’ he said. ‘Final offer.’

The toff provided him a small smile and a knowing look, as if he understood what he was doing, and that he would allow him gracefully to finalise the deal even though he had said way too much, too soon.

Game, set and match.

Chapter 22

When Elle’s plane landed at Dublin airport this time she didn’t take a taxi south to the coast. Instead she hired a car, and on arrival at Mulberry Bay, instead of heading up the hill towards the hotel, she headed straight to the Orchard Garden Centre.

She had reparations to make.

Little Alex was the first to greet her when she got out of the car.

‘Have you come to buy a flower?’ he asked.

‘No,’ said Elle, ‘I haven’t, I’m afraid.’

‘Have you come to buy a tree?’