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you’re saying,’ said May.
    ‘If anyone’s in danger of being ripped off it’s me.’
    ‘I got it the first time. But this is the way it’s going to be done, so just shut the fuck up.’
    ‘Plus, this gizmo picks up wires,’ said Lomas.
    O’Sullivan pointed a finger at Lomas. ‘You start calling me a grass and I’m out of here,’ he said. ‘I came to do business, not to be slagged off.’
    ‘Will you two stop bickering?’ said May. He stepped back. ‘You’re clean.’
    ‘I know I’m clean,’ said O’Sullivan. ‘I didn’t need you to tell me.’
    May went to Corben, whose eyes hardened. ‘This is a liberty,’ he said.
    ‘Let them play their little games, Ian,’ said O’Sullivan.
    ‘It’s a fucking liberty,’ said Corben. ‘We came here to do business, didn’t we? It’s like you said, they’ve got the fucking guns and we’ve got the money. We’re the ones taking the risk here.’
    May lowered the metal detector. ‘I’m starting to get a bad feeling about this,’ he said.
    ‘Yeah,’ said Corben, narrowing his eyes. ‘You and me both.’ He looked across at O’Sullivan. ‘Let’s knock this on the head.’
    ‘Ian . . .’
    ‘I mean it. This is all shit.’
    ‘Got something to hide, have you?’ said Lomas.
    ‘Why don’t we run that thing over you two first?’ said Corben. ‘See what you’ve got to hide.’
    ‘You’re the visitors,’ said Lomas.
    ‘Fuck you,’ spat Corben.
    ‘Yeah? Well, fuck you, too.’
    Corben stepped towards Lomas, his right hand bunching into a fist. Lomas shuffled backwards, fumbling inside his jacket. He pulled out an automatic and pointed it at Corben’s face.
    ‘Easy, easy!’ shouted O’Sullivan.
    Corben glared at Lomas, his fist pulled back. ‘I knew this was a set-up.’
    ‘You started it,’ said Lomas.
    ‘Will you both just fucking relax?’ said May. ‘We’re not in the bloody playground here.’
    ‘It’s too late for that,’ said Lomas, still staring at Corben. ‘He’s not right.’
    ‘I’m not right?’ spat Corben. ‘You’re the one who pulled a gun.’
    O’Sullivan had his hands up, showing his palms. ‘Can we all calm down here?’ he said.
    ‘I’m calm,’ said Lomas. ‘I just want to know what he’s got to hide.’
    ‘Put the gun down, Paul,’ said May.
    ‘Not until I’m sure he’s kosher,’ said Lomas. ‘Check him. And the bag.’
    ‘This is bullshit,’ said Corben.
    ‘Just go with the flow, Ian,’ said O’Sullivan.
    Corben glared at Lomas, took out his mobile phone and car keys, and slowly raised his arms. May ran the metal detector up and down his back and legs, then checked the front of his body. It made no sound.
    ‘Satisfied?’ asked Corben.
    ‘No hard feelings?’ said May.
    Corben lowered his hands. ‘I’ll decide when there are no hard feelings,’ he said.
    ‘The bag,’ said Lomas, gesturing with the gun. ‘Check the bag.’
    May did as he was told, and again the metal detector made no sound. Lomas put away the gun.
    ‘I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot,’ said May. He patted O’Sullivan on the back. ‘Situation like this, it’s normal for jitters.’
    ‘The deal was that we all came unarmed,’ said O’Sullivan, staring pointedly at Lomas.
    ‘Guns in the cases, guns in a holster, they’re all part of the inventory,’ said May.
    ‘He pulled a gun on us,’ said O’Sullivan.
    ‘Like I said, jitters. Come on, let me show you what we’ve got.’
    May walked over to the tables with O’Sullivan. Lomas and Corben followed, eyeing each other warily. May opened one of the metal cases. Inside six revolvers nestled in yellow foam rubber. May picked up a short-barrelled weapon and held it out to O’Sullivan, butt first. ‘Spanish-made Astra .357 Magnum. The foresight has been smoothed down to minimise snagging so it’s a perfect concealed weapon.’
    ‘No safety,’ said O’Sullivan.
    ‘It’s got a long double-action pull,’ said May. ‘You’d have to be a