Page 77 of Deadly Cry
‘Who are the guys?’ Bryant asked.
‘Potential thieving bastards,’ she said. ‘Now, do me a favour. Once the bidding gets over a thousand make it look like you’re trying to stop me going any higher.’
‘What the?…’
‘Just do it,’ Kim said as they met with the others.
The two men looked appreciatively in her direction as Dobbie looked at his watch.
‘Thought you weren’t going to make it, Inspector.’
The gaze of the two males dropped away.
‘How could I possibly resist your offer?’ she asked, glancing at the frame leaning against the wall of the office.
‘Everyone come prepared?’ he asked.
Kim tapped her back pocket where the notes were rolled.
‘Okay,’ Dobbie said, licking his lips, ‘you all know what you’re here for, so let’s start this bidding at five hundred.’
Two hands shot up and she nodded.
‘Six hundred?’
Two hands and a nod.
‘Seven hundred?’
Two hands and a nod.
‘Eight hundred and fifty?’
Two hands and a nod.
‘One thousand?’ Dobbie said. His eyes were glistening with excitement. Seven hundred pounds more than he’d agreed with her, and all three bidders still in.
‘Twelve hundred?’
‘Guv,’ Bryant said once she’d nodded.
‘Fourteen hundred?’
One hand and a nod. Suit man was shaking his head.
One down.
‘Sixteen hundred?’
One hand and a nod as the suit man began to walk away.
‘Eighteen hundred?’
‘Jesus, guv, that’s way too—’
‘Shh,’ she said, nodding.
‘Two thousand?’ Dobbie said, as though he could barely believe it himself.
