‘No money.’

‘F..k you, you f..king fag. Ain’t no real men left in Bangkok…’

She hobbled off down the road, a walking health hazard, a dank presence that swept up all before it, one step away from complete self-annihilation.

The Yamaha secreted in one of Silom’s many blind alleyways, the kind of dark hole, voids in the city, which you could wander into and never be seen again. I’d bribed a couple of vagrants to keep an eye on it but had still used the three locks. Typically, the tramps were curled up with the refuse sacks, snoring away despite the presence of a couple of bloated rats that were so big they could easily pass for cats in the darkness.

I gave the nearest guy a kick in the ribs to little effect, the temptation to beat the shit out of the moron running high. I was in an evil mood, not just the tab’s but the sheer sexual frustration of wandering around with a monster erection. Even the rats didn’t react to the violence, just eying me up as another possible tasty morsel.

At least the motorcycle was still in one piece. I was so out of it by then that I had a real job getting the locks off shaking hands and blurred vision meant I couldn’t suss which key went into which lock, and even if I was right I couldn’t insert the key without a lot of cursing, swearing and fumbling. I was suddenly desperate to get out of the area fast. For a good reason…

A deep, grave-walker’s chuckle, followed by the sound of a gun being cocked. Just a silhouette in the night when I glanced up, a shadow dancer that suddenly came into frightening focus with the kind of cynical grin that made me believe in the power of evil. Another Shithead!

‘I have to admit it, I kinda admire your cool, boy. That last episode in the club showed a strong survival instinct.

No skill just pure running on instinct – it’s quite a rare phenomenon. Alas, now you are dealing with a real professional. You can’t bluff me, kid!’

‘Shit, I thought I lost you in the crowd. I was blown away by the way you dealt with that muscle builder in the bar. Just took him out so fast I’ve got no idea how you did it. No need to get nasty with me, I know when I’m outclassed. I’m willing to cooperate.’