The subtle energy inside the room shifted to one of expectation. He took stock of the other men in the bar: three immediately within arm’s reach; four at a table to his left, a geometric pattern of dominoes laid out on their table. Another two sat behind them at a table with an overflowing ashtray as a centrepiece. At the far end of the bar, six men sat around a longer rectangular table.

Fifteen men. Sixteen, if you included the barman. A lot of variables.

Danny smiled and pointed to the table of dominoes. “Hey, I haven’t played doms for ages. You guys like to gamble?”

The men exchanged glances.

“You like to gamble?” asked Danny again, this time adding a little more enthusiasm to his voice.

The man in front of Danny raised his chin, his curiosity piqued. “What you got in mind?”

“What’s your name?” asked Danny, as he gave another friendly smile. “What do these guys call you?”

The man hesitated for a moment then answered. “Benito.”

“Pleased to meet ya, Benito.” Danny extended his hand. “John Douglas.”

After scrutinising the newcomer for long seconds, Benito shook his hand.

“Who’s the fastest guy in here?”

The look of suspicion was still evident on Benito’s face. “What you mean, fastest?”

“Like, who’s got the fastest reflexes,” said Danny.

Benito looked at the men at the domino table but offered no name.

Danny fished a five-peso coin from his pocket. The centre of the distinctive coin was coloured gold while the outer ring was silver. Danny held the coin in the palm of his hand. “I bet I can snatch this coin out of any man’s hand in this room.”

The neatly trimmed line of black hair on Benito’s top lip curled into a misshapen glyph. “I’ve played this game before… when I was a child.”

Ignoring Benito’s sarcasm, Danny continued, “I’ll bet you fifty dollars that I can do it three times in a row.”

“With any man in the bar?”

“With anyone you choose.”

Benito nodded to one of the men at the domino table. “Robert.”

The men in the bar formed a loose circle with Benito, Danny and Robert in the centre. Several of the men pulled rolls of notes from their pockets, rapidly chattering as they agreed side bets.

“Robert?” asked Danny.

The young man looked Danny up and down, seemingly unimpressed. “We’re not all called Miguel, you know.”

Danny returned a tight-lipped smile. “Hold out your hand.”

Robert stood immobile, hands on his hips. The only things that moved were his eyes as he regarded his challenger with overt suspicion.

“Come on, man, hold out your hand. I bet I can snatch this coin three times in a row before you can close your hand.” Danny held out the coin and waited. “Fifty bucks to you if I can’t.”

A muscle in Robert’s jaw twitched once as he looked to Benito. A curt nod from Benito and the young man slowly extended his right hand. Danny placed the coin in the centre of his upturned palm.

“You look like you work out. Good arms. How old are you? Twenty? Twenty-five?”

As Robert’s mouth opened to answer, Danny shot his left hand forward and took the coin. “That’s once.”

“No fair, man, I wasn’t ready.” Robert’s voice carried an angry edge.

Danny gave a short laugh. “Okay, just checking you were awake.”

Robert took back the coin.