If he's an ex-associate why would he tell me yesterday that he would give me 10% of the sale if I found a buyer? It just doesn't seem especially like you've 'parted ways' if you actually are two different people. We could bring up the identical IP's on EVERYTHING, but I suppose you'd find a way to argue out of that also.... I am 99.9% convinced you're shilling.
As far as one of your business partners having as much right to bid as anyone else, I don't agree. It sheds some SERIOUS circumstantial proof of shilling.