‘We are now, aye. Me and the boys thought it would be good to mark the boss man’s achievement. We are having a little get-together. It’d be great to see you and the boy here for, say, about seven o’clock tonight just before he clocks off for the night?’

‘Are you sure about this? Ray doesn’t normally go in for this sort of thing.’

‘Aye, I’m sure. So we’ll see you there?’

‘Yes, McGregor. I’ll see you there.’

Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38

Abbott stole a van and changed the plates. He returned to the Welcome Break, parked up and called Ward. ‘I’m in the car park,’ he said.

‘Roger that. I’ll pass the message along.’

Ward was the first to appear. He climbed into the passenger seat of the van and then over the seats into the rear, where he unzipped the holdall to reveal the all-too-familiar black Nomex overalls as well as his chest rig full of the necessary toys for the job: ammo, flash bangs, smoke and a radio with throat mic and earpiece. Last but not least, a balaclava, gloves and NVGs.

From his holdall he took his FN-Scar with suppressor and laser dot sight and began to complete the assembly. Abbott watched him in the mirror, reflecting on how Ward had shed his garden centre, almost farmer-like skin, to become an SF operator again.

Ward pulled on the overalls, followed by the chest rig and placed his balaclava under the flap of one of his ammo pouches, his black Nomex gloves under another, easily accessible. Finally, he threw on his jacket to cover up the fact he was about to unleash hell in the dark of the night. Not a word was exchanged, no thought required. There was no need.

As Ward did that, Miller had appeared from the entranceway of the hotel. Like Ward he was dressed casually, but after clambering into the van began the same drill, prepping so that as soon as they were in position, the operation could begin.

Third came Brace. Again the same routine. But this time, as soon as Tom was in the van, Abbott set off, bypassing Derby itself, going straight to the outskirts and to the industrial estates. He had checked the van, confirmed that all the lights were working and that the tyres were in good order even before he nicked it. Now, driving, he kept to the speed limits, ensuring he did nothing to attract attention.

They drove along the dual carriageway, past the industrial estates and car dealerships and then past the approach road to Kemptown. There, Abbott got a quick visual, the barrier set-up there as always, two vans parked back-to-back, the wasteland on either side.