But it was different. He’d had a bad feeling ever since he and Glynn had first discussed it. Maybe it was because he was targeting his one-time friends, or perhaps it was because he’d felt pressured to do it. He couldn’t explain why but, whatever the reason, he tried to ignore the ominous feeling that nagged away at him.

They reached the foyer and Glynn spoke for the first time since they had left the office. ‘Shit, the back door!’ he said.

‘What about it?’ asked Peter.

‘We need to make sure it’s shut properly,’ said Glynn. ‘Don’t forget, we can’t afford to leave this place exposed while we’re away.’

Glynn had already turned towards the back entrance. ‘I’ll do it,’ he said. ‘It won’t take two mins.’

‘OK, I’ll hang on here for you,’ said Peter.

‘No, it’s OK,’ said Glynn. ‘Don’t forget, Angels is a bit further away so it won’t matter if you set off a couple of minutes earlier than me. In fact, it’ll mean there’s more of a chance of us hitting them at the same time.’

Peter hovered for a few moments, uncertain but unable to come up with any other reason to stop Glynn going to the back door.

‘Don’t worry, it’ll only take a couple of minutes,’ said Glynn. He walked out of the foyer and into the darkened interior of the club on his way to the back door.

‘OK,’ said Peter, going towards the exit and trying to quell his growing sense of disquiet. ‘I’ll see you back here later.’

*

As soon as he had walked through the foyer and inside the nightclub, Glynn turned left, and secreted himself next to the glass door that partitioned the club interior from the foyer. He turned and watched Peter head out of the exit. Then, satisfied that Peter would be on his way to the van, he went in search of Mike.

As instructed, Mike was hovering around the bar area, ready. One flash of Glynn’s eyes and Mike set off to the foyer, where they met up.

‘Just give it a minute to make sure he’s gone,’ said Glynn. ‘Then we’ll go.’

By the time they reached the van, Peter’s party had already departed. Glynn opened the back doors and six heads swivelled around in his direction. ‘Right, guys, there’s been a slight change of plan,’ he said. ‘Something urgent’s cropped up that I’ve got to sort so Mike’s gonna take my place.’

Without waiting for their response, he patted Mike on the back. Mike then jumped into the van. ‘Make it quick, Rav,’ Glynn called to the driver. ‘Pete’s lot will be well on the way by now.’

He shut the back doors of the van, then jumped into his own car and sped off up the street.

*