Adele knew it was only a matter of time before Shazza and Denise made their move. Peter had told her to stick with her allies but there were very few people she could rely on. Most of the prison was frightened of Shazza and Denise, which meant that when they did strike, there was a good chance she’d be on her own. And she was terrified at the thought of what they would do to her.

Chapter 15

Mickey looked at his watch again. ‘Are we ready to go yet?’ he asked Peter.

‘Not yet,’ whispered Peter. ‘Give it a couple more minutes.

They were in a store room at Smart and Sons cash and carry. It was late-night opening and Peter planned to wait until at least fifteen minutes after closing time before they made the hit. That should be sufficient time for the store to be clear of customers. He wanted as few people as possible inside the building.

While he waited he felt a buzz as the adrenalin pumped around his body. He’d been planning this job for weeks and now it was finally here. This was the part he enjoyed; when all those weeks of planning came together in a hit that would hopefully land them a good pay-out. Like Mickey he couldn’t wait to get moving but he didn’t want to take any chances.

Through information he and his gang had gathered, Peter knew that on late-night opening the takings from Smart and Sons weren’t banked until the following day. Instead the staff totalled it up in the first-floor cash office, then put it into the safe overnight.

After a few more moments of waiting, he heard the sound of someone approaching. ‘Shit!’ he said to Mickey. ‘Quick, hide.’

They were prepared for the possibility of someone checking the store room after closing time. Peter and Mickey had entered the store a few days previously using a business card from Mickey’s uncle’s plumbing business as ID. Then they’d carried out a recce.

The store room had several large plastic containers on wheels, which were used to take the goods into the store. Peter realised straight away that these could prove useful. Now, as the footsteps drew closer, they found one that was almost empty and hid inside it, placing some empty cardboard boxes over themselves so they couldn’t be seen.

They heard someone breeze into the room whistling to the tune of ‘Karma Chameleon’, badly. For some seconds nothing happened but Peter could sense a presence. He held his breath as he waited for the person to leave, hoping he or she wouldn’t spot that the two containers now looked almost full.

Fortunately whoever it was didn’t notice and soon Peter heard the store-room door slam shut. Then there was silence.

‘Fuck! That was close,’ muttered Mickey.