‘You can say that again,’ said Peter, letting out a loud breath before easing himself gently out of his hiding place.

Peter looked at his watch. ‘Not long now,’ he whispered. ‘Then we can go.’

He waited a short while longer before switching on his walkie-talkie so he could speak to Glynn, who was hidden in another area of the store with Mike. ‘Everything alright your end?’ he asked once he had made contact.

‘Yeah,’ whispered Glynn.

‘Right, you ready to go then?’ Peter continued.

‘Yeah.’

‘OK. Go now!’ said Peter, putting his walkie-talkie inside his jacket, slipping on a mask and pulling out his gun.

After checking that Mickey also had his mask on and his gun ready, Peter gave him the nod and they dashed out of the store room.

They headed to the front of the store as planned. As they ran, the only sounds Peter could hear were his and Mickey’s footsteps dashing up the aisle, and his own harried breathing.

When they neared the store front, he heard voices. Quietly chatting at first. But then raised in alarm.

The staff had twigged something was wrong.

Peter reached the top of the aisle. The store front tills came into view. Three members of staff were bagging up cash. Two women and a man. They stopped what they were doing, mouths agape, bodies immobile with shock. But before they could react, Peter and Mickey drew near and levelled their guns.

The eldest member of staff, a middle-aged woman with steely grey hair, let out a screech and covered her mouth with her hand.

‘Not a fuckin’ word!’ said Peter, pointing his gun at her. ‘Do as you’re told and everything will be OK.’

The younger woman began to cry. Her tears were accompanied by a distraught whimper. Peter nodded towards the door and Mickey stepped up to it and checked it was locked. Meanwhile Peter kept watch over the staff. While Mickey stood guard at the exit, Peter levelled his gun at the man.

‘You the manager?’ asked Peter. The man nodded sombrely. ‘OK,’ Peter responded. ‘How many staff are in the building?’

‘Just us and two in the cash office,’ said the manager.

‘OK, carry on what you’re doing,’ ordered Peter. ‘And get a fuckin’ move on!’

He nodded at Mickey again. Mickey pulled out his walkie-talkie and spoke to Glynn.

‘They’re ready as soon as we are,’ he said, and Peter knew that meant Glynn and Mike were in the cash office.

‘How many are with them?’ asked Peter, while keeping an eye on the staff.

‘Two.’

Peter then addressed the manager again. ‘OK, sounds like you were right. But you better not be telling me fuckin’ lies,’ he added, looking from the manager to the barrel of his gun and back again.

‘No, there’s definitely no more,’ said the manager, with a tremble in his voice.