Peter noticed that the young girl had become jittery and had slowed down bagging up the money. ‘Come on, get a fuckin’ move on!’ he shouted. She jumped. Then, spotting Peter’s eyes on her, she scooped up the cash with shaking hands and piled it haphazardly into bags. ‘I want every fuckin’ till emptied,’ demanded Peter.

While Peter kept watch, the adrenalin continued to course fiercely around his body causing a surge of mixed emotions. Apprehension. Excitement. Exhilaration! That familiar high that powered him.

‘You finished?’ he demanded when the staff came to a standstill.

‘Yes,’ nodded the manager.

‘Right, take them upstairs. To the cash office,’ Peter instructed. ‘And no fuckin’ funny business!’

He followed the staff through the store while Mickey stayed on the ground floor.

Up the stairs. To the left. No surprises so far. Peter knew the score. He’d added details to his plan of Smart and Sons as he and his gang had built up a fuller picture. Two doors down and they were in the cash office. Glynn and Mike were already waiting. They, too, were wearing masks.

Inside the office were a further two members of staff who were already tied up. Peter recognised Janice, the girl he had plied with drinks till she spilled the beans on the day-to-day operations of Smart and Sons.

He didn’t recognise the other girl, but he had anticipated Janice would be there. And he was prepared. He and Glynn had already decided that Mike would do the talking once they were in the cash office.

‘It’s all there,’ said Mike, pointing to two bags laden with cash.

Peter nodded his instructions to his accomplices. Then Glynn and Mike stepped up to the three members of staff who were not yet tied up. They were each grasping a coil of rope in one hand and a gun in the other. While Peter continued to cover the staff with his gun, Glynn tied up the manager. Mike grabbed roughly at the young girl. When his hands groped viciously at her breasts, she screamed and tried to pull away.

‘Shut the fuck up!’ yelled Mike, swiping her across the face with the butt of his gun.

Peter heard a loud crack as the gun smashed against the bridge of her nose. She let out an agonised screech and Peter sprang forward. As blood gushed from the girl’s broken nose, Peter gave Mike a sharp nudge and shook his head frantically from side to side. Mike spun the girl around, gripping her arms and forcing her hands together. ‘I said shut the fuck up!’ he shouted at her again.

‘Please, Jenny. Keep quiet!’ begged the older woman, in tears. ‘You heard what he said.’ She nodded at Peter as she spoke. ‘Do as you’re told and everything will be alright.’

When the older woman’s pleading eyes met with Peter’s he quickly shifted his gaze. He preferred to remain detached.