A flatbed lorry cleared the roundabout a hundred yards distant, coming in the other direction. Just visible behind it, a van was lurking on the roundabout’s other side. Waiting at the dotted white lines despite the road being clear. Something not quite right, to Mickey’s eye. Too many unexpected variables. A threat profile forming quickly. And even as the thought formed, a flicker of motion caught his eye. A black-clad figure climbing out of the van’s side door on the pavement side. Looking bulky, and camouflaged by the dark garments, barely visible even under streetlights. Vanished behind the van, walking quickly around its front. Mickey keyed his mike.

‘SEG One, possible threat, coming round the front of the van, debus and—’

The dark figure reappeared at the van’s offside front quarter. The Jag’s brake lights flared as the driver hard-stopped the car. Doors opening as the crew prepared to go into action. And then, with a blast clearly audible inside the car as a monstrous bang, the dark figure simply ceased to be. The Jag momentarily vanished in a gout of black smoke and dust that punched out from where he had stood. A fierce blink of light at its heart.

An instant later the shock wave slapped the Sentinel. Rocking the heavily armoured vehicle even at a hundred yards’ distance. Followed by the metallic pinging of shrapnel impacting armoured bodywork and bulletproof glass. Kev dropped his bike and staggered across the road clutching his chest. Making no more than half-a-dozen steps before he collapsed in a spreading puddle of blood. Recovering his wits, Mickey snapped out an instruction.

‘Emergency egress rear!’

Wade slapped the drive selector into reverse. Accelerating backwards rather than trying to turn the big car round. SEG Two copying the move, windows rolling down and machine pistol barrels protruding to either side. Mickey keyed his radio.

‘Romeo Control, Four Six, urgent assistance! IED detonation, south end of Fulham Palace Road, multiple casualties—’

He stopped talking momentarily, for two reasons. First, the hammer of an automatic weapon, something heavy duty, heard faintly through the thick glass to their front. Joined by another an instant later. Second, the squeal of rubber from behind the convoy. As the flatbed’s driver pulled his steering wheel over and came to a stop behind them. Parked across the road, completely blocking it. Leaping from his cab and running. SEG Two’s crew refrained from shooting an unarmed man. Faces appeared at house windows with expressions of amazement. Doors tentatively opened as the braver of the street’s inhabitants nervously investigated the explosion.

Momentarily nonplussed, processing events and considering options, Mickey released the mike trigger. Maisie’s voice sounded in his ear, her tone harsh and urgent. A series of pops underlaid her comms – 9mm going downrange, Mickey guessed. Pissing in the wind against automatic weapons though.