Andy McNab - Dark winter

We stepped back into the street-lighting and rain.

'What did he say?'

I studied her face, wishing it would look even a little bit scared. She seemed more distant, but that was all, probably going through her own mental preparation. 'Just the normal shit, reminding me to wear my vest, and no telly or caffeine after nine o'clock.' I mimicked his Home Counties voice. ' "Take control of Dark Winter at all costs."'

Her eyes narrowed. 'He's got a job to do as well, you know.'

We reached the car and Suzy got straight into the driver's seat. 'I'll do first stag.'

I moved to the back of the car as she clicked open the boot and started to unload her documents, just as we'd done in King's Lynn. I began checking my kit, not worried about what was happening around me. Suzy would let me know if there was a problem: the engine would turn on and I'd just slam the boot, walk to my seat and we'd drive. If I got a shout from her, maybe because people were coming towards us, it would be in slow time.

The SD was loaded and made ready, but I still checked chamber and that the mag was on firmly. Then I checked that the top rounds of the spare mags were seated properly and put them into my NBC trousers. I didn't want to be changing mags and have a stoppage if the working parts came forward but got held because the round wasn't correctly positioned – not good if you've got an ASU just feet away wanting to rip your throat out.

I tapped the Mondeo's roof when I was ready and walked along the driver's side. Suzy climbed out and I was pleased to see her face had no expression at all. She was clearly tuning in.

A taxi trundled along the road behind us, splashing through the puddles. I got into the driver's side, checked the keys were in the ignition, and moved the seat back a little. Suzy was mincing about at the rear as I emptied my pockets of everything but the scaffold fixings, including the moan-phone and my own. It all went into my bumbag and was shoved under the passenger seat for what I hoped was the last time. All being well, I'd be back to pick it up in the next couple of hours.

She was ready too. I got the keys, climbed out and joined her as she slung her ready bag over her right shoulder. I chucked mine over my left to make it easier for us to walk together, then hit the key fob. 'I'm gagging for a brew.'

'Good idea. Jack Daniels and Coke will do me.'

She walked round the car and checked each door. Satisfied, she put her arm through mine and we started to walk back towards the main, placing the key under one of the chucks of concrete that diverted the traffic. There'd be no more talking from now. She would be doing exactly the same as I was, trying to visualize every step of the way, trying to create a film in her head of what she wanted to happen, starting with the padlock, as if her eyes were the camera lens and her ears the recording kit.

I visualized going through the door with the 9mm, lifting my feet as I tried to avoid making noise, starting to get my NBC kit on, avoiding any rushed movements. I imagined going upstairs, my feet moving slowly, deliberately, placing themselves on the sides of the stairs to stop them creaking. Finally, I made entry into a room with Suzy backing me as we took on the ASU. I replayed the footage three or four times on the camera inside my head, from entering the target to leaving with Suzy and Dark Winter, and the ASU dead.

Suzy pushed out some gum and her jaws got to work. Now was the time to play the fuck-ups, not later. What if the door had been obstructed? What if they hit us as we were getting the kit on? What if one escaped on to the street with the DW, or threw it out of the window? I hit play, then replay, trying to come up with answers.

It wouldn't go exactly to script – it never did. On the ground, every situation would be different from what we'd imagined. But the films in our heads were a start point; it meant we had a plan. If it all went to rat shit, at least we'd react immediately instead of standing there feeling sorry for ourselves.

I checked traser: it was just after two, but the ASU were unlikely to be asleep. They'd be jumping at every hiss of air brakes out on the road or every scratch of a rat on the plaster. If some of them were curled up in their new sleeping-bags, they'd surely have somebody on stag. Which was worse? And did it matter? The fact was, the fuckers were in there and soon we would be too.

We turned left towards King's Cross. All the late-night food places were now closed, but the pavements were strewn with their wrappers and a crateload of old Stella cans. There were fewer drunks hanging around than before, and a couple more whores, but otherwise the cast of characters looked more or less the same. The camera was pointing across the road towards the police station. Maybe its mirrored glass needed more protection at this time of night than members of the public.

As we got to the crossing that took us to the bow of the ship, Suzy pulled her selection of Ward-lock keys out of her jeans pocket. We didn't look out of place round here: this was cheap-hotel land, and backpackers and budget tourists were seen twenty-four hours a day. We crossed the road arm in arm, on to the tip of Jim's kebab shop.

I looked at her and smiled. 'You ready?'

She smiled back. 'You bet.' Her eyes passed mine and moved on to the station CCTV. 'It's still pointing over the road.'

We turned left on to Gray's Inn. When we got to the target, I put down my bag and got into position with my back against the door, holding my arms out for her. She smiled and her bag joined mine as she leant into my embrace. 'Left a bit.' I moved as ordered, and felt the lock press against my left shoulder as I ran my hands through her damp hair and gazed at her adoringly, while she got her arm up for the key then tried to see over my shoulder and get into a good position to open the padlock. 'That'll do, stay there – that's it, just there.'

There was no one else about, not that it mattered. Whatever happened, we'd just have to get on with it, as we did getting over the wall in King's Lynn. Fannying around just gives people more time to take notice.

A steady bass beat came up the road, two cars pulsating with the power of their own speakers. They revved their engines, jumping the lights up by the ship's bow less than twenty metres away as Suzy brought down the key from the door frame. I soon heard the shackle being lifted out of the hasp, and felt her breath against my neck. 'Easy.'

Suzy moved her head a little towards me as I checked the windows above the shops opposite. 'The door's giving.' Her head went back slightly to check out the station CCTV. I smiled and nodded.

I lifted my right hand off her back and moved it between us. If anybody came along now they'd think I was having a feel. Her stomach eased away from me so I could reach under my sweatshirt.

'Wait, wait.' Two figures were approaching from the direction of the ship's stern, on our side of the street.

My hand was still between us, now gripping the pistol. It was just a couple of teenagers, out on the town. Both of them saw where my hand was and obviously thought it was my lucky night. As they passed they gave me a big grin and a 'Wa-hey, get in there!' as Suzy gave me another kiss hard on the lips. She tasted a little more of gum than vomit now. I pulled her a little tighter with my left arm. Maybe this would be the last time I ever got to kiss a woman.

They disappeared towards the station and I had one last check round as I took over holding the door in position with my left hand. 'You ready?'

She gobbed out her gum, then nodded, and I gripped harder on the Browning. I took a deep breath. 'OK, stand by… stand by… go.'

She backed away slightly to give me some room and I pulled out the weapon, bringing the hammer back with my thumb.