Andy McNab - Meltdown

'Sounds sorted,' said Danny.

'As much as it can be. But remember, Deveraux's gone along with all this, but she wasn't happy. Whatever happens tonight, she'll still have her own agenda.' The twins had ordered a cab to take them to the stadium. While they waited for it, Fergus sat with them in the hotel bar, giving them last-minute instructions and doing his best to keep Teddy's spirits up. He asked for the new numbers of their phones and programmed them into his own mobile.

'Keep yours switched on all the time,' he told them. 'If there's any sign of trouble, all you need to do is signal by hitting my number on your speed dial. I'll get you out.'

'I'm not expecting trouble,' said Will confidently. He sneered at his brother. 'I don't know what's got into you, Teddy. Our contact's a businessman. He knows a good deal when he sees it. All he wants to do is make it even better. He said as much last night.'

Teddy didn't look convinced, so Fergus came up with a few more reassuring words. 'You run away and what does that say to your guy? And what will it mean for the business? See him; talk. You brought me along to sort things out if they get ugly. I'm here. It'll be fine.'

Teddy nodded. 'I'm sure you're right. It's just that after Siddie-'

'Siddie was a small-time hood. From what I've seen, I'm guessing this bloke's in a different league. You're making him a lot of money; make him some more. And yourselves.'

Will was up for it. 'You were worried about the business coming to an end,' he said to his brother. 'You were wrong; I think this is just the beginning. A whole new beginning.'

The Nou Camp in Barcelona is the third biggest football stadium on the planet. One hundred thousand people can be seated on the three banks of terracing that climb into the sky.

In the luxury executive box, Kubara was glued to the match. He watched as Ronaldinho gathered in a pass from Deco. He dribbled the ball past one defender, and then another, before chipping in a teasing cross, which the opposition goalkeeper just managed to gather. The crowd groaned as one. 'That Ronaldinho, he is the maestro, eh?' said Kubara, smiling at the twins.

He turned to watch the replay of the action on the television monitor at the back of the box, unaware of the tiny transmitter that was hidden there, picking up every word he said, recording his every movement.

Teddy and Will didn't know one player from another – they barely knew which team was which – but they smiled and nodded and tried to appear interested, glancing nervously at Kubara's bodyguard, big and totally bald, who was standing at the back of the box. He was paying little attention to the football – that wasn't what he was paid for. His eyes were fixed on his boss and his guests.

As the opposition goalkeeper booted the ball upfield, Kubara got up and went over to revisit the impressive buffet. He filled his plate once again.

The twins sipped at glasses of mineral water and glanced at each other, surreptitiously looking at their watches. They were desperate to know what Kubara had to say to them.

So was Fergus: he was surrounded by Catalans munching on enormous hot meat sandwiches from the takeaway stands. If he had stood up and looked back, he would have been able to see right into the box, but his eyes stayed on the game. He knew exactly what was being said in the box, courtesy of the earpiece he was wearing, which was routed into the surveillance system. It looked just like a Bluetooth mobile phone earpiece so no one would have thought anything of it – least of all the excited Catalans, who were totally engrossed in the match.

Danny was sitting in his hired Corsa outside the stadium, listening to what was going on in his own earpiece and keeping a trigger on Kubara's black Merc. The driver was watching the match on the vehicle's TV.

Marcie Deveraux was sitting in front of a monitor with two of her team, watching and listening in an office close to the stadium.

Everyone was waiting to hear what Kubara was planning.

Fergus was giving a good impression of watching the game intently as Barca put together a neat series of passes. Suddenly, from way outside the box, Ronaldinho fired in a thunderous shot, which sailed past the goalkeeper's hands into the top corner of the net.

Fergus's eardrums were almost shattered as Kubara screamed his delight. On the monitor Deveraux saw him leap out of his chair as he yelled and punched the air.

Danny heard it too, and got his own view of a victory punch as the Merc driver's arm pumped upwards through the open car window.

Danny sighed. 'Barcelona must have scored. Big deal.'

He was no football fan, and neither was Fergus, who was surrounded by yelling, shouting, screaming Catalans, dancing and jigging in delight. The man on Fergus's right turned and grabbed his shoulders, beaming through tobacco-stained teeth as he hugged him like he was a long-lost brother.

Soon after the crowd had finally settled down, the referee's whistle sounded to bring an end to the first forty-five minutes and the applause rang around the stadium.

In the executive box Kubara was still eating, apparently in no hurry to get down to business. He looked over at the twins, a frown on his face. 'You should eat something – you need to keep your strength up,' he told them.

'We're not really hungry,' said Teddy.

'We ate earlier,' added Will.

The big man laughed. 'I too ate earlier.' He patted his stomach. 'But there is always room for a little more.'

Teddy wanted to get on with it. 'You said you needed to talk to us…'

Kubara continued chewing for a moment and then swallowed. 'Talk? I said we'd talk?… I don't remember. When did I say this?'

'At the restaurant,' blurted out Teddy. 'You said we'd talk at half time.'

The Bosnian put his head on one side and gazed blankly through the plate-glass window at the front of the box, as though trying to recall the conversation they had shared the previous evening.

'Oh, yes,' he said at last. 'My plans.' He shrugged. 'Well, it can wait. I'm enjoying the football. Don't you think Barcelona are the best team in the world – such skill…? We will wait till after the match.'

In the nearby office, Deveraux glanced at one of her operators. 'Clever bastard,' she breathed, recognizing the tactics. 'He's just twisting the knife.'

It was too much for Teddy. He stood up. 'No! Please – surely you can tell us now! We have a right to know what you're planning.'

'Teddy!' said Will, getting to his feet and taking his brother's arm. 'Don't let's rush Mr Kubara. We don't want to spoil his enjoyment of the match.'

Kubara smiled at Teddy and put one huge hand on his shoulder.

'No, you are right, my friend,' he said, pushing Teddy firmly back down onto his chair. 'You do have a right to know about my plans, so I shall tell you…'

He reached into an inside pocket of his leather jacket and pulled out a thin, solid silver toothpick. Carefully he slipped it into his mouth and freed something jammed between two of his back teeth.

Teddy and Will watched as he licked his lips and winked at them before putting the toothpick back in his pocket.

'The reason for our meeting… ' he said, his face still friendly and open. 'Well, it is very simple. I am taking over the business.'

Teddy's mouth gaped open. He was speechless.

'No,' said Will firmly. 'I'm afraid you've got it wrong, Mr Kubara. We're not interested in selling out.'

Kubara's mocking laugh was deep with menace. 'You people – even kids like you – you still think you rule the world. You still think we are scared of you. But you are nothing. You are not selling to me. I am taking the business. You have no strength; you are weak. From now on, you will work for me.'