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This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Andy McNab joined the infantry as a boy soldier. In 1984 he was ‘badged’ as a member of 22 SAS Regiment and was involved in both covert and overt special operations worldwide.

During the Gulf War he commanded Bravo Two Zero, a patrol that, in the words of his commanding officer, ‘will remain in regimental history for ever’. Awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Military Medal (MM) during his military career, McNab was the British Army’s most highly decorated serving soldier when he finally left the SAS in February 1993. He wrote about his experiences in two phenomenal bestsellers, Bravo Two Zero, which was filmed starring Sean Bean, and Immediate Action.

His novels include Remote Control, Liberation Day, Dark Winter, Deep Black and Aggressor and are all bestsellers. He is also the author of four novels for children, Boy Soldier, Avenger, Payback and Meltdown as well as this Quick Read novel. Besides his writing work, he lectures to security and intelligence agencies in both the USA and the UK.

Kevin Dodds leads a dull, uneventful life. He has a steady job at the bank, a nice house and car. His wife goes to Bingo on a Saturday night, but he usually stays in to save money.

But Kevin has spent enough quiet nights in watching TV and decides he’d like a night out himself. And he’s not talking about a pint and a packet of peanuts down at the local. He’s going to attempt to pull off a daring bank robbery single handed.

Also by Andy McNab

Non-fiction

Bravo Two Zero

Immediate Action

Fiction

Remote Control

Crisis Four

Firewall

Last Light

Liberation Day

Dark Winter

Deep Black

Aggressor

Recoil

FROM HIS DESK Kevin looked through the glass security screen at the three men in long raincoats about to rob the bank. He could see the shapes of their sawn-off shotguns bulging out from under their coats. His heart started to beat faster, almost jumping out of his chest. Why hadn’t anyone else noticed?

One robber stood at the credit point. He was going to make sure no one got in or out of the bank’s main door once the robbery went down. Another was in the queue for Gary, the only clerk on duty at that time in the afternoon. He would hand a note to Gary that read, ‘Put both hands where I can see them and call the manager. If not, you all die.’ The third man, the leader, was reading a poster about bank loans. He was close to the security door that led to the staff side of the screen.

Kevin knew what would happen. Gary would call the manager and he would be told to open the security door. The gang leader would burst in and grab the cash while the other two controlled the customers and staff.

The plan was simple, quick and violent. Anyone in their way would get the good news from the business end of the shotguns. They must be on drugs because Kevin couldn’t understand why they weren’t worried about the cameras, which would already have taped enough film for the police to ID them. But Kevin didn’t have time to think about that now. He had to take action. He reached under his desk and felt for the alarm that would alert the local police station.

His hand shook a little as it hovered near the button. From his office he watched Gary say goodbye to Mr Field and start talking to another customer. The robber was next in line.

The second robber, standing at the credit point, headed for the main door. The leader undid his raincoat, ready to draw down his gun before he burst through the security door. Kevin’s throat was dry as he moved his hand away from the alarm button. It was too late. The police wouldn’t get there in time. Customers’ lives were in danger and someone had to save them.

That someone had to be Kevin. Only he could see what was about to happen. He couldn’t shout and raise the alarm. The gang might panic and try to shoot their way out. The only way to stop the robbery was to jump the leader before he passed the note to Gary. If Kevin had the leader’s gun, he could arrest the robbers himself. If the other two drew down their weapons to take him on, he would just have to shoot it out with them. He felt a little excited at the prospect.

Gary had nearly finished with his customer. The robber was next. Now wasn’t the time for thinking. It was the time for doing. Kevin took a deep breath and prepared to take down the three-man crew.

‘DODDS! WAKE UP. If you stopped dreaming, you might get some work done! You’re the laziest man I’ve ever met.’ Albert Symington, the bank manager, was clearly in another bad mood. ‘Remember, Dodds, I want that report in first thing on Monday morning.’

Kevin watched Gary greet the robber. Well, actually, it was Greg Jameson who ran the local heel bar. In fact, none of the three robbers were really robbers. And it wasn’t only the robbers who were wearing raincoats. Every customer had one on today because it was raining. It had been all day. But that didn’t worry Kevin. He liked to day-dream, and play ‘what if’. He was bored out of his mind at work. He wanted a bit of excitement.

Symington was still yelling at him but Kevin just smiled. He always smiled when his boss yelled. ‘The report? I’ve already done it, Mr Symington.’ He pulled it, in its new blue folder, from his desk drawer. ‘I finished it today, during lunch.’

It was a shame his day-dream had been ruined just before the good bit. Kevin wouldn’t play action hero today. Never mind, there was always tomorrow. No doubt he would finish his work early then too.

Gary nodded at it. ‘He does like having a go at you, doesn’t he, Kev?’ He kept his voice down. Nothing wrong with Symington’s hearing.

Kevin shrugged as he watched Gary’s fingers flick through the notes. ‘Yep, but what’s new?’ He picked up the stapler. Symington didn’t only shout at Kevin, he shouted at all four of the staff for being too slow or lazy. It was really Symington who was slow and lazy. He was the only one not doing his job properly. Unless, of course, he was meant to go around and shout at people all day.

Gary slipped a paper band round a thousand pounds’ worth of twenties, then started on another wad. He was the only one of them who could count and talk at the same time. ‘Don’t know why the little shit doesn’t leave you alone. You always get the worst of it, and you’re doing his job as well as your own.’

Gary didn’t even look at the notes as he counted them. Kevin thought he would be better suited to dealing cards in Las Vegas than working in a bank.

Kevin had worked in this poxy bank for nine years now. Since leaving college, he had slogged his way up the ladder from trainee to deputy manager, and what thanks did he get? He’d saved Symington’s arse hundreds of times, but all he ever got was abuse. Symington was great at sucking up to Head Office, but he was crap at running a bank. Even a bank as small as this one. He made The Office’s David Brent look like Richard Branson. But instead of answering Symington back, and telling him how crap he was, Kevin kept quiet. For nine years he had held his tongue and covered up Symington’s mistakes. He had done it so often, that it had become the norm.