I had to get out of the house. It was the only way I would survive. I took a few seconds to look at the map and the Satnav Six had left. No way I’d have time to study it later.

The team of four were metres from the front door. I could see one of them listening on an earpiece – coordinating with the team of three at the back.

Seconds left – until both teams broke in.

No sign of the other shadowy figure lurking somewhere out the front.

I rifled through the go bag and came up with a hurried plan.

I grabbed some tape and the smoke grenades and darted to the back door. I taped the pins to the door and the main body of each grenade to the frame – so you couldn’t open the door without them going off.

The flash bangs had digital timers. I took a rough guess and set half of them, placing them around the door.

I crept back to the front. They were about to beak in.

I ducked by the door and eased open the door to listen.

Someone counted down in a whisper:

“Five. Four. Three.”

I shoved a flash bang through the letterbox, then another. I dived from the door, squeezed my eyes shut and clamped my hands over my eyes.

The blinding flash burned bright through my eyelids and the bang roared through my ears.

Then there was a crash – as the second team burst through the back door.

There was another loud bang and a blinding flash.

Then a BOOM. Smoke billowed through the house.

I jumped to my feet, feeling dazed and spaced out from the grenades. I hauled the front door open.

A big figure in dark combat fatigues lumbered straight at the front door. He saw me and drew back his gloved fist to punch me flat.

In that split-second I saw the other three clambering to his feet. They all wore earpieces and some kind of glasses, which had probably taken the edge off.

And I hadn’t been quick enough.

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