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The Russian told us we weren't allowed to go out, so we raided the mini bar and got absolutely hammered. We were so nervous about the following day, it was all we could to do try to relax. When the Russian came to our room the next day, he found us passed out, fully clothed and surrounded by empty miniatures, and went absolutely mad. He dragged us out of bed and into the car without even letting us get some breakfast. It was a grey, rainy day and I'll remember that drive to Heathrow forever: we couldn't wait to get out of the stinking country.

In the car, he handed us a wad of dosh each, all in US dollars. This was our £1,500 spending money. It was magical: we just kept smelling the sweet waft of those bank notes. We'd never seen that much money in our lives. Never mind cocaine – we were high on life.

As we pulled up to Departures, the Russian turned to us and said, 'You will be watched all the time by my people. Do not even think of cheating me or backing out. Remember what I said. I do not fuck about. Now, go.' And that was that.

It really was as fast as that.

We started spending the Russian's money straight away, on aftershave, 800 fags and a bottle of Scotch.

After boarding, and as the plane took off, I looked out of the window. The clouds were as one, a pure bank of whiteness stretching away into the distance, the sun