On 6th December 1994, somebody decided to start delivering Chirstmas presents early. Wrapped in festive paper, six parcels were delivered to branches of Barclays Bank across London. Inside each parcel was a video cassette box containing a spring-loaded shotgun cartidge. The only clue to the identity of the anonymous sender was a still that appeared to be from the hit film, Reservoir Dogs, annotated with the words Welcome to the Mardi Gra Experience. There seemed to be no motive and no link between the victims. This text recounts one of the great crime mysteries of our century, telling the story of one of the most complex police operations ever staged, and of a desperate race against time.