The Locksmith Linda Calvey (phonics readers .txt) 📖

Bobby almost choked.

‘What are you on about? ’Ave ya lost ya marbles?’

‘No, but you’re goin’ to ’ave to trust me.’

Did she have the courage to do what was in her mind? She sat still for a long time after Bobby went up to bed, even though the urge to sleep was almost irresistible. She wanted to be absolutely sure of the next step. Their lives might depend upon it. Did she have the guts to face Charlie, to take the risk? Somewhere, deep down, she knew she did.

The next morning, Ruby picked up a wad of money, and, leaving Bobby to gape after her, little George in his arms, she walked out of her home. ‘If I’m not back by dinner time then take George and get the hell out of London,’ were Ruby’s last words as she closed the door behind her, leaving Bobby, pale and shaken. She wasn’t feeling too good herself. In truth, she had never felt so scared, so unsure of herself, yet she knew what she was going to do – and she knew that whatever happened next would be their making, or their downfall.

Ruby met Charlie at the agreed place, a greasy spoon café in Old Street. He drew out a chair for her as if they were dining in The Ritz rather than about to sip from mugs with chips in the rim.

Ruby swallowed. ‘I’ve come with the money, but there’s a problem . . .’ Ruby’s throat was bone dry. Every nerve in her body was straining. She felt nauseous, and wondered for a second if she shouldn’t just throw the money at him and run.

‘It’s good to see ya, Ruby,’ Charlie said, stirring a heaped teaspoon of sugar into his cup. His eyes were ice blue as they locked her gaze.

Ruby’s hands shook in her lap. Calm down, it’s just business, just business . . . she tried to soothe herself. Carefully, she placed the bag on the table. ‘There’s ten grand in there,’ she said, looking him full in the eyes.

He leaned forward as if to hear her better, his muscular frame towering over her.

‘Whoever told ya there was more in that safe was lyin’,’ she continued, her voice shaking just a little, though she kept her gaze steady. If he was going to threaten her or hurt her, now was the moment, though perhaps it would be worse than that. Perhaps she would end up buried in concrete, or her body dumped on local wasteland. She swallowed again.

Charlie looked down at the bag then up at her. Her gaze was defiant, strong now.

‘There was only forty grand in that safe, and we agreed thirty for doin’ the job, so if my maths is correct, then that leaves you with this. A deal’s a deal.’ Ruby felt her skin prickle with sweat. She could hardly believe she was saying this to a man who could kill her as easily as look at her.

Charlie stared down at the bag. His face was harsh, lined and scarred, but he was still a handsome man. If he chose not to believe her then he’d demand all the money, leaving them thirty grand down and with a formidable enemy. Had she played this right? The next few seconds would tell. Ruby knew with one word in the right person’s ear, she’d be dead before tonight.

Eventually, Charlie looked up at her, his face expressionless. She stared back, refusing to drop her eyes, refusing to submit to this dangerous man. She knew they’d done nothing wrong. She only prayed he’d realise it.

Suddenly, he barked with laughter. ‘You’re as ruthless as you’re beautiful,’ he said with genuine amusement. ‘I don’t think ’alf the men I employ would ’ave the balls to say to my face what you just did.’

Ruby started to speak again but Charlie stopped her with one wave of his hand.

‘You’ve got some nerve, comin’ in ’ere and tellin’ me I’m twenty grand short and wantin’ me to believe that it weren’t you and Bobby who nicked it.’

‘It’s true,’ she said simply. In that moment, she sensed that this would be OK.

Charlie sat back in his seat. ‘You’re in luck. The associate of mine I sent with Bobby wasn’t just there to show him the safe. I needed to know you were kosher. He told me the cash was short.’

Ruby gasped. ‘So, it was a test? You made me sweat to see what we’d do?’

Charlie nodded. ‘And I’m impressed, girl, I really am. You’ve got balls, Ruby Murphy, I’ll give ya that.’

Ruby felt enraged, then elated. It was her first big test of courage – and she’d passed with flying colours.

‘I can teach ya stuff, Ruby, show you how it’s done, shape you into somethin’,’ he continued, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin, which he placed carefully under the now empty mug. ‘I’ve got plans for you – and your brother – but first I’ve got a present for ya, though I can’t decide whether to give it to ya now you’ve cost me a fair few nicker. It’s from my wife, she chose it.’

Ruby looked at him quizzically.

‘Just open it,’ was all he said, handing over a large Louis Vuitton shopping bag. Ruby almost whistled as she pulled out a black snakeskin bag worth thousands. She knew its worth because she’d seen one just like it in her magazine, never thinking she’d ever actually own one.

‘You need to look the part. Can’t ’ave ya meetin’ contacts with scruffy gear.’ Charlie said, looking pointedly at her worn handbag.

Ruby placed her arm over it almost protectively, wanting to refuse the immaculate gift, but she knew he was right. She had to look the part. It was no good walking into the kind of dodgy big-money deals that she sensed she would be doing from now on with a knock-off from the market, even if it had been the last gift her mother had given her. Almost sadly,