The Locksmith Linda Calvey (phonics readers .txt) 📖

she stuffed her old bag into the shopping bag and placed the designer bag on her arm.

Back home, she packed away the drooping market bag, placing it like a precious relic inside tissue paper and storing it at the back of her wardrobe. She felt an ache in her heart as she closed the wardrobe door, shutting her past away for ever.

CHAPTER 19

‘So, what’s the job, Charlie?’ Ruby said, twirling the spaghetti around her fork expertly. She was comfortable now in the presence of the gangster, this time back in the Italian restaurant, sensing she was under his protection. He’d told her he’d make sure Bobby did the best jobs, but he needed him full-time. For the past few weeks she’d been meeting Charlie regularly, and he’d told her which jobs her brother would do – if she agreed to them.

‘It’s an easy one this time, Ruby,’ Charlie said, dabbing the corner of his mouth with the starched white napkin. He leaned forwards, his muscular arms clad in his expensive suit resting on the table. ‘All Bobby has to do is open the warehouse and make sure the alarms don’t go off.’

‘What’s inside this warehouse, Charlie?’ Ruby asked, taking a small sip of her wine. She never drank much. She hated the feeling of being tipsy and so she only ever had a few small sips to be sociable.

The crime boss looked over at her. ‘I ’ave it on good authority that a lorry will be inside that warehouse on the night with a full load of cigarettes which ’ave cleared customs. All we ’ave to do is get inside and it’s rich pickings.’

‘And when you say “rich pickings”, what does that mean for my Bobby?’ Ruby smiled, sitting back in her seat and looking over at the man who had become so important in her life. A few weeks ago she barely knew him, only having heard of him through Sarah’s dad who had done some work for him years ago. She’d known he was the local hard man, and remembered wishing she’d never meet him. In a million years, she’d never have thought she’d be sitting across from the same dangerous man enjoying a perfect Italian meal and being treated as an equal. Times had changed but so had Ruby. She knew Bobby’s worth. She knew that good key-men were rare, and those who could work quickly and expertly were worth their weight in gold. Ruby had grown up in the crime-ravaged back streets of London. Her family might’ve been honest but she heard the gossip, she saw the winners – and losers – and she had ears to listen.

It was Ruby’s mission now to convert that expertise to gold, and Charlie was her champion, if the price was right.

‘I wondered when we’d get to that. Always sharp, ain’t ya, Ruby,’ Charlie chuckled. He eased himself back. In many ways he was a man in his prime. He had streaks of grey in his thick brown hair, which was cut expensively, yet he retained his good looks despite the life he’d led and the battles he’d won.

Ruby shrugged but the smile didn’t leave her face.

‘We’ll split it fifty-fifty. I can’t say fairer than that. So, Ruby Murphy, is it a deal?’ It was Charlie’s turn to grin.

‘It is, Charlie, but on one condition . . .’ Ruby replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief in the low light.

Charlie raised his eyebrows. He was always surprised by this woman. He never knew quite what she’d say or do, and that’s what intrigued him. In many ways, she reminded him of himself as a young man, keen to prove himself, to know his value and take a risk for high stakes.

‘My condition is that you let me buy dinner,’ Ruby laughed, which made Charlie roar. He shook his head. ‘Well, it’s been a while since a woman paid for me, but go on then, I’ll give ya that. Now, do we ’ave a deal?’

Ruby nodded. She put down her fork and placed her napkin on the table. It was her turn to end the meeting, she’d decided.

With a small gesture to the attentive waiter, she placed a wad of cash on the table. ‘And that’s a tip for you,’ she finished, smiling at the young man who seemed lost for words.

Charlie looked on. He liked a woman who took charge, and who looked after those around her who weren’t considered to be so important. He nodded his approval and stood up. Driving her back home, he got down to business. ‘Bobby will be picked up for this one. They’ll drive there. I won’t say where it is but believe me, it’s all good, all sorted.’

Ruby liked to stake out targets herself, but for once, she decided to trust Charlie on this. It sounded like the warehouse was a journey away so she nodded her agreement. One of them had to be at home to take care of George. The time and date was set, and all Ruby had to do was wait.

Back at home, she went over the details with her brother, who listened placidly as she outlined the plan. ‘All you ’ave to do is open up the place, then a couple of other lads will drive the lorry out to a different warehouse where they’ll unload it. You’ll need to lock up the original storage place so when the mobile security does their checks, there’ll be no suspicion of the robbery.

‘It’s an inside job and it’s bona fide.’

Bobby nodded and shrugged. ‘Sounds simple enough to me, Rube. What’s our cut?’

Ruby looked over at him and allowed a small smile of triumph to creep onto her face. ‘It’s fifty-fifty. Charlie knows how to keep a good key-man onside.’

That made Bobby laugh even though he was shaking his head. ‘You were born for this, Rube.’

‘Maybe I was, Bobby. Maybe I was . . .’

Ruby yawned. She picked up her Louis Vuitton bag and headed upstairs, checking in on George, who was now sleeping