The Locksmith Linda Calvey (phonics readers .txt) 📖

and fro from Spain, but they spoke most evenings, and they were becoming closer each day that passed. He’d taken her out for meals at some of the best restaurants in London, The Ivy, Nobu and The Savoy. Ruby had started to confide in him about work, to ask for his opinion, even though it was always her judgement that she relied on most. Archie was meeting an important contact that day so she knew she couldn’t speak to him.

Freddie coughed. ‘Sorry to rush ya but I need a decision. Bob’s the best but there are other key-men I can ask. I wanted to put the deal to you first, as a sign of goodwill, to make up for things. So, what d’ya say?’

‘All right, we’ll do it. Shake hands on a hundred grand today and Bobby will be there,’ Ruby said at last.

‘You made the right choice, Ruby Green Eyes. There’s one thing, though: you can’t risk them being suspicious if you turn up at a diamond warehouse. Sorry, Ruby, but you’ll ’ave to trust I know what I’m doin’. I’m sendin’ Smithy, my best man, in with Bob. He knows the ropes and he’s been in there with me when I’ve picked up Lisa.’

‘Lisa?’ Ruby asked.

‘The girl I mentioned. She’s not important. Anyway, wait for my message. It’s next Wednesday.’

Freddie turned and left just as Charlie was getting out of his BMW. ‘Freddie Harris, you’re the last person I’d expect to be ’ere – and to get out alive. Seen Ruby, ’ave ya?’ Charlie smirked. He walked inside and immediately turned to Ruby.

‘What the hell was that weasel doin’ ’ere?’

Ruby frowned. ‘I’ve just agreed to do a job for him, and I’m startin’ to regret it, however much he wants to pay us . . . I’ll just call him and cancel.’

It was Charlie’s turn to frown.

‘You can’t do that, Ruby. As you once said to me: a deal’s a deal. You’ve shaken ’ands on it?’

Bobby nodded.

‘Well then, it’s a cert. You can’t go back on your word. I just hope, for your sake, he’s talkin’ sense.’

With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she knew Charlie was right. They would look like right mugs if Freddie spread the word they’d reneged on a deal. These things got round.

‘I promise you this, Ruby, if he does try and ’ave you both over, then I’ll deal with him myself. You and Bobby, and little George of course, are family to us now. And we look after our own.’

Ruby smiled at the man who’d come to mean so much to her. He’d taken her under his wing, introduced her to people who wanted to pay good money for Bobby’s skills without fear of being mugged off because they were under his protection. She had no choice – she had to trust him.

Finally, she nodded. It was her turn to refuse to meet Bobby’s eye. ‘I need to go and wake George, he’s been sleepin’ too long,’ she said, feeling suddenly tearful. She didn’t want to admit it, but she’d come to see Charlie and Maureen as surrogate parents, and their protection meant a great deal to her, though she wished they didn’t need it.

‘A hundred thousand nicker, Ruby. Just think, you could buy yourself a bigger home with that,’ Bobby added, glancing at Charlie, hoping he’d back him up, try to soothe her.

Charlie whistled. ‘That’s a nice fee, Ruby. I wouldn’t turn down money like that.’

The night of the heist arrived. Ruby had become increasingly nervous and restless as the days passed, so that she was almost relieved by the time it came to watch Bobby go through the same ritual he did before every break-in. He’d come to the kitchen, peeling off his gold chain and the signet ring of Dad’s that he always wore. He’d hand them to Ruby and ask her to keep them safe. She nodded her reply, as he stuffed a black wig, black leather gloves and the skeleton keys into his holdall. He was already dressed head-to-toe in black clothing.

The plan was that Freddie would pick Bobby up in his van just past 11 p.m. and they’d drive into central London together to a large jeweller in the West End. Inside was the safe containing the fortune that Freddie had promised to share.

It was just gone 11 p.m. when Bobby looked over at the clock and announced he was off.

Ruby said nothing, hoping that the feeling of unease might finally disappear.

It didn’t.

He walked out of the front door, pulling it gently to behind him. They weren’t overlooked but they did have neighbours, and she didn’t want anyone to spot Bobby going out dressed as he was.

‘Don’t worry, Rube, I’ll be fine,’ Bobby whispered as he shut the door, giving her a last look. His face was in shadow as he spoke, then he disappeared off into the night. Ruby was left standing in the hallway of her immaculate home, the scent of lilies in the air, the silence closing in around her.

‘Come back safe, Bobby,’ she replied softly before turning round and walking back into the kitchen. Her vigil was just beginning.

The hours passed slowly. Ruby was too fidgety to sit still, too restless to watch TV or read a book. She paced backwards and forwards, never settling to anything, her nerves preventing her from dozing while she waited – and waited.

Several hours later, she heard the soft click of the front door opening. Seconds later, Bobby appeared. He was grinning.

‘It was all fine. No trouble. No bother from Freddie. Everythin’ went smoothly. He’d paid off the security guards and everythin’ was as Freddie said it would be. Are ya happy now?’ he said, yawning. The initial adrenaline rush after a successful raid had clearly started to wear off and Bobby looked pale in the low light.

Ruby stared at him, then her shoulders relaxed. Perhaps she’d misjudged Freddie after all. Perhaps he really had let the past lie.

Just as Ruby stood up, Bobby threw a small