The Locksmith by Linda Calvey (reading in the dark .TXT) 📕

the distance. They were three orphans in a harsh world, and she would protect them all come what may, in any way she could, and by any means possible.

In that moment, as she mourned her adored mum and her wonderful father, her heart hardened. It had to. Everything had changed. Where once she was appalled by crooked work and making easy money, now she was focused only on providing for her family. She thought about Bobby, about his skills at lock-breaking, the skills that were a rarity in the underworld, and she knew which path she’d chosen.

PART TWO

NEW LIFE, BAD HABITS

Canning Town,

London, 1993

CHAPTER 16

A runner for a big-time blagger Charlie Beaumont came to their door. He already knew to ask for Ruby. The brother and sister team had a reputation for getting jobs done.

They were still small-time though, doing carefully chosen break-ins, but they could feed themselves and take care of their small family. They’d even managed to give Cathy the kind of send-off their mother deserved – horses in black plumes, a Victorian carriage to carry the coffin and a limousine to carry Ruby, Bobby and George. But most of all Ruby was grateful they had enough money that she could spend time with George, and give him the care he needed instead of trying to hold down a job while being a full-time mother to a small baby. Over the last two years George had grown into a boisterous, happy toddler and while they still missed Cathy and Louie, they were happy.

Coming to the attention of someone like Charlie, though, wasn’t something that Ruby had planned for. But gossip in the pubs and shops spread to Charlie’s ears, and now she had a shady-looking geezer slouching in their doorway. This could mean trouble or opportunity, but either way Charlie Beaumont wasn’t someone you said no to.

When Bobby got home she handed over George, who screamed in delight at seeing his big brother. Some people said taking care of children was woman’s work, but they hadn’t seen the way Bobby was with little George.

‘All right, little man. It’s good to see you, too,’ Bobby laughed as he juggled the squirming bundle of little boy. As soon as he got George settled he turned his head to speak to Ruby, but was left with his mouth hanging open as he took in his sister.

Ruby was dressed in her best, hair done, heels on.

‘Goin’ somewhere special, sis?’

‘It would seem so,’ Ruby answered. She knew Bobby wasn’t going to be happy when she told him about Charlie, but they were a team. ‘We had a visitor earlier, a runner from Charlie Beaumont.’

‘Charlie Beaumont! What would the likes of him want with us?’

‘About what you’d expect,’ Ruby answered. ‘Seems he’s interested in your skills . . .’

‘Rube. I don’t know. Pullin’ some small jobs, getting by . . . That’s one thing. But workin’ for the likes of Charlie? That’s another thing altogether.’

‘I’m not sure we ’ave a choice, Bobby. He’s asked to meet me, and that’s what I’m goin’ to do. Besides, this could be our big break! Just think, we could soon be rakin’ in cash hand over fist.’ Ruby laughed and smiled at her brother, but inside she was a mix of terrified and excited.

She was going out, alone, to meet an armed robber who inspired an equal mix of fear and celebrity in the East End. The idea of working for a blagger had been unthinkable even a year or two ago. Now, it could be the next step on the path Ruby had chosen.

‘I don’t like it, Rube,’ Bobby said, his face stern in the low light of evening. He held little George close to him as if his bulk could protect him from what they were getting into.

‘It’s fine, Bobby, it’ll be fine,’ Ruby murmured. ‘Working for Charlie could be a different world. We’d be looked after, ’ave bigger jobs, more respect, more money. It could be a good thing.’

Bobby nodded. They both knew what working for a big-time villain meant. It meant you were accepted. It meant nicer things, bigger cars, nicer clothes, but, most importantly, it meant you had a protector, someone bigger to lean on, if you did things right.

‘But what if we do somethin’ wrong? What if we don’t like playin’ these games? What do we do then?’ Bobby insisted.

Ruby smiled but, inside, she shuddered. ‘We ’ave to play. We ’ave no choice.’

Ruby left Bobby with little George and headed out. She’d taken care dressing herself, selecting a new silk blouse and a smart red skirt. She’d dusted on face powder gently, and pulled a mascara wand through her long lashes. She was as ready as she could be.

As the door of the Beckton Arms shut behind her, a hush formed over the smoky bar that smelled of cheap aftershave and expensive beer. For a moment, Ruby felt like she’d walked into a saloon, as all heads swivelled to stare at her, and conversations stopped mid-sentence, every man in that place wondering what on earth a woman was doing there unaccompanied, especially one who exuded glamour like she did.

Ruby stared back boldly. She looked a million dollars, and the sight of their amazement served only to bolster her confidence. Slowly, she navigated the crumpled, sticky carpet, walking up to the bar, her head held high, as if she owned the place. She flicked her long hair and stood in front of the barman, who was looking at her like a cartoon dog might look at a bone, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Two men standing at the bar moved aside, putting down their pints. There was a feeling of expectation in the room. What would happen next?

‘Gin and tonic, please,’ Ruby said without hesitation, watching her words land in the silence with wry amusement. She had never been in a pub on a Saturday night, and she had certainly never been to one alone. It wasn’t the done thing.