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

night, crooning over him as he gave him his milk, and had only had time to have a swift wash and change out of his work clothes when the door knocker sounded.

‘That’ll be him,’ Bobby said unnecessarily. Ruby glanced nervously at him, then walked slowly to the door. She stopped, took a breath, then opened it to see Charlie on her front step looking like a king would.

‘Please come inside,’ she said graciously, as if entertaining crime bosses was something they did as a matter of course. She could feel his masculine presence as he followed her down the dark narrow hallway to the front room.

She gestured for him to enter but he said, unexpectedly, ‘I’d prefer to meet in the kitchen. I find a kitchen table is the best place for business, if ya don’t mind, Ruby?’

‘As you wish,’ Ruby murmured and seconds later all three of them were standing around her table.

‘Please take a seat,’ she said as if hosting a banquet. ‘Do you want tea?’

Charlie shook his head. He sat himself down, his impeccable suit and tie, that expensive waft of cologne and his Italian shoes as out of place in their home as it was possible to be.

‘I’m not ’ere to drink tea. Nice place you got ’ere, though,’ he said politely, giving Ruby a nod, which made her blush.

‘It’s home and it’s clean,’ she stated a little defensively.

Charlie turned to look at her and nodded. It was a small gesture to himself, as if to say he understood everything. ‘I was born in a council flat in Poplar near the market. My wife Maureen came from the Isle of Dogs when it was real rough. We know what ’ard times are. D’you know where we live now?’ It was more of a rhetorical question. Bobby just stared at Charlie, hardly able to believe that a kingpin, a man so feared, would be sitting inside his house about to talk business. ‘We live in Chigwell, the posh bit, in a mansion. I’ve got seven bedrooms, three bathrooms, and my wife spends half the year out at our villa in Spain. I’m guessin’ you might like a life like that too.’

Bobby shrugged but his gaze never left Charlie’s face.

As if understanding the locksmith’s reticence, the crime boss nodded.

‘So, you’re the one with the talent,’ he said to Bobby. ‘I’m told you’ve got a way with locks. I’m told you’re the best in the business.’

Bobby shrugged again but this time he smiled at Charlie. ‘All I know is I find it easy, Mr Beaumont—’

‘Call me Charlie. Now, what I need is someone loyal, someone who won’t talk, someone who won’t squeal. Are you that person, Bobby?’

Ruby looked at her brother, willing him to agree. She knew he was reluctant. Would he let her down?

He didn’t. Bobby nodded, ‘I am Mr . . . Charlie. I won’t let ya down. I’m the best there is and I’m loyal.’

With that, Bobby excused himself and left the room, leaving Ruby if not triumphant, then pleased at least.

‘I take it you’re the brains behind the operation.’ It wasn’t a question.

Ruby grinned. ‘I am – but my brother isn’t stupid. He’s smart as they come when it comes to gettin’ into anythin’ or anywhere you might wish.’

She knew that Charlie would be able to spot honest men – or liars – a mile off. You didn’t get to be an underworld boss without instinct. It was hard to believe, but Ruby could tell by looking at Charlie that Bobby had passed the test with just a couple of words and steady demeanour. He knew already from Bobby’s reputation that he was capable, now he knew he’d keep his mouth shut. That’s all Charlie needed to know.

‘Listen, Charlie, we want to go big-time. We want bigger jobs – for bigger rewards.’ Ruby’s eyes glittered in the dim light.

Charlie nodded. ‘I can see you’re ambitious. I like that, especially in a woman. You’ve got a lot to learn, though, Ruby. I’ll take you both on, see if you’re up to it, and if you are . . .’

‘. . . if we are?’ Ruby tried to keep the excitement from her voice.

Charlie chuckled. She didn’t fool him. He could feel her desire to be better, have better than this. If he was being cruel he’d describe their home as a hovel. Well, good. He liked people with nothing to lose, and something about Ruby made him want to help her up the ladder.

‘We’ll talk more when this job’s done.’

Perhaps it was his fatherly instincts kicking in? He’d lost his only son Michael in a motorcycle accident at the age of nineteen. Neither him nor Maureen had ever got over the loss fully, and here were three orphans, needing direction if they were going to navigate the shark-infested waters of the crime network of East London.

He nodded his head as if he’d communicated all this to her. Charlie had given his consent to the job. He’d sussed out her brother. The interview was over.

Without a word, Ruby stood up. Charlie smiled. There was a connection between them, nothing sexual, but he saw something in this woman. He saw her beauty and her elegant ways, and more than that, he understood the raw anger and ambition that lay beneath her calm exterior. I can use these two. I can take them far, he thought to himself. He brushed off imaginary crumbs, stood up and held out a hand to Bobby, who had reappeared in the doorway.

‘It’s ’appenin’ tomorrow night. Be ready at 11 p.m. Meet my associate at The Anchor and he’ll go with ya. Get in, get the money and get out. If ya can do this then there’s thirty grand in it for ya, half the takin’s. Not bad for a night’s work.’ Charlie’s instructions were for Bobby.

Ruby showed him out. As he left, he handed her a piece of paper with the address. ‘So you can case the joint,’ he smiled.

When she’d shut the door behind him, she moved into