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

insisted on heading out to the local village to buy fresh bread for them all to eat for breakfast. She ambled down the hill, enjoying the feeling of the morning sunshine on her skin. She was wearing a white Prada bikini covered by a coral-coloured kaftan. She carried a raffia bag with just her purse and keys. The insects were already buzzing in the palm trees and exotic flowers, and she felt a giddy sense of freedom, one she’d rarely, if ever, felt before. Ruby queued at the small bakery, buying enough bread for the day. She pottered around some of the stalls being set up for market day as it was still early, before heading back to the villa.

‘You look so happy, darlin’,’ Maureen remarked as she walked in to the villa.

Ruby felt it. Seeing George’s wonderment at the sight of the sand and the sea had woken something of that feeling in herself too. They spent the morning building new sandcastles while George giggled and shouted, ‘My bucket!’ They helped him to fill it up, the gentle waves lapping against the shoreline.

Later, Maureen, Ruby and George met with the developer who showed them a smaller but no less luxurious villa only a few moments’ walk away.

‘It’s the last one left,’ he said.

Ruby stared at the white walls, the big open windows and the view of the sea below them. She turned to Maureen and said, ‘We’ll take it. Bobby won’t be able to believe his eyes when he sees it.’

The developer nodded and the deal was done. Charlie would handle the purchase.

‘Thank you, Maureen, thank you, Charlie, it’s beautiful,’ Ruby said that evening as they opened a bottle of wine to toast the villa.

‘It’s what ya deserve,’ Charlie said, waving away her thanks.

The phone rang and Maureen rose to answer it.

‘Hello, who’s that?’ she said, then went silent as she listened.

Suddenly, Ruby felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. She knew something was wrong.

‘Everythin’ all right?’ Ruby called, but Maureen didn’t reply.

Seconds later, Charlie’s wife reappeared, looking flustered.

‘I’m so sorry, darlin’, but I’ve got to fly back to England. My mum’s had a heart attack and I ’ave to be there for her. That was the nurse at the hospital. I hate to be rude, but we’ve got to go now.’

Ruby jumped up from the table and took Maureen’s hands. ‘I’ll help ya pack, we’ll get the first flight out of ’ere—’

‘No, darlin’, stay ’ere with George. Finish your holiday,’ Charlie interjected, taking charge. ‘There’s no sense in us all goin’ back. I’ll go make the arrangements.’

Maureen’s face was pale.

‘Come on, we’ll get you packed in no time. I’m sure she’ll be fine, she’s in the best hands.’ Ruby tried to comfort her friend.

An hour later, and the flight had been booked. Goodness knows how Charlie managed to get seats, but he did.

Ruby waved off the Beaumonts, praying they’d get there in time. Maureen had said it didn’t look good. She couldn’t settle for the rest of the day; Ruby could think of little else apart from Maureen’s mother.

The next morning, the phone rang again.

‘It’s all OK, Ruby. Mum’s shaken but it wasn’t a big heart attack. Everythin’s goin’ to be fine. Now, you just enjoy yourself. Charlie’s sortin’ the villa purchase from ’ere so there’s nuthin’ for ya to do except relax.’

‘I’m so glad, Maureen, I was so worried,’ Ruby said, thrilled at the news.

‘There’s a lovely restaurant right on the seafront we hadn’t been to if you’re lookin’ for a nice place to eat. They do lunches for children too so George will be happy. Listen, enjoy yourself, that’s an order from Charlie!’ Maureen rang off.

Her friend’s words echoing in her ears, Ruby made a decision to go and see this place. It sounded lovely and she knew Maureen would like to think of them eating out there.

She took George down to the beach and they spent a happy morning together. At midday, she went in search of the small restaurant, finding it easily further along the bay. It had curling vines as a canopy and palm trees in ornate pots between the charming tables.

‘This looks lovely, George. Hold there, I’ll get you out of your buggy,’ she said, lifting up her brother and settling him on her lap. It was still early for lunch and Ruby was the only customer. She ordered a café con leche and bocadillo alongside an ice cream for her brother from the waiter.

Ruby looked particularly elegant that day in a white Chloé dress with matching heeled sandals and a little make-up. Her pale skin seemed to shimmer and her green eyes shone as this luxurious new future rolled out in front of her. Although she worried on the nights Bobby was out doing the jobs, she never felt afraid that there would be consequences. She trusted Charlie, and her own intuition, implicitly, and so far she hadn’t lost a night’s sleep over the robberies they’d done. The moral side of it was less easy to shake off. Ruby told herself that the businesses they robbed were very wealthy and could afford a few losses here and there. She reasoned to herself that insurance would cover most of them, except the paintings, of course, but, again, they were seriously wealthy people, and theft must go with the territory. No one ever got harmed, no one was ever hurt as they were all done at night when the staff were asleep in their own homes.

Lost in her thoughts as she chatted to little George, she didn’t see the two handsome men who had spotted her and made a beeline for the restaurant.

‘Isn’t he a handsome boy,’ said the deep, masculine voice above her.

Ruby jumped.

‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare ya.’ The man sounded genuinely sorry. Ruby looked up. Her gaze met the most startling pair of blue eyes she’d ever seen. They belonged to a man about the same age as her, dressed expensively in