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

sat down and waited. Within minutes, Sarah was led into the room. Her face lit up at the sight of her childhood friend. Ruby, in turn, had to hide her shock at the sight of her. Her hair was greasy, her skin grey and she looked skinnier than Ruby remembered.

‘I’ll get us some drinks,’ Ruby offered, returning with two polystyrene cups with coffee for herself and hot chocolate for Sarah. Ruby sat silently sipping the vile liquid as her friend talked.

‘I really thought he was a good ’un. Typical me to meet the dodgiest guy around then believe all his lies. He screwed me right over, Rube. He told me I could make some easy cash for us both, and like the silly cow I am, I believed him.

‘He got me nickin’ clothes to order, nice stuff from the big sports store up town. He wouldn’t give me no brown until I did the work.’

‘Don’t tell me you’ve got into that mucky drug stuff. What’s goin’ on? You never did anythin’ worse than ’ave a drink, and now this bloke has got you into heroin!’ hissed Ruby. She was furious at her mate for sinking so low.

‘Oh don’t worry, I can’t get hold of the stuff in ’ere, so I been cluckin’ badly. I can get benzos but they don’t really do the trick.’

‘Oh Sarah . . .’ Ruby now felt just sadness for her friend. She’d never really had a break in life.

‘It ain’t my fault. I just get in with the wrong people,’ Sarah ended, sniffing and looking around the room. ‘It’s not too bad in ’ere. They let me ’ave my fags, and a few of the girls are OK . . .’ Her voice trailed off. ‘Don’t forget me Ruby, will ya?’ she pleaded, fidgeting with her sleeve.

Ruby smiled tenderly at the girl she’d known. There but for the grace of God, thought Ruby, knowing her life could so easily have gone the same way.

‘I’ll never forget my roots. I’m ’ere for you. I know your family ain’t good to you, but you’ve got me, at least. When you get out we’ll go and ’ave pie ’n’ mash again. D’ya remember how we enjoyed that?’

Sarah nodded, her eyes filled with tears now.

By the end of the visiting time, Ruby waved her friend off, impatient to be out of that forbidding place. Stepping outside at last, she felt the sun on her face, the air on her skin, relief flooding her, but there was something else she realised now, a dark shadow that had slipped in beside her, warning her. Ruby shivered as she walked to her car despite the sun’s warmth.

CHAPTER 26

‘Say that again, Bobby. You did what?’ Ruby glared at her brother, who was refusing to meet her fierce gaze.

‘Rube, I’m sure no harm will come from doin’ a job for Freddie . . .’ he said weakly, still unable to look her in the eye.

‘Bobby, how could you even say to him I’d consider it? I swore we’d never work for that weasel Freddie Harris ever again,’ Ruby spat. She was furious with Bobby for giving Freddie the time of day, let alone asking her to speak to him about doing a job.

‘Look, Rube, you know how it is. We had a few beers and Freddie came over and said he’d offer us one hundred grand to do a job. He told me it’s a hundred per cent. He goes out with the girl in the office and she says there’ll be three hundred grand kept in the safe for one night only. The company specialises in rare diamonds, have done a big deal, and it’s our opportunity—’

‘The only opportunity that Freddie would offer us is doin’ his dirty work for him,’ Ruby cut in. ‘I don’t trust him, Bobby, you know that. I don’t like him either. He’s only out for himself, and I thought we’d left him and his dodgy deals behind. You’re askin’ me to deal with the least trustworthy crook in London, one who’s mugged us off before.’

‘Just hear him out, Rube. It’s big money if we can pull it off.’

Ruby gritted her teeth and nodded.

She could just picture Freddie swaggering over to Bobby in the pub after watching his beloved Hammers at their home ground. Her brother, who had been named after Bobby Moore, the captain of the England World Cup winning squad and a West Ham player, would’ve been celebrating their win when the weasel sidled up to him. In her mind’s eye, she could see Freddie buying Bobby a pint, getting chummy with him, waiting until his guard was down to strike. Her musings were interrupted by a knock on the door. ‘I’m guessin’ that’ll be Freddie,’ Ruby said archly as Bobby went to answer the door.

She was right.

‘Ruby Green Eyes, it’s been too long.’ Freddie was as oily as ever as he stood in her hallway. He wore a designer tracksuit with gold chains around his skinny neck.

‘Spit it out, Freddie,’ Ruby replied, her eyes narrowing.

‘Listen, Ruby, I know there’s bad blood between us but this is my way of makin’ things up to ya, my way of sayin’ sorry, if you like. There’s a job, a big job, and I need Bob to do it.’

‘Go on,’ Ruby replied.

‘He’s probably filled you in but I’ve been shaggin’ the girl in the office for months now, ’scuse my French, and she tells me she’s seen the contracts. The money’s comin’ in next week, and all we need is someone to charm the safe open so we can relieve them of it.’

Ruby didn’t take her eyes off Freddie’s face.

‘Look, it’s the best offer you’ll ’ave all year. There’s three hundred thousand in there, split three ways with you, Smithy and me. It’s a winner.’

She paused as she thought. The money was appealing, very appealing. With a hundred grand in their pockets they’d have even more financial security.

She was still reluctant, and her first instinct was to call Archie. He was going to