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

‘This is Avon and Somerset Police. I’m sorry to have to tell you but there was a road traffic accident, a pile-up on the M4 motorway earlier today. I’m sorry but I can’t tell you any more as you’re not a family member. I have a number for the hospital if you’d like to ring there. You might have more luck that way?’

Ruby froze. None of the words made sense to her.

‘Did you hear me? I can give you a number to call . . .’

‘Sorry,’ Ruby managed to say. ‘I’ll just find a piece of paper and a pen.’ Her mind was whirling.

She swore as she scrambled for what she needed, scribbling down the number and putting the phone straight down. Shock was ricocheting through her body. Seconds later, before she had a chance to collect herself and call the hospital, the phone rang again. She almost dropped the receiver picking it up in haste.

‘Is that Ruby Murphy, sister of Bobby?’ It was a different voice, a well-bred privately educated male voice at the end of the line.

‘Yes it is, who’s this?’ Ruby felt bewildered.

‘I’m representing your brother. I’m here at Barkingside Police Station. Bobby has been formally charged with robbery. He’ll be here overnight so if you want to bring him some clean clothes and any medication he might need . . .’

‘All right, I’ll sort it,’ Ruby managed to say before putting the phone down.

She instantly dialled the number of the hospital.

‘I’m looking for news of Charlie, Charles and Maureen Beaumont. They were in a car crash this morning. Yes, I’m a relative,’ she lied.

‘I’ll put you through to ITU,’ said the voice at the other end.

‘Hello, yes, I’m their daughter, Ruby. Ruby Beaumont.’

Then she heard the worst news possible.

‘I’m so sorry to tell you that both Mr and Mrs Beaumont were declared dead at the scene. You’ll need to speak to . . .’

Ruby dropped the receiver, the voice echoing into the space.

She heard the sound of a woman screaming, and realised it was her. She crumpled into a heap on the floor, her heart breaking all over again, screaming and screaming. George ran into her arms, terrified by the sound but she couldn’t stop. Perhaps she would never stop. Charlie and Maureen were dead, and her life was smashed to smithereens. Bobby would be banged up, unable to help, unable to do anything. It was just her left now, her and her thirst for revenge.

This is all your fault, Freddie Harris. If you hadn’t stitched up my Bobby, I’d never ’ave had to call Charlie and Maureen. Their blood is on your hands and I promise this, I will make you pay, by God I will. You won’t know what’s hit you. Until now I’ve tolerated you but that’s all over. Freddie, you will die for this, I give you my word.

Ruby lay in a heap on the floor. Little George wailed as she wept. She rocked him in her arms and the only thing that soothed her was the thought of what she would do next.

CHAPTER 28

Ruby sat in front of the lawyer. He was a well-bred, well-spoken corpulent man whose name she now discovered was Rupert Smithers. His office, a large plush room spanning the top floor of the law firm, was filled with legal books all bound with leather covers.

Mr Smithers leaned back in his chair, smiling over his glasses at the young woman who faced him with her direct gaze. She looked pale, but it only seemed to intensify her beauty. Her eyes might have shadows beneath them but they were clear and direct, emerald jewels that looked at him unblinkingly.

He cleared his throat. ‘I imagine, Miss Murphy, you’re wondering why you are here.’ It was a statement rather than a question.

Ruby looked down at her white hands clasped in her lap. ‘I am, because you told me this wasn’t about my Bobby?’ she said.

‘Indeed. This is about your great friends, and mine, Mr and Mrs Beaumont. Firstly, I want to offer my sincere condolences. Charles and Maureen were clients of mine for many years. Their deaths were a tragic waste of life.’

Again, Ruby said little, murmuring her thanks for his kind words, waiting to hear why she had been summoned. It was only two days since Charlie and Maureen had been killed, and she was still in shock, unable to sleep except for a couple of restless hours each night. Part of her couldn’t believe that they were gone; her protectors taken from her in her hour of need. Charlie had said he’d be there to back her up if the robbery went wrong with Freddie, and now he was gone, his promises mere ashes now.

‘Look, Mr Smithers, I don’t mean to be rude, but my brother has been charged with a serious offence and he’s all I ’ave left now, so if we could make this brief.’ Ruby attempted a smile but failed.

‘Of course, Miss Murphy, but first there are pressing matters we must attend to,’ the lawyer replied.

‘I’ve had to leave George with my old neighbour in Star Lane to come ’ere, now please, can we get down to business?’ Ruby almost got up and walked out. They were wasting time, precious time she could be spending working out how on earth to get Bobby off the charge.

‘Well, I have some good news for you.’ Rupert Smithers smiled as he opened a leather-bound file filled with papers. ‘I have the will of Mr and Mrs Beaumont here.’

Ruby shrugged. What was any of this to do with her? She had no interest in Charlie and Maureen’s will. Yet, Mr Smithers kept smiling at her, almost as if he was keeping her in suspense.

‘‘Excuse me, but what is goin’ on? I don’t know anythin’ about Charlie and Maureen’s will. I think you’ve got the wrong person.’ Ruby started to get up to leave. She’d had enough. She was exhausted and grieving, and didn’t want to be here