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

disconcerted by the difference in the woman he loved, he didn’t show it. He thought about it all for a few seconds then nodded his head.

‘All right, Ruby. It can be done. It will be done, if you’re certain.’

‘Do you ask the men in your circles if they’re certain? Do you question them like this?’ Ruby’s temper flared up.

‘Course I don’t, but then, I don’t love ’em,’ Archie replied simply.

Ruby’s anger disappeared as quickly as it came, ‘I should hope not,’ she smiled. ‘Archie, I mean it. Freddie Harris has had it comin’ all his life. If I let him get away with this, I won’t ’ave a reputation, I won’t ’ave the respect I deserve in our world, and neither will Bobby.’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘He’s taken the people I love from me. He’s destroyed three lives, including my brother’s. I’ve vowed to take my revenge, and I’m askin’ for your help. Do this for me, kill Freddie Harris, and I’ll be yours.’

‘You’re not serious?’ Archie said.

‘Deadly.’ Ruby replied.

‘You drive a hard bargain, Ruby, but yes, I’ll do it. I’d do anythin’ for you, you must know that by now.’

In the silence that followed, Ruby realised that, yet again, her life had flipped upside down.

‘Rumour has it that Freddie has gone to Spain with the money,’ Archie said. ‘I called a few associates on my way to collect George, and they say he’s already been heard boastin’ about screwin’ you over and takin’ the cash. Freddie Harris has always had a big mouth. He’ll be boastin’ so loudly he’ll be easy to find.’

Ruby nodded.

Archie stood up. He planted a kiss on Ruby’s forehead. ‘Seems like I’m goin’ back to Spain. I won’t call. I won’t do anythin’ to link you to me. Don’t ring my number, don’t do anythin’ that might link his death to you. Freddie will ’ave a tragic accident. He’ll ’ave been so drunk on his spoils that he missed his step and fell off a cliff into the ocean . . .’

‘Don’t tell me any more, just do it,’ Ruby said quietly, turning away from her lover. ‘Just help me take my revenge.’

A tense week later, Ruby and George were playing in the garden when there was a knock at the door. George was clambering on the climbing frame Ruby had installed in the garden for him. She lifted him down and went to the door, her heart beating faster. Standing outside were Archie and Alfie, identical twins with their suntanned faces, expensively cut blonde hair and Archie’s red Porsche on her driveway.

They walked in without saying a word.

‘Hello, Alfie.’ Ruby smiled at him though she felt the tension. Neither answered as they headed straight to the back of the house.

Archie shut the patio doors that led to the garden.

He and Alfie exchanged a glance before he spoke.

‘Go on,’ Ruby said, then she came to her senses. ‘Come on, George, let’s put a cartoon on for you in the lounge,’ she called in a sing-song voice and ushered him out of the room. A few minutes later she returned. She shut the door to the hallway, and looked between the brothers.

‘It’s done,’ Archie said simply.

Ruby was surprised at the force of emotion that hit her. The anger, the grief, the sheer despair of the past few days seemed to rise up and then vanish. She had wondered how she’d react. Would she feel sick? Would she break down with regret? Would she be overcome with the fear of being found out? She noticed, with a small thrill of surprise, that she felt none of these things. In fact, she felt the opposite, as if a great good had been done to right the wrongs done by the weasel. She searched her conscience. Again, nothing but a growing sense of elation.

No one moved. No one spoke. She almost laughed out loud when she realised the twins were waiting anxiously for her response.

‘He’s dead?’ she said, nodding.

‘He is,’ Archie replied.

‘Good,’ was all she said, holding Archie’s gaze. His brow wrinkled as if he was checking her reaction, but when he saw her certainty, her serenity about it, he nodded back.

‘He weren’t in Spain though,’ chipped in Alfie, ‘he were back in London, tellin’ some fine tales about how he’d done you and Bobby over.’ Archie threw him a look to try to stop his twin from continuing but Alfie carried on blithely. ‘He had himself an accident, and so the pigs at the pig farm won’t go hungry today!’

There was a moment’s silence.

‘You fed him to the pigs,’ Ruby said quietly.

‘Sorry, Ruby, you weren’t meant to know that.’ Archie glared at his brother.

‘Sorry, bruv, sorry, Ruby, I didn’t mean no harm. I thought you wanted him dead. He was a waste of space by all accounts, and if we hadn’t done him in, it was only a matter of time before someone else did.’

‘That doesn’t help. Why don’t ya go and wait in the car?’ Archie commanded.

‘It’s OK, Archie. It’s best I know. I’m glad. He deserved it. I’m glad Freddie Harris has gone. He was nuthin’ but trouble. I couldn’t let him live and hold my head high. And, more than that, I want everyone in the underworld to know that the man who screwed us over ended up being eaten by pigs. I want them all to know that no one, but no one, mugs us off.’

Just then, the door banged open. Ruby’s heart almost jumped out from her chest. Both she and Archie swirled round to see Alfie, grinning, holding two large black bags.

‘We almost forgot – the money,’ Alfie laughed, dumping them on the table. ‘There’s your hundred grand share, and there’s Freddie’s. We didn’t let him get away with the cash.’

Ruby stared at the bags, bulging with stolen cash and before she could stop herself, she laughed out loud. She realised in that moment that she regretted nothing. Freddie was dead at her word, and she felt nothing. She had sanctioned the killing