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

Ruby felt her skin prickle.

‘We met in a bar a few months ago. He treats me nicely, buys me things, takes me out . . .’ The maid’s voice trailed off, as if she too could suddenly see the light.

Questions were already forming in Ruby’s mind, as she pieced together the information she’d been given.

Had her maid been groomed for information about Ruby and Archie? Had the Albanian only gone for her because he knew she worked for the Willsons? It seemed obvious he had. But what would Maria be able to tell them that was of any value? Ruby treated her staff well, but she didn’t talk openly in front of them.

‘It’s OK, Maria. I’m not angry with ya, and we’ll protect you from any trouble you might be afraid of, but I need to know what you might ’ave told them.’

‘I didn’t tell them anything. He asked me about you and Mr Willson a few times. Asking about people that came to visit, any fancy parties you might have thrown. I thought he was just curious what it was like to live such a glamorous life . . . but I don’t know anything, and I’d never share details about you and your family.’

‘That’s OK, Maria. I understand. I’d never ’ave suspected anythin’ either and I know you wouldn’t go tellin’ tales about us.’

Ruby put her hand on Maria’s shoulder, looking to comfort her when she lifted her downcast eyes off the floor to look Ruby in the eye. Her voice was low as she spoke. ‘I know something, something that is bad for you . . .’

‘Go on,’ Ruby murmured.

‘My boyfriend says that you and your husband are being set up. The cocaine they’re promising to supply is dodgy and . . . and . . .’

‘Go on,’ Ruby urged, her blood suddenly running cold.

‘And they’re going to take your money and shoot your husband.’

CHAPTER 34

Ruby knew in her gut that Maria was telling the truth.

She recovered herself far quicker than the girl, who was still crying, her whole body shaking now.

‘What will you do?’ she asked.

‘Don’t worry, we’ll protect ya. You’re safe with us, but we need you to stay loyal, to tell us if anythin’ changes over the coming days.’

Maria nodded.

‘Do you know when they’re plannin’ on strikin’?’ Ruby asked, getting straight to the heart of the matter.

‘Soon. They’ll do it at the handover. When you give them the money, they’ll give you bad coke, fake stuff, and when Archie realises . . .’

‘They’ll shoot him,’ Ruby finished for her.

There was a slight pause as they both digested this information.

‘Right, Maria, the most important thing now is to do nothin’. Carry on as normal. As long as he don’t suspect you’ve been talking to us, you’ll be in no danger from him. I’ll sort this, I promise. I’ll keep you safe, but only if you trust me. Do you trust me?’ Ruby stared hard into the girl’s eyes.

Her face was pale under her olive skin but she nodded, and Ruby saw a steely determination there, not unlike her own. It must’ve taken great courage to tell her. This girl had risked her life.

Our lives hang in the balance, always, thought Ruby. Life was merely a turn of the cards, a roll of the dice, a kind gesture that unravelled months of plotting.

A plan was already forming in Ruby’s mind but she needed this girl to stay silent, to carry on as before. Was she up to it? Could she be trusted even now? If she can’t, we’re all dead, thought Ruby grimly.

‘Just do nothing. Understand?’

Maria nodded again.

‘If they ’ave any idea you’ve told me, the first person they’ll kill is you.’

The two women stood staring at each other for a moment.

‘I won’t say anything,’ whispered Maria.

Reassured that the young woman would play her part, Ruby nodded for her to leave the room. She needed time to think, alone. She didn’t want the Albanians to know she’d discovered their plot yet. She had to keep her family safe.

She walked to the front of the villa and signalled to the security guards to close the gates guarding the property. Her instinct was to increase the number of security, to get more men with guns around the estate, but she knew this might alert the Albanians, so she could do nothing but smile and carry on as normally as possible.

‘Archie, Lloyd, we need to talk,’ Ruby said as she went back into the cool, air-conditioned villa. She was smiling but her face belied her concerns and the men followed her into the office she shared with her husband. It was a vast room with a wall made entirely of bullet-proof glass. Behind it the sun shone over the sea, making the view hazy with the heat.

She got straight to it. ‘We’re bein’ set up.’

‘The Albanians?’ Archie said immediately.

Ruby nodded. ‘But I ’ave a plan.’

‘Course you do. But who told ya, and can they be trusted?’ Lloyd spoke this time.

Ruby turned to him. ‘It was Maria, my maid, who told me. I’m sure it’s the truth. The Albanians plan on supplyin’ bad coke, takin’ the money and then they’ll strike.’

She looked between the two men. Both wore serious expressions as they took in the situation.

‘You’d better tell us what you’re plannin’, then,’ Archie said.

Ruby made sure she was at the final meeting with the cartel the day before the shipment was due to arrive. This time the coke was being bought to a disused warehouse several hours’ drive away. The agreement was made. Archie and Lloyd would go alone to meet Saban and his bodyguard. No one else was to be there. The men shook hands on it, and Ruby smiled winningly at Saban as he took her hand again and kissed it lightly.

‘Business with you is such a pleasure, dear lady,’ he’d murmured.

‘And with you, Saban. I think we understand each other,’ she’d replied, batting her eyelashes at him, and inwardly laughing as she saw the effect on him.

He might