by Linda Calvey
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 a moment longer than she needed to.
‘Oh, but Miss Murphy, it has everything to do with you,’ Mr Smithers said. ‘You are the main beneficiary of the Beaumonts’ estate. Didn’t you know? As of now, you are a very rich young woman indeed.’
The words hung in the air between them. Ruby frowned. ‘Say that again,’ she asked, weakly.
‘When you walk out of this room you will be a millionairess. There’s a small sum of £10,000 which has been set aside for a lady who used to clean the Beaumont residence, and some personal effects, some watches and a ring for your brother Bobby Murphy, but apart from that, everything is yours.’
Ruby didn’t recall leaving the office, or making her way home. She’d phoned George’s babysitter and said she’d been held up and would be a couple more hours. She needed time to think, to make sense of it all. She dropped her keys and bag upon entering her front door, kicked off her high heels and padded upstairs to lie on her bed. Her best friends were dead, her brother was weeks away from his trial, and now she was a millionaire.
This means we can fight for Bobby. We can get a barrister like Rupert Smithers, and we can fight like dogs to get ya out of a jail sentence. There was at least this one glimmer of hope.
The money was a bizarre twist. She had enough money now to never work again. She could afford the most expensive lawyers for Bobby. She could buy anything she wanted – yet the only thing she desired, beyond Bobby walking free, was to see her beloved friends again, and that was never going to happen. She lay there, in complete shock at this latest news. Suddenly, the phone rang. It was Archie. She’d tried calling him after she’d discovered the news and left a message, brief and to the point. ‘Charlie and Maureen are dead. Bobby’s goin’ to prison. Please come.’
‘I’ve landed at Gatwick. I’m on my way to ya.’ Archie’s voice was low, his tone gentle. How she’d missed him while he’d been in Spain on business.
‘Thank you, that means a lot to me, Archie,’ she said as the tears came. His tenderness had opened the dam, and he waited until she’d finished crying before he spoke again.
‘Listen, Ruby. I’m on my way. I’ll always be there for ya and there’s a reason for that . . . I’ve fallen in love with ya.’ She stopped crying and let those words sink in. She searched her own feelings and saw how drawn she was to him, yet how scared she was of being with someone, of being let down, of being vulnerable.
‘I know you ’ave, Archie,’ she sniffed, ‘I know . . .’
He put the phone down and Ruby sat, thinking. She saw how, at heart, she was still just a little girl inside. All the people she’d loved had left her; Grandad Jim, Mum and Dad, and now Charlie and Maureen. She’d experienced loss after loss. Perhaps that was what made loving another so hard? Too scared to lose Archie, she’d kept him at arm’s length. But no more. Something had changed. She realised she was falling for him too, yet even then, she couldn’t bring herself to say the right words back to him.
An hour later and Archie was standing on her doorstep. He pulled her into his arms and kissed the tears from her face.
‘You’ll never be alone again, I promise ya Ruby,’ he said, his face buried in her hair. She wept again, and he held her. He stroked the tangles away from her face when she’d finished crying and bent his head to kiss her full on the lips. Her heart hammered and she could do nothing but respond to his embrace. It felt so natural, like they’d always been lovers.
‘Where’s George?’ he asked eventually, pulling away from her.
‘Star Lane. Our old neighbours. Couldn’t think where else to take him at short notice,’ Ruby replied.
‘Right, I’ll go and pick him up. You ’ave a bath, make yourself feel a bit better. I’ll order in food. We’ll get through this,’ he added, and she noticed he’d said ‘we’ not ‘you’. She watched him go. He was a dangerous man to love. He was a gangster. People in his trade, along with hers, were notorious for ending up banged up or dead. Could she bear to trust him, to love him? Deep down, she already knew the answer.
Cradling cups of hot sweet tea, Ruby and Archie talked after they’d eaten and George was fast asleep. Her thoughts had crystallised during her bath. Her manner was now completely changed; firm and decisive. The softness, the fragility had vanished, for now. She knew what she had to do. If she let Freddie off with this, her and George might never be safe. She had to ensure no one would ever think to mess with the Murphys again. This was business, and she’d sworn revenge of the worst kind against the weasel who’d set the tragic events in motion.
‘I want him dead.’ Her voice was soft, and so low Archie barely heard her.
He looked at her. He saw a woman disturbed by grief. ‘I know you’re grievin’ but d’you know what you’re sayin’? You really want me to kill Freddie for stitchin’ up Bobby?’
Ruby met his enquiring gaze. Her eyes were cold now, brilliant as gemstones. ‘Yes. I know exactly what I’m askin’. The deaths of Charlie and Maureen are on Freddie’s hands.
‘He grassed up my Bobby but, in doin’ so he took the people I loved. More than that, Archie,’ her voice was now almost a whisper, ‘I want you to make him suffer. I want him to know it was me who planned his murder, me who ordered it, me who showed no mercy. I want the whole of the underworld to know I’m a force to be reckoned with and I don’t take betrayal lightly.’
Archie looked away. If he was 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 of someone she had known all her life, and yet she knew she’d done the right thing. She couldn’t have Freddie boasting about doing her over. Bobby might still be going to prison, but she doubted anyone else would try it on with them for a very long time indeed.
She turned to Archie. ‘Thank you,’ she said.
CHAPTER 29
Charlie and Maureen’s funeral took place at Hermit Road cemetery, organised with Archie’s help, and attended by all the underworld crooks and blaggers. Ruby was dignified in black, greeting mourners, but she was glad when the day was over.
Ruby was a rich woman in her own right now, with the Beaumonts’ mansion in Chigwell to move into as soon as the legal procedures were complete, and the large villa in Spain she would also inherit, meaning she had four properties, while Bobby had been left Charlie’s collection of expensive watches and his diamond signet ring.
However, Bobby was still on remand, waiting for his case to come to Crown court. The date had been set for two months hence, and Ruby had spent more hours than she cared to in Rupert Smithers’ office, seeking legal counsel, with Archie constantly beside her.
‘Can’t we say that Freddie framed Bobby and has now disappeared? That’s the truth, after all. All the coppers ’ave got is a bracelet as proof, but we can say that Freddie planted it,’ Archie said.
Rupert looked at him over his glasses. ‘Yet Bobby has confessed. That puts us in a difficult position.’
‘He can say he was tryin’ to protect Freddie as they’d been friends since they were at school together? Surely my Bobby can plead not guilty and if there’s any doubt, they’ll ’ave to let him go free?’ Ruby was almost pleading herself.
Now they knew Freddie was disposed of, and couldn’t give evidence, they could put the blame squarely on his shoulders, say the whole thing was a set-up from the start.
‘You can try, but if the jury thinks he’s trying to manipulate the system, or lie, then it’ll be worse for him. He’ll get a bigger sentence if he pleads not guilty but is found guilty after all.’
Ruby nodded. She’d guessed that much, yet they had to try.
‘Let me speak to him. I’ll try and convince him to take back his statement. He was flustered at the time, he didn’t know what he was signin’,’ she said, squeezing Archie’s hand, knowing she was avoiding the real truth.
Ruby found herself back in a queue to enter a prison waiting room. Bobby was being held on remand at Brixton Prison. She smiled at him as she took her seat at the table.
‘How’ve ya been?’ she said.
‘I’m fine, Rube. How’s little George?’ Bobby replied.
‘He’s a cracker, but he’s missin’ ya.’
‘Tell the li
ttle so-and-so his big brother misses him too – and to behave.’
Ruby sighed. ‘Look, Bobby, I wanted to ask ya somethin’. Me and Archie ’ave been speakin’ to a top barrister, Charlie’s man,’ even his name brought tears to her eyes, ‘and we could try goin’ not guilty. Say that Freddie set you up. Tell them ya didn’t mean what you said, tell them you was tryin’ to protect Freddie . . .’
Bobby shook his head. ‘No, Rube, I can’t do that. I won’t see the barrister, I’ll go guilty.’
‘But why, Bobby? Why’ve ya done this?’ Ruby couldn’t understand. They had the money. They could afford the best lawyer so why not give it a try?
‘I’m doin’ it to protect you and little George. Those coppers were bastards. They’ll come after you if they don’t get me. No, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll go guilty. I’ll take it on the chin. Let it go, sis.’
‘But, Bobby. You’ve done loads of jobs they suspect ya of and never caught ya. They’ll throw the book at ya!’ Ruby’s voice had risen and Bobby shushed her.
‘Let it go, Rube. That’s my final word. You’ve got to be there for George. We promised Mum we’d never let him down, we’d look after him for ever, and this is my way of doin’ that.’
Ruby couldn’t argue with that.
Only a couple of weeks later, she watched from the docks of Southwark Crown Court as the sentence was read out. Bobby had pleaded guilty and the only question was how long he’d spend in jail. Archie was with her. He’d moved into her home now, and they’d become inseparable.
She was grateful for his solid bulk beside her.
There was a wait as papers were shuffled, then the judge spoke. ‘It is clear, Bobby Murphy, you are a menace to society. Your counsel tells us of the hardships you have endured through your life, the loss of your parents, the bad crowd you fell in with, but in a case such as this, you have pleaded guilty to a serious crime, that of robbery, and the law says you must be imprisoned. Although you are only in front of me for this one crime, the police believe you to be behind many unsolved crimes, so I give you the full penalty, and therefore, sentence you to fifteen years in prison.’