by Linda Calvey
‘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 be a drug baron but he was still a man, and she could turn on her charm just as easily as he could if it meant business went well. She wanted to flatter him, to make him think his plan was bullet-proof. They’d all played their parts well. Saban couldn’t possibly be suspicious.
Archie came up to his wife and grabbed her hand. ‘If I was a jealous man, I’d ’ave somethin’ to say about the way you flirted with him.’
Ruby laughed. ‘It’s lucky you ain’t then,’ she said, slipping her hand into her husband’s. ‘Seriously, Archie, this is still a risk. I’m worried for us all . . .’ She turned to face this man, the only one she’d ever given her heart to. Life without him would be unbearable. She shuddered, and Archie caught her momentary fright.
‘So am I, darlin’, but there’s nuthin’ we can do. We ’ave to tackle this now, Ruby, or they’ll come for us another time. Don’t lose your courage now, babe.’
She knew this was true. They had to deal with these bastards now, or they’d forever be looking over their shoulders.
There was no guarantee they’d come out alive, though.
Ruby gestured to Maria to follow her into her bedroom.
Ruby spoke first. ‘There’s a bag there for you inside the closet. Go and open it.’
Maria hesitated but walked to the built-in wardrobe that spanned the side wall, reaching down for an unremarkable-looking travel bag. She unzipped it. It was stuffed full of hundred-euro notes.
‘A car will pick you up from your flat at midnight. Take your mum and leave. I’ve made all the arrangements. You’ll be taken to a different part of Spain. There’s a flat rented for you there. It’s all sorted. You’ll be safe, I promise.’
Maria took in the information. She held a couple of the bundles of euros, her face incredulous.
‘I’m so sorry, Ruby. I didn’t know he wanted information when we met – I thought he wanted me . . .’
Ruby’s heart could’ve broken at the sight of Maria’s pitiful expression. ‘You ’ave to stay strong and carry on as normal, then go,’ Ruby said firmly. This wasn’t the time to break down. ‘You cannot stay. They’ll kill ya both. This time tomorrow, if your boyfriend survives, he’ll know it was you who grassed them up, and they’ll come for ya. You’ll never know a night’s peace again – unless you do what I’m askin’ ya.’
She felt wretched, knowing the pain this was causing the young woman.
Tears were sliding down Maria’s face.
‘I know, I’ve been so stupid thinking Besim liked me . . .’
‘Is that his name?’ Ruby replied. ‘I never thought to ask, sorry.’ She put her hand on Maria’s arm and felt her body tremble. ‘They’ve left us no choice, but you will be safe as long as you get in that car. You’ve got enough money to last ya a few years. I’m sorry Besim was using you . . .
’ Ruby added awkwardly.
Maria managed a small smile. ‘Thank you, I will do what you ask,’ she said, wiping away more tears.
‘Compose yourself, then carry on with your duties. If anyone asks why you’re cryin’, tell them your mum’s ill. Say nuthin’, do nuthin’ – and we might survive this.’
Ruby got up and left the room, rushing to answer the phone.
She picked up the receiver. ‘Hello, Ruby Willson speakin’.’
‘Hello, this is the head of pastoral care. Do you have a moment to speak about George Murphy?’
Ruby’s heart sank. She knew instantly her brother had got into trouble again.
‘I have a minute, but that’s all,’ she said, more sharply than she’d intended. Her hackles were up already. This call couldn’t have come at a worse time.
‘It won’t take long,’ said the teacher with a cut-glass accent, one that had never known what it was to struggle, Ruby could be sure of that.
‘I’m sorry to inform you that we have had to exclude George pending a meeting with the school governors because he was found selling cannabis to his classmates. This is simply unacceptable behaviour, and disappointing as George hasn’t been with us for long. This school has the strictest policy concerning illegal substances.’
‘Where is he now?’ Ruby interrupted the posh voice. She didn’t want to know the details and give the snooty bastards at this latest school a chance to belittle her family. This was the fourth time her brother had been chucked out of school. Enough was enough.
‘He’s with the contact you gave us, your brother Bobby Murphy. Mr Murphy and his wife came to collect him yesterday evening.’
Ruby put the receiver down on the table without another word, then bent her head towards it, gripping the marble top. George in trouble again! When would this end?
‘Mrs Willson? Are you there, Mrs Willson?’
Ruby heard the voice at the other end piping out from the telephone but she didn’t want to speak to it. She knew they’d expel him – it was obvious. And she had enough trouble on her hands without her little brother upping the stakes.
‘I’ve had enough of you toffs – and of my brother’s behaviour,’ she said to herself.
Without answering, Ruby put the receiver back onto the cradle. She couldn’t bear the sound of that posh woman’s voice, a voice of privilege and confidence, the likes of which her family had never known, and probably never would. The school had looked down on them from the start. Ruby insisted to Archie, who wasn’t in favour of private education, that their money was as good as anyone’s but now she wasn’t so sure. They didn’t have police chiefs or judges in their family who could help them. She knew how crooked straight people could be, she’d seen it at her first job, and it was those people who could wave a magic wand, speak to a few contacts, and – hey presto – get the charges dropped, an expulsion turned into a detention. No, they had to live with the consequences of their actions because they were working class, jumping way above their station, and being reminded of the fact at every available opportunity.
She picked up the phone again and dialled Bobby’s number.
‘Bobby?’
It was obvious her brother had been expecting her call. There was no small talk, no ‘hello’, just straight down to the business in hand.
‘He’s ’ere. He says he didn’t do nuthin’ wrong. He didn’t want me to ring ya yesterday, he thought they might take him back. I take it they haven’t?’
‘No, they haven’t,’ Ruby said stiffly. ‘Hand me to him,’ she insisted. ‘George? What happened?’
‘Rube, they stitched me up I swear it,’ George’s voice was angry, and a little self-pitying.
Ruby knew by the sound of it that her own flesh and blood was lying to her. ‘Did they now. So, why would they do that, George?’ she said, keeping her tone light, her manner calm.
There was a pause. George stayed silent on the other end of the phone and it gave her a chance to collect her thoughts. She knew Archie would despair when he found out, which is why she didn’t plan on telling him until the handover was done – and the Albanians sorted.
Ruby spoke first. ‘What do I keep tellin ya? Don’t give them anythin’ to take you down with! Let others do the dirty work. And anyway, why would you deal drugs? Surely you ’ave enough money, so why bother?’
George was silent still.
‘I didn’t do nuthin’,’ he replied eventually, a barely adequate answer, making his older sister sigh.
‘All right, George, I believe ya,’ she answered, though she didn’t at all. She just didn’t want an argument when there was so much at stake in Spain right now. ‘Stay with Bobby and we’ll fly back as soon as we can. All right?’
There was no answer from George, then her older brother’s voice reappeared.
‘It’s Bobby. He’s gone off to the kitchen. He doesn’t seem fussed, Rube. Doesn’t care about school at all. Listen, we’ll look after him. Perhaps he needs a break from all those lessons. He’s fine with us – don’t worry, sis.’
Ruby hung up, her mind not put at rest by her brother’s words but wanting to believe them, nevertheless.
‘George, I ain’t forgotten you. I just need to sort this first, then I’ll be home,’ she whispered to herself.
At that moment, Archie walked into the hallway.
‘Anythin’ wrong?’ he said.
Ruby straightened up. ‘Nuthin’, nuthin’ at all,’ she lied. She’d wait to find her moment to tell him. One storm in a day was more than enough for her to handle.
CHAPTER 35
The night of the handover arrived.
Ruby, Archie, and Lloyd packed the holdall filled with money into the back of their armoured Range-Rover.
Ruby climbed into the back, while Lloyd sat in the front passenger seat and Archie drove the car, waving to the security guards to let them out of the main gates.
‘We want them to see us leavin’, let them know we’re on our way,’ Lloyd said in a low voice. ‘They’ll ’ave people watchin’ the villa, and the guards might be paid off by them anyway.’
Ruby nodded. She’d suspected that many of her staff were on Saban’s payroll. Well that would all change once they’d sorted this.
The drive was a long one. They didn’t stop, though. Archie wanted to get there before Saban and his henchmen. There was no doubt in their minds he’d be bringing more than just one bodyguard.
Pulling off the road, Archie peered at what looked like an old, dusty farmhouse.
‘I think it’s down ’ere. Yes, look, there’s the warehouse.’
The car tyres made the gravel crunch as they drove towards the neglected building. There was nobody about.
‘We’re early. That’s good,’ said Lloyd, craning his neck to look round the site.
‘Let’s do this,’ Archie said, waiting for Ruby and his father to nod their assent. Archie opened the door and got out, going straight to the back of the car to open the boot.
Ruby stepped down onto the dirt road, her heels making stiletto marks in the dust.
‘Ready?’ Lloyd said, beside her.
‘Ready.’ Archie replied, lifting out a large suitcase. The mood was fraught with tension. The three of them walked up to the warehouse.
‘We’ll stop here,’ Ruby said, looking around.
Archie put the suitcase down on the ground carefully.
‘Stand behind me, Ruby,’ he commanded, as he spotted a puff of sand being thrown up on the road.
‘They’re here,’ Lloyd stated.
Ruby felt her heart freeze. She watched the vehicle draw closer, her palms sweating. If she got this wrong they’d all die today. She glanced around. She didn’t want to disappear here, in this bleak place in the middle of nowhere.
Hold your nerve, hold yourself, Ruby. She centred herself.
The car pulled over to one side and Saban got out. He stood for a moment, grinning, a cigar held in his teeth, his gold Rolex winking in the sunshine, as the ba
ck doors all opened. Out of the back of the car came three burly men, and out of the front came the driver, all carrying guns, which were now pointed at them.
‘Such a shame you came today. I can’t bear to see such beauty do such dirty business,’ Saban sighed exaggeratedly.
Ruby took a deep breath and smiled back at him. ‘Nice of you all to drop by. I can see you’ve brought your . . . friends. That wasn’t the agreement, Saban,’ she said, ignoring his rather clumsy attempt at seduction.
‘Ah, what can I say? I never travel so lightly. You cannot expect me to agree to such terms. Only one bodyguard? Why, I’d have been outnumbered.’ Saban held out his arms as if to make his point.
‘Enough. Show us the goods,’ ordered Archie.
Stay calm . . . . keep it together . . . Ruby thought. Don’t rile them yet. She could see the strain building on her husband’s face.
‘Yes, of course, we have it all here,’ Saban clicked his fingers and one of the men ran round to the back and brought out a large sports bag. Whatever was inside it was clearly heavy. The gunman dumped it on the ground halfway between the two parties then ran back, picking up his weapon and pointing it directly at her husband.
‘It’s all there. Please, help yourself. Test the product. You’ll find it’s of the highest quality.’
‘I will, thank you,’ Archie said, striding over to the bag, ignoring the gun-wielding Albanians as he did so.
He drew a knife from his pocket and, pulling out a bag of white powder, cut through the plastic and dipped his finger inside it.
Sucking the powder, Archie glanced back at Lloyd. That glance told Ruby everything she needed to know. The gear was bad. It had been stamped all over, perhaps cut with glucose or baby teething powder. She kept her eyes on Saban, but the hairs on the back of her neck had risen.
Time seemed to slow down.
Her heartbeat slowed, seemed to deafen her as she reached down to open the suitcase. Lloyd was beside her.
‘Let me, darlin’,’ he said as if he was playing the gent. Ruby demurred, holding back but feeling for the handgun she had hidden in her jacket lining.
