by Linda Calvey
Winter bled into spring and spring into summer. Cathy had become increasingly active, and confident. Ruby saw she didn’t need to fuss around her all the time now, and with that knowledge, Ruby was back in business.
‘I want to be in on the next negotiations,’ she said to Archie and Lloyd one evening as the three of them sat round the large antique dining table eating the supper their new chef had prepared. ‘I need life to get back to normal,’ she added.
Lloyd nodded and looked at Archie.
‘Course, darlin’, whatever you want. We’ve missed your sharp mind, and timing couldn’t be better. We have the Russian coming tomorrow.’
The three of them smiled at each other and then swiftly moved the conversation on as Cathy entered the room and took her spot at the table. Both Archie and Lloyd fell straight to eating, but Ruby noticed that Cathy only seemed to be moving her salad around her plate.
‘Not hungry, love?’ Ruby said, her attention instantly drawn to her daughter.
Cathy raised her gaze from her plate and looked directly at her mum. ‘I want to know where George is.’
Ruby stopped chewing. She looked at Archie.
‘Darlin’, I thought we said it’s not up for discussion. I don’t even want that boy’s name mentioned in this ’ouse again. He’s gone, that’s all ya need to know,’ Archie said, more forcefully than he’d intended.
There was a moment’s silence.
‘Mum?’ the young girl said, this time pleadingly.
Ruby gulped. ‘Your dad’s right. It’s in the past now. We don’t even know where George is ourselves, so we couldn’t tell ya anyway.’ She put down her knife and fork, her hunger gone.
Cathy did the same, then slowly pushed back her chair, got up and walked away from the table.
‘Let her go. She’ll come round,’ Archie soothed, but Ruby wasn’t sure.
She smiled at her husband. ‘Course she will, love.’ Ruby stared after Cathy for a moment, but Lloyd interrupted her thoughts.
‘Ruby, we need your attention.’
‘Sorry, Lloyd. Yes, tell me everythin’ you know about this man, Vladimir Ivanov,’ she replied, looking between her husband and father-in-law.
‘Our contacts in the East have been tailin’ him for a while. He’s a big player, most likely ex-KGB.’
Lloyd nodded as Archie spoke.
‘If we can get him onside, it would make us the single biggest player in Spain, and potentially Europe. If we could gain a partnership with him, we’d be set.’
Ruby dipped her head in acknowledgement.
She could sense Archie’s excitement.
Here were new possibilities, new challenges, new dangers. Almost reluctantly, she had to acknowledge that the thought thrilled her.
CHAPTER 43
The day of the meeting, Ruby pulled on a Chanel suit and matching pearl necklace. She wore her hair back in an artfully messy chignon, finishing her look with a spray of Chanel No. 5.
Stepping into a sky-high pair of Manolo stilettos, Ruby stood and looked at the finished result. She’d researched Russian protocols in doing business, and formal dress was expected. So, did she look business-like? Yes. Did she look focused? For sure. Did she look dangerous? Definitely. The glint in her eye told her what she already knew. She looked like a woman to be reckoned with.
Vladimir was escorted through the villa by two guards. He walked with an air of royalty, stopping to admire a drawing by Picasso, which Archie had recently acquired through Ruby’s dodgy art dealer, Marcus.
Ruby took her chance and sidled up to him.
‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’ she said, close behind him.
He turned swiftly, and she saw a brief look of desire before he shut down his reactions.
‘Exquisite, dear lady, much like yourself,’ the wealthy drug baron replied.
He took her hand and placed a kiss gently on top of her fingers. It was strangely intimate, and Ruby shivered, despite herself. He appeared to know exactly who she was. He’d done his research, which both impressed and alarmed Ruby.
This was someone to watch.
Vladimir Ivanov was handsome. His high Slavic cheekbones, dark hair streaked with silver and tanned skin complemented a natural charm that seemed to ooze from him.
He stepped in beside her as she walked him to the office where the meeting would take place, slightly too close for such casual acquaintance, yet Ruby found she didn’t mind. His conversation was mild, he chatted as they walked, his arms in hers as if they were the greatest of friends – or lovers.
Ruby was relieved to see Archie and Lloyd already inside the room. Archie was wearing a white linen shirt, unbuttoned at the neck showing his tanned skin, with slacks and slip-on whiskey-coloured Italian leather shoes. Lloyd favoured suits and was wearing his signature cut, a bespoke mid-blue Westwood. Vladimir’s eyes swept around the room, taking in every detail.
The men shook each other’s hands then it was down to business.
‘Tell me, Mr Ivanov, what exactly are you proposing?’ Ruby opened the conversation, straight to the point. They’d agreed the night before that Ruby would make the opening salvo with the Russian. They thought it might knock him off balance.
The Russian looked momentarily confused. He turned to Lloyd and said baldly, ‘I don’t usually deal with women . . .’
Archie smiled as Lloyd looked to him. ‘You do now. You deal with my wife or there’s no deal.’
There was a pause as this information was digested.
‘Perhaps it is my confusion with the English language,’ Vladimir murmured. ‘Naturally I’d be delighted to listen to your wife.’ His smile was almost convincing.
He looked over at Ruby and said, ‘My apologies. How can I have been so ungracious. It will be my pleasure to negotiate with such beauty.’
Ruby didn’t dignify that with a response. She carried on, ‘It seems to me, and forgive me if I’m wrong, Mr Ivanov, but we can help each other. I understand supply has been a bit of an issue.
‘We know there’s been a big bust. And a couple of shipments have been light.’
The Russian smiled. ‘You are very well informed, and yes you are right. There have been problems. Supply not being what it should be.’
‘We’ve had similar problems. At the moment, I believe they play us against each other. If we can strike a deal, work together, we would leave this other party with no room to manoeuver. Together we would be the single biggest player in Europe. No one would dare deal with anyone else. It looks to us like a partnership would be mutually beneficial,’ Ruby said smoothly.
Vladimir looked at her frankly, sizing her up and evidently liking what he saw. He smiled and shifted in his seat, adjusting his designer suit and leaning towards her.
‘This is true. It would be “beneficial”, as you say, if we could secure our supply chains.’
‘So, let’s talk numbers, Mr Ivanov.’ Ruby smiled.
‘Call me Vladimir, please. Let us not devolve into numbers just yet. We must get to know each other first. To help our negotiations, I have brought a small gift for you, a sample of the product here to prove to you that it is the best on the market.’
Vladimir handed Archie a small decorative box. Archie inspected it. He looked up at Ruby and nodded.
‘Your gift is appreciated, thank you. We have prepared the same for you,’ she said. At Ruby’s nod Archie handed Vladimir a beautifully carved box filled with white powder.
‘Thank you. Shall we resume this conversation in two days’ time? You will be guests on my yacht, Grace, which is moored nearby. We will get to know each other. It will be my pleasure to entertain you.’
Ruby knew that Russian business people rarely made a decision on the spot, preferring to think things through before committing. Therefore, she smiled her agreement as she got up to pour champagne into cut crystal glasses.
‘To the future,’ she said, raising her glass at Vladimir.
He echoed her gesture. ‘To the future,’ he sa
id. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but his eyes seemed to shine as he locked his gaze with hers.
The yacht was a huge gleaming white vessel moored in the fashionable harbour town. It was the largest of the boats, with a sleek long body and the Russian flag flying on top. Ruby had been in constant contact with Vladimir and his people over the past two days, but still she wasn’t sure the deal had been done.
Ruby was the first to step aboard. There was a pool on the main deck with sun loungers and drinks tables, and a bar entirely decorated with mirrors that bounced light around the space.
‘Enchanted. Please join me in my infinity pool. I don’t usually invite guests into my private domain, but, for you,’ and here Vladimir stared straight at Ruby, ‘I make an exception.’
Chilled champagne awaited them. Vladimir was the first to disrobe and slip into the cool blue water. Ruby glanced at Archie, unsure whether to join him, but etiquette meant they could not leave their host alone in the pool.
Ruby slipped off her coral pink kaftan. Underneath she wore a simple emerald green bikini that complemented her pale skin.
She stepped into the water, accepting a glass of bubbly as she sank down, the cold clear water making her gasp.
‘To us,’ Vladimir said, holding his glass in a toast.
‘To business,’ said Archie firmly in response, making Ruby smile.
‘We don’t usually work with people outside of our networks, so this partnership is a new idea for us. I hope it’s somethin’ we can all agree on. It’s a win-win for us all. What d’ya say, Vladimir?’ Ruby’s eyes glinted as she spoke. The thrill of making a deal was intoxicating. The fizz from the bubbles, the warm sunshine against the blue sky, the refreshing water and Vladimir’s powerful charisma was a heady combination. It was easy to flirt with him, knowing it was just business and her husband was right there. None of it was real – except the money they’d make. It was a deal worth making.
‘To our partnership,’ said Vladimir.
‘That’s settled then.’ Ruby raised her glass. ‘To the future,’ she said, knowing that today’s meeting had been a mere formality. She’d pulled off the partnership she’d discussed with Lloyd earlier. He’d said that securing Vladimir as a partner could make them millions, and shore up their supply chain. No one would be able to squeeze them.
‘To the future. Our deal is done. Now let’s drink and eat,’ Vladimir replied.
They clinked glasses.
Later, after the afternoon spent eating the finest caviar and blinis, and sipping champagne, they returned to the villa.
‘You did it, Ruby.’ Archie smiled, kissing her. ‘Though I’m officially a jealous man.’
Ruby leaned in to kiss her husband. ‘There’s only ever been one man for me,’ she said as her lips curled in a smile.
‘You’ll ’ave a yacht of your own for this, darlin’. One twice the size of Vladimir’s,’ Lloyd said behind them, making them break off their embrace.
Ruby laughed out loud. It wasn’t the yachts, the money, even the properties and clothes, which elated her, it was the sheer excitement of the deal that kept her coming back for more.
CHAPTER 44
‘To The Locksmith Wine Bar!’ giggled Ruby.
‘The Locksmith!’ cheered back the people all standing around her and Bobby as they toasted the opening of their upmarket wine bar in Chigwell.
Bobby turned to his sister. ‘Rube, are ya sure you want me to run this place? It’s so . . . so . . .’
‘Posh!’ laughed Ruby in response. ‘Look, Bobby.’ She hushed her voice, and nudged him back to a quieter corner of the bar, which they had taken great delight in naming after their humble beginnings. ‘This place is yours now. You’re a natural. You love people and I’ve sent one of our associates from Spain to help with the business and accounts side. You’re movin’ up in the world, brother. I would’ve run it myself, but I just can’t now . . . after everythin’. I can’t bear to be here, but I couldn’t miss this night . . . your night,’ she added.
‘Rube, I appreciate everythin’ you’ve done for me and for Belle, but we both know this isn’t just a legit bar.’ Bobby kept his voice low. So, he’d guessed. She wasn’t surprised. They’d grown up surrounded by crime at all levels.
Ruby shrugged. ‘It’s what we do. It’s who we are, Bobby. You must know that by now? Look, I know you’re worried about Belle. She’s straight, she doesn’t understand our world.’
‘It wasn’t always our world,’ Bobby snapped.
‘No it wasn’t,’ Ruby replied calmly. She could see her brother was rattled, but she also sensed that the prospect of owning a bar excited him. ‘Belle doesn’t ’ave to know anythin’ about that side of it – and neither do you. All that is bein’ taken care of. All you ’ave to do is enjoy it. It’s yours to do whatever you want with.’
Bobby looked conflicted. It was obvious to Ruby that he hated keeping anything from his wife, yet it enabled him to create something of his own, something that wasn’t lock-breaking or burglary.
‘I’ll do it, but you must never tell Belle,’ Bobby said hesitantly, unable to meet Ruby’s eyes.
‘Of course not,’ she said softly. So many secrets, she added in her mind as the siblings parted ways, him to check in with the bartender, her to circulate amongst their guests.
They’d named the bar for the set of skills that had given them their first break, though it was a long while since they’d needed to break any safes. Money was pouring into the family from their drug trade, but more and more they were finding that what they needed was to launder their money. Hence the need for the bar.
As Bobby suspected, The Locksmith was a front. Even though Ruby couldn’t bear to spend much time in Chigwell she’d decided to keep to the contacts they knew – including the dodgy accountant given to her by Charlie. They would clean their money via London, and the bar would now be an integral part of the process, siphoning money and creating legit funds as a result.
Reluctantly, Ruby had flown back for the opening to support Bobby, but being here for more than a few hours, days at most, was all she could manage. No, it was better if Bobby managed the bar. It gave him a ‘respectable’ job and kept him in the family business, where she could look after him. She’d kept the mansion, one of her last links with Charlie and Maureen, but it was shut up until Ruby and Archie could decide what to do with it.
She watched as Bobby moved through the room, shaking someone’s hand, thumping another on the back amiably. He was in his element.
His path soon brought him back to Ruby, with Belle in tow.
‘Bobby’s the man of the hour,’ Belle announced as she took a sip of her wine.
‘To the king of The Locksmith,’ Ruby cheered.
Bobby looked both pleased and slightly embarrassed, as Belle nudged him forward. ‘Go on, you must go and chat to our guests. I’ll be fine here with Ruby.’
Ruby watched as Bobby moved off, rubbing shoulders with local celebrities and upmarket crooks. The place was heaving.
Neither woman spoke as they watched Bobby. There seemed to be a frostiness that had sprung up between them. Ruby guessed this was because of what she’d done. She couldn’t blame Belle for judging her. In Belle’s eyes she was a murderess now after all, not just a dodgy dealer. As for Ruby, it wasn’t the killing that bothered her. She didn’t feel one iota of guilt over removing Saban, but George . . . Killing George was something that never left her, that reappeared in her nightmares each and every night.
It was Belle who broke the ice.
‘You have to tell her.’ It wasn’t a statement, it was a command.
Ruby blinked.
‘I can’t do that, Belle, and by “her” I presume you mean my daughter.’ Ruby emphasised her claim as Cathy’s parent. It didn’t go unnoticed.
‘It’s your daughter who rings me every day asking about George. “Where is he? What happened to him? Is Mum lying to me?’’’ Belle’s voice was cold.
Ru
by’s heart froze. She almost dropped her glass. Suddenly, the room seemed to spin. She clutched onto a bar stool for support. ‘Cathy is askin’ after George? She’s askin’ you?’
‘Yes, every night she calls. Every. Single. Night.’
‘She never told me . . .’ Ruby started to say, but then she remembered that the one time Cathy had asked after George they’d closed ranks on her, refusing to talk about him.
‘What? That she was calling me? Oh yes, every evening. She’s distraught, Ruby, absolutely distraught over what might have happened to him. He did a terrible thing, he hurt her, but he was also her uncle, more of a brother really. You can’t expect him to just disappear and not have her ask questions. I can’t keep lying to her.’
Ruby’s internal world threatened to collapse. Being told that her beloved daughter was reaching out to another woman, even if it was her aunt, felt like a physical blow, but this wasn’t the time to crumble. She willed herself to stay calm, though her heart was hammering under her designer dress.
Before she could respond, a well-known chat show host walked past, silencing both women momentarily. Ruby plastered a dazzling smile on her face and exchanged pleasantries, her laughter higher than usual. After a few minutes, the celebrity moved off, and Ruby turned back to Belle. This time she didn’t hold back.
‘So, you’ve had an attack of conscience. That’s natural. I hate lyin’ to Cathy too, but what you don’t realise is the truth would kill her, and she’d ’ave to deal with his death on top of bein’ raped. So, no, Belle, you won’t be tellin’ her and neither will I. If . . . when . . . she asks you again, you say the same thing: he’s gone for good. You got that?’
Ruby stared into her sister-in-law’s eyes, hard and fierce. Belle stared back but it was she who dropped her gaze first.
‘This is my secret, Belle, mine! I’ll take it to my grave, and I expect you to do the same, for Cathy’s sake.’
Belle took a sip of her wine, and when she replied, her voice was dull, bleak. ‘Or what?’
Ruby looked away, her anger building. She recognised that there was nothing she could do to stop Belle divulging her darkest secret. She just had to hope that, for Cathy’s sake, she’d see sense.
