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
