Ruby helped Cathy into their new Bentley, and drove off into the night, her headlights dipped to try to avoid attention. Ruby rang ahead as she drove.
‘I can’t say nuthin’ but we’re comin’ over. Cathy’s been attacked. I need you two to look after her,’ Ruby said. Her voice was low, her tone serious.
‘What’s ’appened, Rube?’ Bobby said, his voice sounded instantly alert.
‘I’ll explain later. Cathy needs to be kept safe. We’re almost at yours.’ Ruby hung up.
A couple of minutes later, she pulled into the drive of the house they’d once lived in, now Bobby and Belle’s home. They were already standing outside the house, Belle in a dressing gown, Bobby in his day clothes. They had clearly been preparing to go to bed when she rang.
‘Let’s just get inside,’ Ruby ordered. She helped Cathy out of the car. Her daughter had been silent through the drive, and in a strange way, this frightened Ruby more. It didn’t seem natural to be so calm after the attack she’d suffered.
‘Belle, please run Cathy a bath. Bobby, I need to speak to you urgently,’ Ruby said sharply. Belle looked to her husband and he nodded. She smiled at Cathy, putting her arms around her as she led Ruby’s daughter upstairs and into the bathroom.
Ruby marched into the kitchen. She started to pace up and down, holding her head in her hands. Bobby looked alarmed.
‘What is it, Rube? Tell me,’ Bobby said, grabbing her by the elbows and forcing her to stop walking.
Ruby’s face, when she brought it up to hold Bobby’s gaze, was grief-stricken. ‘It was George. George raped Cathy. Archie won’t let him live. He has to go, Bobby, and I can’t bear any of it.’ Ruby felt herself starting to fall down a deep, black well of emotion. She had to be strong. She had to get back. The night wasn’t over yet.
‘Fuckin’ hell. Fuck!’ Bobby let go of her arms like she was made of hot coals. It was his turn to pace.
He shook his head, disbelief fighting with anger.
‘Our little brother was high on drugs, Bobby. We had a terrible argument earlier in the day and he stormed out. We went out for a meal to try and calm it all down . . .’ At this point, Ruby felt a pang of shame and guilt so strong it almost knocked her sideways. ‘I can’t believe I left her. I can’t believe I left Cathy in the house alone. I let this happen, Bobby.’ Tears streamed down Ruby’s face now. They were unstoppable. The dam had burst. ‘Cathy was in the house. She said she’d ’ave a quiet word with George when he got back but I knew he was high, I could see it and I left her . . .’
‘It wasn’t your fault. You’re not to blame for our brother’s actions,’ Bobby burst out.
‘Maybe. Maybe not. The truth was that George went and took more drugs, God knows what he scored, and he came back . . . and that’s when he raped my little girl . . .’ Ruby keened, doubling up with terrible pain at the violence, the worst crime that can be inflicted upon a woman.
Bobby was now sitting at the kitchen island, his head in his hands, crying softly. Eventually, Ruby stood up and wiped her eyes.
‘I promised myself I wouldn’t let Cathy see my pain. This has to be about helpin’ her, and her alone. Listen, Bobby, I need you and Belle to stay up with Cathy, all night if you ’ave to, as I ’ave to go back. There’s more to be done. Justice needs to be done.’ Ruby’s face was dark in the shadows thrown by the overhead light.
Bobby looked over at her pleadingly, ‘Don’t go back, Rube. Stay ’ere with Cathy. She needs her mum tonight . . .’
Ruby shook her head. ‘I’ll be back later but there’s somethin’ I need to do first . . .’
Bobby knew not to ask.
Ruby obviously looked as desperate as she felt, because Bobby nodded and said, ‘All right, go, do what you ’ave to do.’
A look of understanding that went beyond words passed between the two siblings. Evil had to be put right, it had to be avenged, and they both knew that Archie and Alfie would stop at nothing.
CHAPTER 39
Back at the mansion, Ruby walked in. The house was silent. Suddenly her mobile buzzed. She opened it and saw it was her husband calling.
‘Archie?’ she said, putting her Gucci handbag down on the marble worktop.
‘We’ve got him. We’re on our way.’
Ruby hung up. She put her phone back in her bag and looked around the room, waiting. Everything appeared the same, yet everything was different.
The minutes felt like hours as she waited. Then she heard the sound of the car wheels on the gravel. Glancing up at the clock, she saw it was now almost 2 a.m. The darkest hour of the night.
But there was no sound of footsteps. Suddenly, she saw the lights go on in the plush garden office outside. Picking up her handbag, Ruby prepared to walk out to meet her adored little brother, who had become a monster.
Fear wrestled with fury as she walked across the immaculate lawn. She could hear Alfie shouting, and she willed him to quieten down. They didn’t want to alert the neighbours.
Her hand trembled as she opened the office door. Alfie was screaming in George’s face. Her little brother had a black eye and was cowering on the sofa. He had clearly taken a beating.
‘Careful, Alfie, or you’ll ’ave the Old Bill breathin’ down our necks,’ said Ruby quietly. There was something in her tone that had authority, that men like Alfie – violent, reckless men – seemed to obey instantly.
He backed off, glaring into George’s face, which was red from crying. Her gaze travelled
