It was time to think about Cathy. Her daughter would be traumatised. She’d been raped – her virginity taken from her by the uncle she loved dearly. Ruby had to move past the events of last night and focus everything on her now. Would Cathy ever get over it? Ruby didn’t know, but she would be with her every step of the way.
Must get up and go to her, Ruby thought. She could only have had a few hours’ sleep, and she felt it. This is nothin’ compared to how my Cathy must be feelin’ . . .
Somehow they all had to move past the horror.
Ruby pulled on her silk dressing gown and headed downstairs, straight to the coffee machine. Archie walked into the kitchen and she turned to look at the man who was as much a part of her soul as her own spirit.
‘Is it sorted?’ she asked, seeing the exhaustion, the dark rings under Archie’s eyes and the night’s stubble still on his chin.
‘It’s done. Now, we move on,’ he replied.
She nodded. She didn’t ask him how he’d disposed of George’s body. She knew without saying that all it would’ve taken was a large back-hander to the pig farmer who would’ve fed them his limbs, brain and muscle for breakfast. Just like Freddie Harris. Just like so many who ran up against the strict codes of the underworld. You don’t hurt your own. You don’t mug off your own. Simple, brutal, and effective.
At that moment, Alfie walked in. He looked like he hadn’t slept either.
There was an awkward silence as the three studied each other.
Ruby broke it by offering coffee.
Alfie shook his head. ‘Get Cathy,’ was all he said. Alfie might not be a sensitive type, but today he saw the heart of the matter. Nothing else mattered but taking care of Cathy.
Ruby nodded.
‘Alfie, my wife’s traumatised . . .’ Archie started to say, but this time it was her who butted in. ‘It’s OK, darlin’. Alfie’s right. I need to see Cathy.’
‘All right, babe. We’ll go together. Alfie can finish the cleanin’ up.’ He leaned in to kiss Ruby, and for a brief second she yearned to cling to him, to sob and beg for forgiveness, for redemption, but she knew she couldn’t break down.
She walked upstairs like a zombie, pulling on the first outfit she saw and tying her hair back with a hairband. She caught sight of herself in the mirror. She looked older, weary and very afraid. Not for herself, but for her daughter. The hardest part was facing Cathy now, the lies she would have to tell to protect her daughter.
Just around the corner from Bobby and Belle’s home, Ruby pulled over and turned off the engine of the Bentley.
‘What’s the matter, babe? Why ’ave we stopped?’ Archie, whose face was grey, turned to her in the car.
Ruby composed her thoughts. Archie had to understand her way of thinking or they could face losing Cathy for ever.
‘I don’t want either of us to tell Cathy what happened,’ she said.
Archie nodded. ‘So what do we tell her?’
‘We both know if we tell Cathy I murdered George, she’ll never forgive me, so we’ve got no choice. We ’ave to lie to her, tell her that we’ve sent George away somewhere . . . I need to know you can do that, Archie.’
Archie thought for a moment. ‘It’s the only way, I see that.’
Ruby nodded, turning on the ignition, and continuing the journey. Their pact was sealed. The truth would stay hidden, to protect Cathy, to protect them all.
CHAPTER 41
Belle and Cathy appeared to be fast asleep, though the young girl was beginning to stir. She was lying on the bed, while Belle was in a nearby chair.
Cathy opened her eyes as Ruby walked in softly. For a moment she looked just like the sweet, happy girl she was, then as she woke up, her mind cleared and her eyes clouded over as the memories of the night before came rushing back.
‘Darlin’, it’s Mum and Dad. How are you? Oh my lovely girl, come ’ere.’ Ruby embraced her daughter as Cathy began to cry, holding her close and rocking as she sat on the edge of the bed. Archie hovered close by, agony written on his face. It was every father’s worst fear, a daughter being raped and powerless to have prevented it.
Belle’s eyes flickered open. She yawned deeply, and her face looked puffy with tiredness. Bobby was standing in the doorway holding a tray with four mugs of sweet tea.
‘Drink this, it’ll make you feel better,’ Bobby said, looking at Ruby.
‘What happened, Ruby?’ Belle said softly, but her eyes were sharp. Until now, Ruby had thought Belle a pleasant-enough woman, but now she realised there was a keen intelligence underneath the hippy exterior.
‘Let’s talk later,’ Ruby said, this time looking at her brother Bobby.
‘Belle, love, why don’t ya take Cathy and get her some breakfast. She needs to eat.’
Ruby helped Cathy up off the bed, crooning, ‘Put your dressin’ gown on, that’s it. Now, what would you like? Eggs on toast?’
‘Bobby?’ Belle cut across them, looking straight at her husband.
‘We’ll speak later, I promise. Take Cathy down, love, please?’ he replied.
‘It’s fine, darlin’, I just need to speak to Bobby. You go and eat. Aunt Belle will look after ya,’ Ruby said to Cathy as she passed her over to Belle.
Belle’s face was mutinous but she took the girl anyway, and Ruby was thankful to hear her speak softly to her daughter as they went.
‘Did ya find him?’ Bobby asked, but Ruby’s face told him everything he needed to know.
Archie stood at the doorway, saying nothing.
‘Jeez Rube, did they kill
