Mr Lockwood looked every inch the grieving husband. Flabby bags hung under his eyes, and his bald patch shone underneath the spotlight in the hotel bar. Leather furnishings, soft music, and a relaxed atmosphere. A soothing location to meet a grieving widower. It was late evening, and having sent Luddy and the rest of the shift home, Ruby was happy to take the enquiry. She introduced herself and hoped that their meeting would be fruitful. She had vowed to leave no stone unturned. Sometimes, revisiting the past was better than trying to siphon through the myriad of information and phone calls to date.
‘Thanks for meeting me at such short notice. Are you staying long?’ Ruby said, shaking his hand in a firm grip. It was something her tutor had taught her when she joined the police. A weak handshake did not inspire confidence.
‘I’ve no definite plans. But I hope to stay a few more days… ’ His voice tailed away as he stared at his glass of overpriced water.
He looked like a man defeated, and Ruby wished there was something she could say to ease his grief. She knew from losing her father during her childhood that time was the only healer. But he had died of natural causes; she couldn’t imagine how it felt to lose a loved one to such a brutal attack.
Ruby lowered her head, embarrassed at her own impetuousness. She hadn’t even asked how he was doing since the loss of his wife. ‘I’m very sorry for your loss. We’re doing everything we can to catch the person responsible.’
Mr Lockwood touched the glass, his finger tracing the trailing drop of condensation. ‘They said she didn’t suffer because it was so quick. I wasn’t able to identify the body. It was too badly—’ He choked on the words, replacing them with a deep, shuddering sigh.
Ruby nodded sympathetically. ‘Are you sure your wife never gave a child up for adoption? Maybe before you met? Her charity work… sometimes people get involved because they’re trying to put things right.’
Mr Lockwood paled and began to rub his chest in a slow circular motion.
Ruby could see that he was holding back something that had pained him for some time. She realised her fingernails were digging into the leather seat, and clasped her hands over her folded legs instead. ‘Are you OK?’ she said, hoping the answers did not live far away.
Mr Lockwood nodded, his face returning to a pink hue. He plucked a small brown pill bottle from his jacket pocket before knocking back a tablet with a mouthful of water. ‘For my blood pressure,’ he said by way of explanation. ‘You asked about children, didn’t you?’
Ruby replied with a nod.
‘Charlotte never wanted them,’ he said. ‘Her mother suffered with her nerves; she didn’t have an easy childhood.’
‘You’re her second husband, aren’t you?’ Ruby said.
‘Yes. She got married in Gretna Green when she was just sixteen. I think she saw it as a way out of her chaotic home life. Out of the frying pan into the fire, as they say.’
‘So her first husband was abusive?’
Mr Lockwood took a sip of water before giving a short grim nod. ‘When her mother died, she took her inheritance and left. Her family, the marriage, she left it all behind and started again in Cornwall. Her sisters have come crawling to me, looking for money. I sent them away with a flea in their ear. They weren’t very supportive when she was alive. She doesn’t owe them anything now she’s gone.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. I can’t imagine it’s been easy for you.’
‘They know where they stand. It’s all water under the bridge now. I’ve passed on their details to the police, should you wish to speak to them. But I doubt they’ve anything to do with Charlotte’s murder. They didn’t even know where she lived, until now.’
Ruby’s mind worked double time as it searched for answers. At least it explained Charlotte’s behaviour. The endless hours of charity work, her need to befriend victims; it was an urge born from her past, trying to help women just like her. ‘I don’t suppose you have her sister’s details on you… ’
‘I’ve already given them to the police,’ Mr Lockwood said.
Ruby nodded. ‘Of course. Sorry, we’ve hundreds of lines of enquiries. I’ll follow it up when I get back to the station.’
‘Charlotte wanted me to retire early, take a cruise around the world. I wish I’d listened. But it’s too late now.’
Ruby nodded in agreement. She had also suffered loss, and was an expert on regret.
By the time Ruby got to the lift for her flat, she cursed herself for wearing her heels again. The tight black leather had pinched her toes into submission, and she limped inside, praying that it would get to the top floor without breaking down. She slipped off her shoes as she pressed the button for the top floor, risking the dirt-stained floor to ease her chafed skin. But her relief did not last for long, as a pair of hands parted the doors before slipping in beside her. Ruby swallowed, her heart lurching at the sight of the very last person she wanted to see. How on earth had they found her?
Ruby inhaled a sharp intake of breath as she recognised the thin pallid face of the man before her. He had the height of his brother, but none of his looks. It was Lenny Crosby, Nathan’s older brother. Ruby cast her eye over his long woollen coat, worn over his customary designer shirt and black jeans. She wondered how many weapons were concealed in its pockets, and reminded herself to keep a brave stance. Lenny could smell fear. Lenny had weaklings for breakfast.
‘Hello, Ruby,’ he said, his dark eyes locked in a menacing stare. ‘Why don’t you and me have a little chat?’
‘Why don’t you fuck off and phone me like everyone else,’ Ruby said, taking a step forward to leave.
Lenny’s hand shot out, grabbing Ruby’s arm and bending it behind her back. ‘A feisty little bitch, aren’t you? Do you know what happened to the last person who spoke to me like that?’
Ruby didn’t ask because she didn’t want to know. She gritted her teeth as a slice of pain shot up her arm, but she would not cry out. Fists clenched, she was ready to fight her corner.
‘Shhh, shhh, calm yourself now,’ Lenny said, his left hand reaching forward, and in one fluid movement cold hard steel was laid against her throat. He pressed himself tightly against her back, pushing her into the lift wall. She could smell the tobacco on his breath, and the sweat lacing his skin.
Ruby froze, keeping her voice level. ‘What do you want, Lenny?’
‘I felt it was time we had a catch up. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?’ Lenny’s lips brushed against her ear and he inhaled the fragrance of her hair.
She needed to extricate herself from this situation. Even if someone tried to use the lift, the Crosby family were too well known for her to expect anyone to help. Despite Nathan’s efforts to stay below the radar, Lenny had ensured their reputation for violence was well-known.
‘Just let go of me, will you?’ Ruby said, trying to wriggle free. But the blade scratched against her neck in her attempts to resist it.
Lenny released her right arm, keeping the knife firmly pressed to her jugular. ‘Play me up and I’ll slit your throat.’ He pressed the button for the top floor, and Ruby watched as the lift doors sealed them inside.
She fought to regulate her breath, softening her words so they did not sound like an accusation. ‘Why are you being like this? We grew up together.’
‘Don’t give me all that family loyalty bollocks. You lost your right to that when you joined the filth. Now shut up and listen. What are the old bill doing sniffing around our family?’
Ruby frowned. It was news to her. ‘I don’t know. I’m not privy to that sort of information.’
‘You’re a copper, aren’t you? You go to briefings.’
‘It doesn’t work like that anymore. We’re only privy to the cases we’re working on. What’s this really about? The police have been on your tail plenty of times before and you didn’t follow me around.’
‘I don’t sneak around,’ Lenny said. ‘I’m here to pass on a warning. Leave Nathan alone. You’re fucking with his head.’
Ruby wanted to say that Nathan was old enough to make his own decisions, but as the knife caressed her skin she knew she had to pick her battles.
‘I’m not with Nathan.’ Wide-eyed, Ruby watched the numbers roll past on the digital display, until they came to her floor.
‘Stay where you are.’ Lenny’s breath felt hot on her cheek. ‘You know better than to start a fight with me. I’ll tell you only once. Leave Nathan alone. I won’t come for you; I’ll come for your mother. Don’t think I won’t find a way, because you know I have the capability.’
Ruby wanted to remind him who he was talking to, but mention of the police so soon after his prison release could be the one thing to tip him over the edge. ‘Have you been in my flat?’
Lenny laughed. ‘Now why would I be in your shithole flat?’
‘Why would you be sticking a blade to my throat? To get your point across I guess!’
Lenny drew himself closer; every inch of his body was pressed against hers. ‘Look, babe. If I have anything to say to you I’ll say it to your face. Have I made myself clear?’
‘Perfectly. I just don’t get why it warranted you pulling a knife on me.’
‘Because sometimes it’s the only way of getting the message across.’
Ruby swallowed, her eyes rolling down to the knife which was pressed against her quivering flesh. She gathered all her bravado, forcing the words between her clenched teeth. ‘Tell Nathan to keep out of my way, and I’ll keep out of his. Conversation over. Now drop the blade and open the door.’
Slowly, his right hand snaked around her waist. ‘Shame really. You always were a nice bit of stuff.’
A wave of revulsion passed over Ruby while Lenny’s fingers slipped under her shirt, his breath growing heavier as he caressed the contours of her skin.
‘Don’t fucking think about it,’ Ruby growled, prepared to take her chances with the knife. ‘If you want me to stay away from Nathan, don’t give him a reason to turn against you.’ She knew Lenny wouldn’t kill her. Hurt her, yes, maybe even worse. But he would not kill her while his mother was alive.
‘Just remember what I said, or next time I won’t stop,’ Lenny said, releasing the knife from her throat.
Ruby jabbed the button as the lift reached her floor, biting back the words on her tongue. She wanted to tell him to go to hell, but now was not the time. She left without looking back; but instead of entering her flat she darted into the stairwell.
Lenny knew where she lived. He could easily break in and finish what he started. He was known for it; although his victims sometimes confided in police, they never got as far as attending court. Lenny relished in torturing his victims then letting them go – only to catch them again, like a cat toying with a mouse. He’d allow them to smell freedom, gasp in a breath of relief, before discovering he had never really released them at all. It was the worst kind of torture.
She couldn’t go back to the flat. It wasn’t safe there anymore. At least, not tonight. She thought about Downes, but he would ask too many questions: questions that she was not ready to face up to herself. She needed to get her head down somewhere safe, but she could not afford a hotel. She thought of the flat Nathan had bought her and the keys buried in the bottom of her bag. She could be there in twenty minutes if she took the Tube. If what he said was true, nobody else knew about it, especially not Lenny.
She bit down on her bottom lip, toying with the idea of staying the night. It was not as if she was contacting Nathan; nobody needed to know. Just one night she told herself. Tomorrow she could figure out what she was going to do. It didn’t mean that she was accepting anything, and it was all Nathan’s fault this had happened anyway. She wondered what he had done to make Lenny blame her. A flutter arose in her chest.
Could Nathan have been talking about leaving the family business? She told herself not to get her hopes up. She had made her decision. It was too late now. Tomorrow she would ring the care home and tell the staff to call her if anyone tried to visit her mum. But deep down Ruby knew it was an empty threat. If Lenny was going to hurt anyone, it would be her.