Читать книгу A Daughter’s Courage: A powerful, gritty new saga from the Sunday Times bestseller - Kitty Neale - Страница 8

Adrian replaced the telephone receiver and turned his attention to Robbie, who was looking agitated as he paced the office floor. Adrian knew they would never be taken for brothers. Robbie was tall, slim and dark with swarthy good looks, whereas Adrian knew his weight detracted from his pleasant face – and they were poles apart in character too.

Before his younger brother had a chance to speak, Adrian guessed that Robbie would be asking for money again. He took a deep breath, resolving that this time would be different; he wouldn’t be a pushover. He would stand his ground and be firm. It was about time he gave the young man a few home truths. He knew it would be difficult but it needed doing as Robbie’s finances appeared to be spiralling out of control.

‘Hello, Rob. Why aren’t you at work?’

‘It’s a bit slow today. We haven’t got any vehicles in so Roger sent me off early, not that I’m complaining. He doesn’t dock my wages and I bloody hate working in that greasy pit.’

Adrian sighed. ‘I told you to continue your education, Rob, but would you listen? No. You insisted on leaving school and in fact you’re lucky to be in your position. Lots of people would love to be a mechanic and earn the money you do. So stop complaining.’

‘Yes, but I wish I’d listened to you now.’

Adrian narrowed his eyes. That remark was enough for him to know that his brother wanted something and he could guess what it was. ‘So what brings you here?’

‘You couldn’t see me straight for a few bob, could you?’

Adrian looked at his brother’s confident stance and couldn’t believe his audacity. He didn’t even look sheepish about asking. He just came straight out with it.

‘I’m sorry, Rob, but no. You still haven’t paid me back from last time, or the time before that. I suppose you’ve been gambling again, but it’s about time you knocked that card playing on the head and took responsibility for yourself. I’m fed up with bailing you out all the time. You’re twenty-six years old, a grown man, and it’s time you acted like one.’

Adrian spoke firmly. He didn’t like being so harsh, but knew it was the right thing to do. Since their parents had died of influenza when Robbie was thirteen, Adrian had become very protective of his younger brother. However, Robbie was trying to take advantage of his generosity one time too many and his patience was wearing thin.

‘Don’t be like that, it’s not like you can’t afford it. This business of yours makes you a fair packet.’

‘Whether I can afford it or not is irrelevant. I’ve worked hard to build Ferguson Haulage up to what it is today, and to be honest, Rob, it’s not just about the money.’

‘What are you on about?’

‘I’m always clearing up the mess you leave behind with your reckless behaviour. Christ, man, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to console an upset woman because you’ve led her a merry dance with your lies and philandering. Not to mention the many times I’ve reimbursed the money you’ve swindled out of them. I’ve had it up to here with you.’

‘But that’s just it … I’m getting married! I’m going to change, I swear, and that’s why I need some money. I want to buy Dottie a ring.’

Adrian pushed his chair back from his desk, his thoughts turning. Could it be true? Was his brother really going to settle down? He doubted it, which could only mean one thing. ‘Oh, God, please tell me you haven’t got Dottie in the family way?’

‘What do you think I am, stupid? Of course I haven’t, but now I’ve asked her to marry me, I’ll need to get her an engagement ring. So if you lend me the money I promise I’ll pay you back this time.’

‘I’ve heard it all now. Does she have any idea about your debts? Just how on earth do you think you are going to support Dottie and her parents? Because from what you’ve told me about them before, they will need looking after too.’

‘Don’t you worry about that,’ Robbie answered slowly with a wry grin. ‘It’s going to be a very, very long engagement.’

Adrian’s blood began to boil. He couldn’t believe how unprincipled his brother could be, and though he’d only met her a couple of times, Dottie seemed such a lovely young girl. It wasn’t as if Robbie had been brought up this way. Their parents had worked hard in instilling in them the difference between right and wrong and, after they had passed away, the boys’ elder sister Myra had taken up the reins. She had cared well for Robbie until her move to Scotland, back to their family roots.

‘I don’t suppose Dottie knows that she’ll be waiting a long time before she’s walked up the aisle? No, I suspect not. Another one who’s had the wool pulled over her eyes. Why do you do it, Rob? What are you getting out of her? Because I know it can’t be money.’

There was a silent pause but the lascivious look on Robbie’s face told Adrian all he needed to know. ‘You can be such a ruthless bastard.’

Robbie just laughed. ‘So are you going to lend me the money or not?’ he asked.

‘Not,’ said Adrian.

Robbie approached Adrian and leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk. ‘Honestly, I’ll never ask you again if you just do this one thing for me.’

‘The subject is not open for debate. I won’t be any part of this. If you want to mislead that girl, then you will have to do it without my help. For goodness’ sake, Rob, our mother would be so ashamed of you.’

Adrian saw a black look come over his brother’s face, the same expression he had seen when Robbie was a teenager and would fly into an uncontrollable rage. Myra had always been able to calm him and he seemed to have grown out of his outbursts, but, seeing that same look now, Adrian braced himself. He was right to do so because without hesitation Robbie swept his arm across Adrian’s desk, sending paperwork and pens flying.

‘How dare you bring our mum into this!’ he screeched as he brought his fist down heavily on the wooden desk.

Adrian sat transfixed in his chair, waiting for his brother’s next move. He knew he’d gone too far with his last remark and instantly regretted it, but it was too late to retract it now. He watched as Robbie kicked a wastepaper bin, sending it soaring into the air, and then pushed over a shelving unit with such force that it skidded across the wooden floor. Then without a glance back his brother stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Adrian was left shaken – but glad that Robbie had gone.

As he surveyed the mess around him, the door opened again, filling him with dread. Much to his relief it was only Joe, one of his drivers, though it was customary for his employees to knock before entering.

Joe was a burly looking chap yet even he looked shocked at the state of the office. ‘Are you all right, guv? Only I saw that bloke just leave and he didn’t ’alf bang that door.’

‘Yes, everything’s fine, Joe. He’s my brother, nothing to worry about,’ Adrian said hurriedly as he scanned the paperwork on the floor, picked up a piece and handed it to Joe. ‘Here you go, this is the ticket for your next collection. You’ll have to get a move on if you’re going to be at the drop-off on time.’

Joe looked at him for a moment with narrowed eyes, but said nothing. He took the ticket, stepped over the scattered furniture and strewn papers, then left quietly. Adrian sat down at his desk again, still shaken, and struggled to pull himself together.

It had unsettled him to see Rob’s anger. He’d thought his brother had learned to control his temper, but now he found himself anxious about living with a grown man who could be prone to such violent eruptions.

After leaving Adrian’s office in a rage, Robbie decided that, though he didn’t have the money for a ring, he had enough in his pocket to call in to the Union Arms on Battersea Bridge Road to have a pint or two and calm down. Adrian had always been a pompous git, but he shouldn’t have brought their mother into the conversation. Though, if he was honest, his anger was mainly at his brother’s refusal to lend him any money.

Robbie supped on his ale, savouring the smooth liquid. Two scruffy-looking men stood further along the bar and, as Robbie caught some of their conversation, all thoughts of Adrian and his condescending manner went out of his mind. The men were huddled quite close together, obviously hoping that no one could hear what they were saying, but as they swayed on their feet it appeared the pair were pretty full of beer and didn’t realise how loudly they were talking.

Robbie listened intently as he heard the smaller man in a flat cap say, ‘I’m telling you, George, it’ll be a piece of cake. My cousin said that it’s all about the timing. As long as we get it right we’ll be home and dry, and we’ll be at least a couple of hundred quid or more better off.’

‘Run it by me again,’ George slurred, ‘and slowly this time.’

The man in the flat cap leaned against the bar. ‘It’s easy. You know my cousin works in Leonardo’s, that posh jeweller’s over in Knightsbridge? Yeah, well, she’s gone and got herself up the duff so she’ll be out of a job soon, but in need of some quick bucks. She said she watched old Leonardo put money in the safe and clocked the combination. We had a right laugh when she told me. The old boy must be losing the plot ’cos you’ll never guess what it is.’

George scratched his head, ‘I ain’t got a clue. Go on, tell me …’

‘It’s only left four, right three, left two, right one. He must have set it up like that so he doesn’t forget it, but neither will we,’ the man in the flat cap said and laughed. ‘She reckons he puts the day’s takings in the safe on Saturday when they close, and it just sits there ’til Monday when he banks it. So all we’ve got to do is break in on a Sunday and Bob’s your uncle.’

George nodded but then asked, ‘What about alarms and all that? He must have a place like that belled up so how are we gonna break in? If we smash a window, or jemmy the door, the Old Bill will be straight on to us.’

‘Don’t you worry about that, I’ve got it all covered. My cousin said there’s a small attic skylight on the roof. It’s not alarmed so we just need to lever it open, drop down inside and then head for the safe. We’ll grab the cash and then leave the same way. No one will know we’ve been in there until Monday morning when Leonardo goes to his safe and finds it empty.’

‘Bloody hell, it’s genius! When we gonna do it? This Sunday?’ asked George.

‘Well, we could, but I’ve already promised my mum that I’ll bring Ginny and the kids over this weekend, and you know my life won’t be worth living if I let either of the battle-axes down.’

George groaned. ‘Yeah, I know what you mean. Next weekend it is then.’

The two men shook hands as Robbie inwardly smiled. This was the answer to his worries. Lady Luck must be smiling on him because it had been handed to him on a plate. All he had to do was get in there this weekend to beat the two old drunks to the stash of cash. It sounded fail-safe and he would never have to go to his brother again for money. He’d be able to pay back all that he had borrowed and that would get Adrian, along with others, off his back.

Grinning, Robbie ordered another pint, well chuffed that all his money problems would soon be over.