On a cold night in January, when the pub was down to two customers the boss decided it was time to allow the staff an early finish. Christmas and New Year had been exceptionally busy, they deserved a weekend night out on the town. A dark figure huddling in an opposite doorway watched Ruby and her band of merry friends jump into a mini-bus and head for the town. Obviously, Charlie was alerted. He hadn’t expected this, he liked to be forewarned. Ruby was supposed to be working all weekend. The pub crawl along Rose Street is obligatory in Edinburgh. By the time the crew hit Lothian Road much alcohol had been consumed and they were in high spirits. They joined in the singing at the Karaoke bar, Ruby flirting with one of the bar staff. She enjoyed the banter, it was good to be on the other side of the bar for a change. She thought about Charlie as she waited outside in the cold to get into the club. The harsh wind from the North Sea could bite like a dog. It's not that Ruby is shallow, but she's aware of the way people react to Charlie. Charlie's security company worked the doors of many clubs and pubs in the city. She would never admit to it, but she was impressed by Charlie's ability to walk freely through the door while others froze in a queue that trailed around a corner and into the following street. Ok, he would do she reasoned to herself, he employed these people, but club staff and management were equally respectful. Ruby decided he was one of the good guys, well liked, safe to be with. She didn't want to dwell on the ins and outs of a fledgling relationship. To hell with it, she was out for a good time tonight, hit the bar, hit the dance floor, give it yahoo, sorted.
The next day was a blur for the merry gang of clubbers, Ruby being especially hung over. They had joined in a drinking game with another group who had lined up shots on the bar of the most infamous club in Edinburgh. Unaware of time, Edinburgh was waking up when they left the club. They hadn’t realised the club had closed its doors to customers three hours before. Before going home, they decided to round off the night with a cooked breakfast in a dockers pub down Leith. Ruby decided to surprise Charlie and be in his apartment for when he got home. She was looking forward to seeing him, to tell him about her night out with the pub gang. She was seriously hungover, but not enough to dampen her memory of a good night out. She was just becoming aware of somebody moving around when Charlie’s face was right next to hers, staring into her eyes. His demeanour chilled her. His breath stank with garlic, his clothes smelt of grease. From this she was able to determine where he had spent most of the night. The club in question had a kitchen which sold various international cuisine (according to the sign outside) but really was anything with chips.
"Good morning Ruby” She sat on the bed and watched him methodically pace up and down. She counted his steps, six to the left, another six to the right, turning on the seventh. “Well, who was he?” “Who was who?” “The man.” “What man?” “The man your friend said you copped off with at the club.” “I didn’t cop off with anyone at the club.” “Yes, you did, your friend said so.” “No, someone asked me to dance.” “Ah, good, let’s start from there then? Shall we? What was his name?” “Whose name?” he came to a halt on his sixth step and twirled on his heel. He looked ridiculous. She almost laughed but kept her face straight in defiance. She wasn’t going along with his fantasy. “The man you danced with.” “I don’t know.” “You copped off with some strange man and without even knowing his name.” “I did not.” “Did not what?” He spoke in words of one syllable in order to make her understand. “You did not ask his name? We know you danced with him. That came from your own sweet mouth Ruby. Shall we take it from there again? What song did you dance to? How many times did you dance with a strange man? I watched you, showing off, rubbing yourself up against some random bloke. What was his name?” It slowly dawned on Ruby that Charlie had monitored her along most of Rose Street and in to the club. Of course, he had access to security cameras all over Edinburgh. Why hadn’t she realised? He didn’t have to listen to her recall of a great night out, he already had his version right in front of him. Shit. “Charlie you are being unreasonable, I did not cop off with anyone” she burst, surprised that he could even think such a thing. She regretted her words immediately.
He began pacing again. “Oh. I suppose this is all my imagination. Of course, it is. Little Ruby wouldn’t do anything wrong, would she? No of course not. She’s a little angel. His face turned an ugly shade of red as he argued with himself. This was a worn-out argument; one he’d had many times. Ruby realised he was now lost in it, she was not required to say anything. She could only watch as he picked up his tie from the end of the bed where he had hung it earlier that morning. He pulled it taught and stared her in the eye. He sat astride her, making sure very little of his weight sat on Ruby. He wasn’t stupid, he was huge, she was tiny, things like that had to be worked out. He had to be sure she could breathe. He didn’t want to break her ribs. He grabbed her wrists with his plate sized hands and tied them. Ruby struggled but this made him laugh. Sweat trickled off his forehead and onto her cheek. Her wrists were tied to the iron bed frame. He licked his lips, creating saliva and dripped a long slow spittle on to her eye. The spittle connected them for a few seconds, he liked this, to be joined with Ruby, to see into her soul, he had to make sure it was pure. She tried to move her head, but he held her tight around her throat. The feeling in his groin annoyed him rather than spurred him on and he jumped up from the bed as if he had stepped on hot coals. He looked at her with disgust on his face, she couldn’t be sure if that was for her or the act he had nearly committed on her. He detected a glimmer of fear in her brown eyes. “Don’t worry Ruby, I will never hurt you.
Charlie sat in his kitchen overlooking a grey sky, the harr obliterating any view of Fife. He knew things had gotten out of hand with Ruby. She was lying in bed now, probably hating him he thought. He opened a small, slim drawer hidden under his kitchen units. It housed an array of vintage and novelty corkscrews. He picked up the one he had used on Harry Broon. He smiled as he unclicked the small metal sheaf holding the antique silver screw between his fingers. He ran them along the spiral, enjoying the feel, savouring the sharpness of the end pressed against the pad of his thumb. He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply then exhaled as he thought about Harry. The sharpness of the instrument pressing harshly into his skin, cool, relaxing. He loved to reminisce like this. He felt calm, serene. Harry was so good. He knew he shouldn’t focus on him so much, but he did. Ruby looked in disbelief as he untied her, kissed her on the cheek then asked her if she would like a cup of tea. Do I want a cup of tea? You sick fuck. You think you can do all this then drink tea? Are you fucking mad?” The anger spewed out of her in a torrent, making sure he heard it loud and clear, to fight back, to make this right. “People told me you were off your head, but I didn’t believe them. I stuck up for you. I said you were a rebel without a fucking clue, that’s not true though, you’ve got more than a clue Charlie and I want you way out of my life. As Charlie reached the door, he whispered, she could hardly hear it, but he said, “I love you Ruby.” She was sure she heard those words. Sure she did. Was she stupid enough to believe that was what he said?