Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 18

From the moment she first laid eyes on Ruby, Pamela had treated her like her own daughter.

"Ruby, let me ask you something. Did you upset someone recently?"

Ruby tried to compose herself, confusion clouding her face. "Pamela, what makes you say that?"

Pamela recalled, "On my way back, I ran into Fiona. She happened to be sitting in her car on the phone. I overheard your name, so I pretended to sweep up nearby. I listened in—she was talking to someone named Mr. Cliff, and they were plotting something against you!"

"Pamela, are you sure you heard right? It wasn't Stephen Shaw?" Ruby's heart skipped a beat.

Pamela shook her head. "No, I'm certain. She said Mr. Cliff."

Mr. Cliff?

Who on earth was Mr. Cliff?

Ruby looked baffled, and Pamela frowned, equally at a loss.

"I just can't figure it out," Pamela went on. "You and Mira, just the two of you, who could possibly have a grudge against you?"

"But Ruby, Fiona's in charge of our entire district. She outranks Stephen Shaw. She sounded awfully deferential on that call. If you ask me, your job might be in real trouble."

"You should start making plans. I can tell this isn't where you belong. Do you really want to spend your life sweeping streets with Mira in tow?"

"Oh, and Fiona's nephew—you know, the one with the limp—he's working the next street over this afternoon. Watch out for him. The guy's got nothing to lose and no patience for trouble."

With that, Pamela yanked off her vest and crawled into bed, falling asleep in moments.

Ruby sat down beside Mira, who was already fast asleep, her rosy cheeks soft as apples. Ruby's eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Since her release, Ruby hadn't offended anyone, at least not purposely. Yet there were still people who looked down on her, who wanted her gone.

Whoever Fiona was talking to—someone who could order Mr. Cliff around—had to be important. A face flashed through Ruby's mind: cold, refined, unmistakably aloof. But she quickly dismissed the thought. No, it couldn't be him. If it were, she and Mira wouldn't still be here, safe.

For now, she was at a loss.

***

Ruby still had one more shift that day—from four-thirty to seven.

That afternoon, she headed out right on time, pushing her cart along the endless avenue.

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