After an unexplainable accident Annabelle finds herself hundred years in the past. In the boom of the 1920s, the era of Jazz and bootleggers. But it's not just the 20s she now has to deal with, she also happens to find herself stumble right into the...
Satisfied Thomas Shelby made his way back to the betting den. He might not have gotten a lot of information about that mysterious woman, but now he had a name. And behind a name there's always a history.
It wasn't like she said, he didn't think of her as a threat, god knows he was still to self-absorbed to ever consider a woman a threat. He simply liked knowing what kind of people entered his part of town. He didn't like being left in the dark, without full control over his surroundings at any given point of time.
And seeing the way Annabelle calmed down Danny Whizzbang yesterday, by simply whispering something into his ear, intrigued him. What would he give to know what she said to Danny in that moment. Of course he asked Danny, right after he came back to his senses, about the woman's words, but he couldn't remember a thing.
At the betting shop, the second oldest Mr. Shelby was immediately confronted with his men informing him about new numbers, a lot of bets that came in. The trick with that Chineses red powder really seemed to work.
In the backroom he saw Polly watching the men work and drinking her whiskey. Deciding he didn't have anything to do in that very moment he joined her and lit his fifth cigarette of that day.
"What's going on with you? You seem too content for your usual self."
Aunt Polly said without even looking at her nephew. The way the woman could read people was truly astonishing.
"Nothing Pol', nothing of concern." He said smug tone in his voice. He knew very well that Polly hated not knowing what was going on, just as much as he himself did.
Just that moment John Shelby joined their table, chewing on a toothpick like usually.
Quite frequently Tommy wondered how many splinters of the many toothpicks John chewed, already ended up in his stomach.
"Say Tommy, who's that new woman in town?"
The third youngest of the Shelby brothers asked. Immediately Tommy's thoughts went back to the black haired woman.
How did John already meet her?
"You know, short black hair, pale skin, red lipstick, slim figure."
John confirmed to him it was Annabelle and simultaneously formed the exaggerated silhouette of a woman's body with his hands.
"Her name is Annabelle."
Was all Tommy said, realising once again that he practically knew nothing about the woman.
"Why are you asking?" Thomas wanted to know.
"She basically ran me over this morning when I brought Katie to school. Planted my ass on the cobbles." Thinking back of the incidents he huffed unamused.
Meanwhile Polly didn't even try to conceal her grin, just thinking of her nephew getting knocked over by a woman, made her smile.
"And she knew who I was."
While the lady in the room didn't seem to have expected the last, Thomas didn't seem fazed at all. His missing reaction of course didn't go by unnoticed.
"But you already knew that. Right, where do you know her from." John asked confused.
John had never seen the young woman around, and that his brother obviously seemed to know her, surprised him. How was it that Thomas Shelby always knew everything about everyone, the younger brother thought frustrated.
"You're wrong John, I don't know her. In fact, all I know is that her name is Annabelle, she works for Jeanne and she knows about our business." Thomas informed his aunt and brother.
He purposely didn't mention their encounter yesterday, not wanting to raise his aunt's curiousity even more.
In a way it was childish, but Tommy wanted to be the first one to find out who exactly that Annabelle girl was. The way she played with him this morning almost made him angry, he wasn't used to people, especially not women, to toy around with him like that.
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Annabelle p.o.v.
Sitting in the back I made a rough sketch of the suit for Mr. Shelby. I decided to go with a dark brown colour and more of a structured fit.
Over and over my thoughts drifted off to our encounter a few hours ago and as much as I tried to distract myself with work, I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen next.
It was obvious that I now dragged attention onto myself, if that was positive or negative attention I couldn't quite tell.
I kept asking myself if I should lay low or just throw myself right into the centre of attention.
Ok maybe not the centre, but a well known side figure maybe.
After all I couldn't risk changing too much in the plot, some things are bound to happen and changing them, would change the entire future.
And if the future changed, my knowledge about the next roundabout ten to fifteen years would be useless.
"Ugh."
I needed a break, there is no way I could focus on the work in front of me right now.
A look into the salesroom showed me that there was only one customer, Maddie was dealing with right now, which meant I could probably go early into lunch break.
"Hey Maddie, is it fine if I go into break 20 minutes early?"
I asked, hoping she wouldn't have a problem with that.
Holding her pencil with her teeth she just mumbled something incoherent, before seeing my perplexed expression, until she just nodded and gave me a thumbs up.
Quickly I took my coat and left the shop. As soon as I got outside I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing mind.
Without thinking for long I made my way to the Garrison.
If there is one thing I needed right now, it was coffee. Coffee always helped me to focus, after my years of excessively consuming the liquid drug, the caffeine lost it's waking effect on me. At this point it simply calmed my nerves.
Soon I entered the almost empty pub, there were only a few people on the side tables, playing Yahtzee.
Remembering the many times I played the dice game with my grandpa, made me smile.
"Mrs. Lancom what can I get you?"
Harry asked, as I made my way to the bar.
"A strong coffee would be great, Harry."
I smiled as I propped my arms onto the counter. Just a few seconds later I put my forehead onto the back of my hands. The sound of the private room window to the bar opening, made me look up and my eyes met Polly Gray's.
Exhaling completely drained, I let my forehead slam back onto the counter.
