Molly Shelby

Chapter 1

I was curled up in the small chair in my dads office next to him whilst he worked at his desk, he was looking over the numbers, he's tried to teach me several times but i just don't understand it. There was a knock at the door followed by Arthur entering, "there's someone ere to see ya Tom" he said, my dad looked up from his work and removed his glasses placing them gently on his desk "thankyou Arthur, send them in". I glanced curiously over to my dad, he normally told me when he was having a meeting. A tall slim man entered the room, he had brown slicked hair and a moustache, "morning Mr Mosley" my dad greeted and shook his hand. "Is this your daughter Mr Shelby?" He questioned, I curled up further in to the chair as the man studied me. "Yes that is my daughter, now let's get down to business" he interrupted, I felt slight relief when the attention was brought away from me.

They spoke business, even Mr Churchill's name was mentioned which briefly caught my attention, I was flicking through the pages of a book catching around three words a page. They both stood up causing me to bring my attention to my dad, Mr Mosley turned toward me, "mousey little thing isn't she" he said whilst squinting and reaching a hand towards me, I flinched backwards causing Tommy to step towards me "we can talk again tomorrow Mr Mosley" he interrupted and walked him out the door of the office. The door closed quietly and the returned to where I was sat, he crouched in front of me and I stared at my hands, "ey look at me" he said gently moving my face to look him at him, we both shared the same icy blue eyes. "You don't have to be scared, just because I'm a politician now doesn't mean I won't put a bullet in a mans skull if he threatens to hurt the people I love" he said looking me straight in the eyes, I nodded, "he's bad, I can tell" I replied with a worried expression on my face. His lips turned upwards slightly "He's a politician, they're all bad" he said and stood up holding a hand out.

I took it and walked with him out his office, Arthur, Michael and some other Peaky boys were surrounding something or someone, Tommy cleared his throat causing them to step aside revealing that Mosley was still here. "Mr Mosley I didn't realise you were still here" My dad said with a hint of frustration in his tone, I moved behind him and he moved his hand to briefly squeeze my shoulder in reassurance. "Yes I was just conversing with your fellow colleagues here" Mosley replied then stepped to the side to see me more, "I'm curious as to why your child is so frightened Mr Shelby" his words caused Arthur to take a step forward and clench his fists tightly, My dad raised a hand telling Arthur to stand down. I didn't move from my position, "she's a child Mr Mosley, they don't trust easy, maybe we should follow in their footsteps more often" my dad replied keeping stern eye contact with the man. "I apologise if my boys came across as slightly rude they're just protective, we can discuss more tomorrow" he continued and led Mosley out the front door making sure he actually left this time.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, Arthur moved towards me and picked me up, "you alright Webley?" He asked as i lay my head on his shoulder, I was 8 years old but extremely small for my age, I barely reached his waist. "He's a bad man uncle Arthur" I replied, he didn't say anything but I knew he agreed with me, my dad walked back in and nodded at Arthur, he placed a hand gently on my back making me lift my head to look at him. I meant towards him and Arthur passed me over to my dad, "I don't like him, he's bad, worse than the others" I said with tears brimming in my eyes, "ey now, no need for tears" he said "Mr Mosley has money, meaning he gets other people to do his dirty work and those men won't be smart like he is" he continued wiping a tear from my cheek.

I didn't trust this man, not at all, but I trusted my father.