Runaway

The fundraiser dinner

A month later.
Tommy was over everyday to see their baby, but under Grace's supervision. She had to go with him every single time and Charlotte was on the verge of rearranging her face again. Tommy was at Charlotte's house sitting on the couch as he held Carter. Grace was in the chair reading a magazine that Charlotte so happened to be on the cover. Charlotte walked in from outside in workout gear.

(Pretend she's Charlotte!)

She didn't look like she broke a sweat, but Michael and Finn were another story. They stumbled in and Finn immediately laid out on the cold floor and Michael went straight for the water.
"I'm done. I'm not working out with you anymore." Finn said from the ground.
"We've been working out twice a day for a month...you should be able to keep up." Charlotte laughed.
          "You'd have to workout twice a day to drop that baby weight." Grace spit.
Finn got up from the floor and looked Charlotte up and down and then looked at Grace.
          "She's good."
He looked at Charlotte.
          "You're good."
Charlotte smirked and then sat beside Tommy on the couch. She rubbed Carter's back and he lightly lifted his head to look at her.
          "Hi." She smiled.
He gave a small smile and put his little head back on Tommy. That was pretty much the extent of what he could do besides crying. Michael stood at the kitchen counter as he looked at the magazine Grace was reading.
          "That's a pretty good read. One of my favorites." Michael said to Grace.
She made a face and then looked at the cover. She quickly closed it and threw it on the coffee table. Finn laughed as he walked upstairs.
          "Tommy, can you stay for a little bit longer. I just have to take a quick shower." Charlotte asked.
          "Of course I can."
          "No, he can't. I have to go pick up my dress for tonight and then go over to the place to make sure everything is set up." Grace said.
          "That sounds like a you problem." Tommy said.
          "And your problem because you're coming with me."
          "I have to watch my baby. I can't leave him alone." Tommy said innocently.
          "Michael can watch him. He's here." Grace said.
          "No I'm not." Michael said as he walked upstairs.
Charlotte smirked.
          "So it looks like you're either going to get your dress for tonight or you won't go because you won't have anything to wear." Tommy said.
Grace cut her eyes at him and hesitantly stood up.
          "Fine. I'll go, but you know what will happen if you mess up."
          "Yes and it has me trembling from fear." He said sarcastically.
Charlotte held in a laugh as Grace stormed out. Tommy looked at Charlotte.
"He's almost asleep. You didn't need me to really stay...did you?"
She shook her head no and Tommy smirked.
"You like pushing her buttons." Tommy said.
"You said one month from your wedding and today is that day. I don't know what you have planned, but why not have fun until then?"
He shook his head and then kissed her. She stood up.
"Okay, but I really do have to shower." She said and then walked to her bathroom.
Charlotte came out an hour later in a robe with her hair dried. She saw Tommy on her bed asleep with Carter on his chest. She got on the bed and kissed Tommy's cheek. He put his arm around her and they fell asleep. They woke up later to Carter crying. Charlotte took him and Tommy checked his watch as he got up.
"Ada's maid is coming over to watch him and Karl. I will see you later."
Tommy kissed Carter and then Charlotte.
"Tommy, what time are you leaving for tonight?" She asked.
"Probably seven, why?"
"Just asking."
He nodded and kissed her forehead and walked out. Charlotte fed Carter and then spent time with him as the day went on. She held him as she walked out to the living room to see Michael in his suit.
"You look handsome." She said as she fixed his bow tie.
"Not as good as this little guy." He said as he rubbed Carter's back.
Charlotte smiled.
"I'm going to pick up my mum, but I'll see you and Finn at the dinner, right?"
Charlotte nodded and Michael walked out. She went upstairs to see Finn dressed.
"Hey little man." Finn said as he took Carter.
Charlotte tied Finn's bow tie for him and then he handed Carter back to her.
"I'm going to get ready and then we'll go. I want to stop at Tommy's before though." She said.
"Why? The house will be empty."
"Exactly." She smirked and then walked away.
Charlotte fed Carter one last time and then got ready as he slept. Ada's maid showed up with Karl and Charlotte left with Finn. They got to Tommy's door and Finn tried to open it.
"It's locked. Do you have a key?" He asked.
"Nope."
"So how are we going to get in?"
She pulled a pin out of her hair and picked the lock. She threw the door open and smirked at him.
"Of course you can pick a lock." He rolled his eyes as he walked in.
Charlotte started to look through everything.
"What are you doing?"
"I have to figure out what she has on him, Finn. He's suffered enough and I want to put the bitch down."
"Tommy will be mad if we're late." He said.
"Then you go and tell him Carter was fussy or something. I'll be there...just after I figure this out."
"Be safe." Finn said and then left.
Charlotte walked to the bedrooms and realized Grace and Tommy slept in separate rooms. She didn't mess with Tommy's, but she turned Grace's upside down. Charlotte grew frustrated because she looked everywhere. She was pacing and stepped on a creaky floorboard and she knew. She moved the rug and pulled the loose floorboard up. Her gun was there with papers and phone call receipts.
"That bitch." She mumbled as she read.
___________________________________
Everyone except Charlotte was at the fundraiser dinner. Everyone was drinking and mingling before the dinner started. Tommy walked over to Finn.
          "Where's Charlotte?"
          "Carter wouldn't stop crying. She didn't feel right leaving him until he calmed down. She should be here soon."
          "But they're alright?" Tommy asked.
Finn nodded and then Polly put her hand on Tommy's shoulder.
          "It's hard for mothers to leave their babies for the first time. She'll be here." Polly smiled.
Tommy nodded and then Grace rudely pulled him away. She introduced him to a man and they stood there talking until Tommy looked up at the door and couldn't look away. The man they were talking to looked.
"What a treat. Inspector Campbell is here." The man said.
Campbell stared Tommy down as he walked away.
"You invited him?" Tommy asked Grace.
"Of course, Tom. You know him and I are old friends." Grace said as she walked off.
Tommy quickly walked over to John and told him.
"So what are we going to do?" John asked.
"Kill them both."
Just then a worker walked up to Tommy.
"Mr. Shelby, Charlotte Wilson is here and is waiting in the board room for you."
Tommy nodded and John smirked at him. Tommy walked to the empty board room and shut the door.
"Charlotte?" He called out.
___________________________________
Charlotte finally arrived at the dinner. She walked in and all eyes were on her.

(Pretend she's blonde!)

She quickly found Finn and the group and walked over. The boys were looking her up and down.
"You can call me Tommy if that helps." John drooled.
Ada hit John's chest.
"Where's Tommy?" Charlotte asked.
"You weren't just with him in the board room?" John asked.
"No? I just got here and I need to find him."
"Well some man came up a few minutes ago and said you needed to see him."
Charlotte shook her head.
"Fucking bitch." She mumbled.
"What did you find?" Finn asked.
"A lot Finn, but I need to find Tommy. Grace made plans with Campbell tonight." She said and then walked away.
The Shelby's all looked at each other and then split up. Charlotte busted into the board room to see Tommy standing in the middle with Grace right beside him, smirking.
"I know everything." Charlotte said.
"You know nothing and haven't for a while." Grace smirked.
Charlotte smirked.
"Oh really? So you haven't been holding a murder over Tommy that happened a long time ago? You said the police were reopening the case and you and I both know they didn't."
Grace fumed as she stared at Charlotte.
"So you thought that was enough leverage, but a golden opportunity happened when I killed Noah and you took the gun. Even more leverage over Tommy, right?"
"I didn't take your gun." Grace lied.
Charlotte smirked and pulled her gun out of her thigh holster.
"So you didn't put my gun under your loose floorboard?"
Tommy smirked. Grace started to stutter, but Charlotte interrupted.
"Let's not forget what you planned to do tonight." She said.
"I didn't. You're lying." Grace yelled.
"You and Campbell planned to kill Tommy tonight and because you're married...everything he has would have been yours."
Tommy had shock written all over his face.
"No." Grace screamed.
"I have to admit...you're a smart bitch, but not as smart as you think." Charlotte said.
"She's a lot smarter than you." Campbell came out pointing a gun at Charlotte.
She didn't hesitate. She pulled the trigger and killed him. Grace's eyes went wide and then she pulled a gun and pointed it at Tommy, but Charlotte was quicker. She shot and killed Grace before she could put her finger on the trigger. Tommy looked up at Charlotte.
"I told you I had a quick trigger finger." She said.
He shook his head as he walked over and then he pulled her in for a kiss. He pulled away and held her face.
"You saved my life."
"And you saved mine." She whispered.