Without A Trace

Seven.

"Family meeting!" John yells through the house before sitting down in the chair taking a puff off his cigar. All of the boys pile in and take their seats. Anna, Ivy, and I walk in and sit down, giving center stage to Anna.

"As everyone knows, Michael royally fucked up a few days ago," Anna says looking at him. "I have come up with a plan to get Michael out of hot water, but also to help benefit the family business." She says taking a deep breath, "I have scheduled a meeting tomorrow with Inspector Campbell."

Thomas stands there holding his drink and his cigarette in the same hand before slowly looking up from the ground and meeting her gaze. Lewis sits there resting his head on his hand also staring at his wife as he taps the edge of his glass.

"I'm sorry, you what?" Michael says leaning against the table.

"The inspector wants information about the Kimbers and they're mysterious trade goods that they've been importing through the canal. Kimbers business has been seeing a significant increase in ammunition as well as illegal guns. We've also been receiving ship loads of weapons as well as ammunition and fake log books for our stocks. The only problem we're facing is getting through the canal for Curly and Charlie to bring them in. We have plenty of information on the Kimbers. Tomorrow we're going to have a meeting with the Inspector and do what we do best, make deals. Instead of sending Michael to jail, Lewis will go," she says looking at her husband.

"Are you off your fucking rocker?" Lewis asks getting angry.

"Shut your mouth and listen," I say spitting my words at him.

"I've learned from a few of the coppers on our payroll that there are a few of Lees men in the prison. The Less know all about Campells new patrolling hours, where he lives and the route he takes home and specifically who he assigns to patrol. One of which being one of Kimbers men on his payroll. The same one that owes Aurthur an eye for an eye," She says looking at Aurthur.

A few months ago Aurthur had been at the right place at the right time. One of the Irish men held one of Kimber and Campbells men at gun point. Aurthur killed the irish man and disposed of the body, but in doing so made a deal with Campbells man, an eye for an eye.

"We will have this meeting. And when we do we will gather information and use Campbells tactics against him and turn him into Mr. Churchill. Churchill is a man of honor and is very fond and in favor of men who served our country. Once we gather enough information I say we schedule a little meeting with Mr. Churchill and present our information to him there. In doing so removing Campbell out of our hair," Anna says taking a drag of her cigarette.

"Sounds like a bloody deal to me," Aurthur said smiling tapping the rim of his glass.

"I must say Anna," Tommy says taking a drink of his whiskey, "Thats thinking like a fuckin Shelby if I've ever seen it," he says grinning.

Anna smiles proudly a I nudge her arm with a smile.

"Yeah its all peaches and fuckin cream for the lot of you except me. I have to go to fuckin jail. How the fuck could you not talk to me about this first Anna?!" Lewis yells getting up slamming the chair behind him.

Anna sits there unphased, "Why do you do half the shit you do Lewis?" She asks coldly. "It's because you're a fuckin Shelby. "What about Thomas? Or John or Michael or Aurthur? Answer me that Lewis,"

"Oh, I do bad things but you already know that," Tommy says before taking another drag of his cigarette.

"Its the family business Lewis. You dont want to be part of it, theres the fuckin door," Anna says motioning to the door with her cigarette between her fingers.

Lewis looks at her with a little hurt in his eyes, clenching his jaw before slowly sitting back down.

"Thats what I fuckin thought," she says flicking her ashes in the ashtray before looking at Tommy, "Floor is all yours boss," she says taking a sip of her drink.

Tommy looks around the room, "Anyone else have anything that needs to be talked about?" Everyone sits there silently.

"We have to go into town today at some point so I will need one of you boys to go with us," I say looking up at him.

Thomas looks over at John, "John be available when the girls need you. I dont care what the fuck you're doing, give it to someone else and go into town." John nods his head in response.

"Alrighty then, this meeting is over. Get your sorry asses to work eh?" Thomas says before putting his hat on.

We walk with the boys to the front door, I give Thomas kiss which he returns, "Be safe love," I tell him.

"Always," he says walking out of the door.

Ivy gives a kiss to Michael, "Be careful."

"The most careful lovely," he says kissing her hand before following Tommy.

Anna gives Lewis a kiss, "Get over it. You're the most important piece of this puzzle and I cant have Michael and his bloody temper do it. And you wont be in there long I assure you. Just a couple days at most. I love you so much, I'll see you when you get home."

Lewis sighs looking down at his wife, "I love you too. You're fuckin lucky you're beautiful," he says following his brothers outside.

I close the door behind them and lock it before turning back to the girls, "Anna you're a fuckin bad ass bitch. The tension from that meeting gave me a fuckin headache. Who's up for a drink in the garden eh? Under the covered part off to the left? I think its time for our daily shit talk anyways," I say with a smile heading to the back door.