Without A Trace

Seventeen.

A few days have passed since the meeting with Logan. Lewis and John have just gotten home from their meeting with the Lees. The tension in the house lately has been astronomical so I decided to have the meeting unformally in the livingroom. Thomas is sitting on the floor leaning against my lap, as I rest my hand on his shoulder, taking a puff of my cigarette.

Lewis and John walk in with the girls and Michael who also take a seat, giving the floor to Lewis.

"We spoke with the Lees and have found out where Campbell lives and where he is sending patrols. One of them being patrolling around Pips school during school hours," He says narrowing his eyes at Thomas, causing Tommy to tense slightly.

"The Lees think Campbell is going to strike where it will hurt Michael the most so that way he can capture him and send him to prison. He wants Michael, not me. And he wont grant us safe passage like he said he would, he'd kill Charlie and Curly at the first sight of them in Camden Town," he says looking at Michael and Ivy. Ivys face is the look of pure horror and Michaels face grows angrier by the second.

"With that being said I've already pulled Pip from school and John took her upstairs. So she will not be attending school for a while and will be here at home where we know shes safe," Lewis said looking at Thomas, Tom nods his head in agreement.

"Okay," Anna says standing up, "This was my plan so this is whats going to fucking happen so all of you better listen fucking close. We're gonna-"

"ANNA," Lewis yells causing her to jump before looking up at him. "You need to learn your fuckin place in this damn family and your place is NOT giving orders. Thats enough out of you," He says coldly, looking down at his wife.

Anna stands there speechless and in awe of the behavior of her husband before storming out of the livingroom.

"John and I will go have a talk with Campbell tomorrow, remind him of his agreement and remind him we're one step ahead of him. In the meantime Lewis I need you to get back to the races and get me all the log books and get the licensing around, Epsom is coming up and we need to be ready. I bought a horse and shes all ready to go," Thomas says before getting up. "I will go have a talk with Anna, the rest of you go and make sure everyone is placing their bets accordingly. Michael, meet me in my office in an hour," he says before walking out of the room.

Thomas sticks his hands in his pockets walking down the hallway into the day room, where Anna is sitting there angrily smoking a cigarette.

"Anna, we need to have a talk," Thomas says before sitting down.

"I have nothing to fuckin say to you Thomas so piss off," Her words biting at him.

He pulls out a cigarette and lights a match, taking a couple puffs off of it, "Anna listen to me. You're becoming too power hungry. But believe me when I say, this is not someone you want to be," Thomas says gently.

Anna doesn't say anything, just sits there listening to his words.

"Do you want to wake up in the morning wondering if your family will die today? If you didn't protect them enough?" He asks her leaning forward, resting his arms on his legs. "The endless amount of death threats not on only you but every single fuckin person in your family?"

She slowly shakes her head no, a tear falling from her face.

"This is my reality. This is what I face every fuckin day. But you," he says pointing to her, "You have a special role in this family all your own."

"Yeah, taking fuckin orders from you," She says as her voice cracks.

"No Anna, you breathe the fire into this family. You are one person I can count on if I need something taken care of at any given moment. Even the smallest task. I can barely get John to clean the fuckin loo at the pub," he says with a slight smile, causing Anna to laugh softly.

"Your place in this family is to keep the fire burning within us all. And you do a bloody good job of it. But believe me when I say you don't want to be in my shoes. So do your own job and just follow orders when they're given to you, eh? Now go upstairs, I'm sure Ivy is in shambles right now," He says patting her shoulder softly before walking back into the house.

Anna walks up the stairs into Ivys room where she is eagerly pacing around the room with tears flowing down her face. "Ivy come here," she says taking a seat on the bed. "Nothing will ever happen to Pippin you know that. Nobody in this family would ever let anything happen to her, especially Thomas."

"What if it happens Anna," Ivy says stopping to look at her sister in law. "What if I wake up one day and my fuckin daughter is GONE," she yells throwing a lamp across the room, shattering it against the wall.

Anna gets up and grabs Ivys arms, "LISTEN TO ME," she yells getting her attention. "Nothing. Will. Happen. To. Pippin. Alright?" She says pulling Ivy into a hug, letting her cry it out, "I promise."

Back in his office Thomas sees Michael angrily making his way down the hallway before entering the room and closing the door.

"Michael," Thomas starts before setting his drink down, "You know nothing will ever happen to Pippin. Not while theres air in this familys lungs."

"Tommy my wife is inconsolable. My daughter is afraid to sleep in her room. What the FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?" He asks yelling at his brother.

"I just need you to trust me Michael," Thomas says calmly. "Have I ever let you down?"

Michael shoots an angry glare at him, "You don't want me to answer that question Thomas."

"Fair enough. But I swear on my life, nothing will happen to Pippin. Alright?" He says walking up to his brother, putting a hand on each of his shoulders, "On my life Michael."

Michael stands there a minute and nodds before pulling away from his brother.

"Now you go down to the stables and check out that horse. Take Cora with you because I need that horse in top shape and she knows what shes doing. Come with John and I to the meeting with Campbell tomorrow. I think the inspector needs roughed up a little eh?" He asks before opening the door. "Go on."

Michael takes a deep breath before walking out of the office and going down to the stables with me to see the horse.

"Shes a beauty aint she Michael?" I ask patting the horse on its neck.

"Sure is Cor," He says keeping his hand on the butt of his gun.

"Not a bad one considering it came from Grace," I say looking back at him, he doesn't respond.

I take a handful of red dust out of my pocket and gently blow it in the horses face. I tap my hands together, brushing the residue off my hands and letting it fall into the horses food.

"Trust him Michael," I say walking back over to him. "Just trust him."