Without A Trace

Eighteen.

The next morning Thomas, Michael, and John are out of the house early. Far ealier than normal. Michael walks past the inspectors house, closely watching the time on his watch before pretending to trip, causing him to kneel down and 'tie his shoe'.

A copper walks up to him from the corner of the street, "Whats your business here?"

Michael stays looking at the ground, "Just passing through officer and tying my shoe."

While officer is occupied John runs up to the door and throws a bomb into the mail slot before hurriedly walking away. Michael gets up tilting his hat to the copper and walking away from the house.

By the time Michael and John reach the end of the street, the house explodes killing the two coppers that were standing watch outside of it. The boys round the corner in the alleyway and get in the car with Thomas who drives away.

"Good job boys," he says taking a puff of his cigarette. "Now lets have ourselves a meeting, shall we?"

Thomas drives over to the pub and unloads, pushing the doors of the Garrison open and having a seat in the middle of the room. "Michael you get upstairs until I tell you to come down," he says pouring him and John each a drink and Michael obeys going up the stairs.

Thomas pulls out his watch looking at the time before sticking it back in his pocket. His eyes fixate on Mr. Campbell as he walks through the doors with two of his men.

"Have a seat Mr. Campbell," Thomas says motioning to the seat in front of him. "Are you unarmed like we agreed on?"

Campbell opens his jacket to reveal empty holsters, "I'm unarmed, but they are not. Mr. Shelby, it has been brought to my attention on the way here that my house had been destroyed," he says meeting Thomas's gaze while taking a seat.

"Thats a shame," Tommy says taking a drink of his whiskey.

"Two of my men were killed, Mr. Shelby," Campbell continues.

"Again, thats a shame," he says tilting his head slightly to the right. "If you're looking for a pitty party Mr. Campbell I assure you you're in the wrong fuckin place." He says pausing. "Hows your end of the deal standing?"

"Its standing alright," Campbell says meeting Tommys gaze.

"Its not all right. I know its not," he says rolling a cigarette between his fingers. "You haven't been an honest man Mr. Campbell," he says clearing his throat. "Threatening the life of a mere toddler. How very manly of you," Tommy says lighting his cigarette.

"Well you know how it is Mr. Shelby, have to play hard to get what you want," Campbell says leaning back in his chair. "Next on the list is Johns kids."

John sits there for a minute turning his head to Thomas before getting up and flipping the table, causing Campbells men to throw a few punches at John knocking him out. Michael walks down the stairs hearing the commotion, and rounds the corner to walk towards them with his gun pointed at Campbells men.

Thomas stands there keeping his gun pointed at the other man. Michael fires killing the one man instantly before Thomas does the same with the other one. Michael steps over the body and makes his way to Campbell with a dark look in his eye.

He throws a punch to the inspector. He leans down and gets eye level with him, "You touch my fuckin daughter, and I promise you, you will have wished I killed you today Mr. Campbell."

Campbell chuckles looking at John before throwing a punch back to Michael knocking him out as well. He stands up and looks at Thomas, motioning to his two brothers on the ground. "Next time Mr. Shelby, it wont be your brothers on the ground. It'll be your wife and your niece," he says before leaving the pub.

Thomas stands there, shaking with anger before pulling the boys to sit up and putting smelling salts under their noses, immediately waking them up.

"Get up," he says demandingly, "We need to get back to the fuckin house. NOW!" Tommy yells before his brothers scramble to their feet and rush out the door with him getting into the car. Tommy speeds away towards the house. He gets out of the car and busts through the front doors causing the girls and I to jump.

I look over at him, "Thomas you scared the fuck out of us. Is everything alright?"

"Fine love," He says with a sigh before the boys walk in.

"Well Michael and John have a black fuckin eye that doesnt look very fine to me," Aurthur says handing him and John an ice pack.

"You'll have one in a second if you dont shut your fuckin mouth Aurthur," John says shooting daggers at his brother.

"Thomas this telegram came today for you," I say holding it out. "Mr. Churchill wants a meeting with you."

He takes it from my hand and reads it carefully, "Call this number and tell them we'll be there Friday at one. Did Lewis bring those log books here?" He asks looking around the room.

"Yes they're on your desk," Anna says handing him the book with the gambler names and what horse they bet on. Tommy takes it and heads back towards his office, "Cora call Grace and have her meet you at the stables. I need you both to go over everything and I mean everything there is about that horse. Don't fuckin kill her either," He says before closing the door behind him.

I sigh and rub my temples before getting up and heading towards the phone dialing Graces number.

"Hello?" A small child says on the other end.

"Hi love," I say politely, "Is your mother in?"

"Yes one moment," he says very nicely before calling for his mom. I hear footsteps growing closer and closer to the phone.

"Hello this is Grace," She says picking up the phone to her ear.

"Grace," I say flatly, pausing waiting for a response

"Cora. Is there a reason you're calling me?" She says coldly.

"Thomas wants you to meet me at the stables to look over the horse. You need to bring me all the documentation on it as well as to bring a vet," I say leaning against the wall.

"You don't trust my horse is in top condition?" She asks.

"No. I'm just following Tommys orders to make sure that our horse is in top condition. Thomas is expecting a winner," I say bitterly.

"Fine. I'll be there in a half hour," she says before hanging up the phone.

"Anna and Ivy you're coming with me. Someones got to make sure I don't blow her brains all over the fucking stall," I say walking towards my room to change my riding clothes.