The Return [T. Shelby || Peaky Blinders || Shelby's Girl Book 2]

- 18 -

At May's estate, she walked into her stables, collected Astella's Secret and led the filly out of the stables.

At the betting shop, John, Natasha, Shane, Oscar, and Finn stood opposite the Peaky Blinders, getting them ready for the day ahead then they left the shop.

In the prison, Arthur was lying on his bed, waiting for Astella's plan to be finished so he could leave his cell.

Back at the betting shop, Polly was filling up her basket with items before she picked up an envelope and opened it, taking out a ticket to the Epsom Races.

In a house, Angela walked downstairs into a room with Daniel and William where Jeremiah and Isaiah were sitting at the dining table and they looked at them, "Morning," Angela said.

"Morning," Isaiah and Jeremiah said.

Tommy was sitting in Ada's front room, at the table writing a letter, "My name is Thomas Shelby, my wife, Astella Shelby, and today, we're going to kill a man. Today is Derby Day. The murder will take place this afternoon, at the Epson races. It may be that we are able to escape after the killing. The odds are not good, which is why I am writing this letter. My wife and I have been forced by Agents of the Crown to carry out this murder. In the event of our own deaths, we want the following facts to be known. Our families are innocent of any involvement. And while some of them may be guilty of other things, we've not shared details of this mission with any of them and how company assets were used. Agents of the Crown joined forces with pro-treaty Fenians to arrange this murder. We believe the government intend to falsely blame the anti-treaty IRA. Therefore, the bullet that either my wife or I fire this afternoon will be the starting gun for civil war in Ireland. The man we have been instructed to kill is Field Marshal Russell. Formerly a Black and Tan commander who committed many atrocities in the county of Cork. There is no remorse in our hearts at the prospect of his death. However, the conspiracy behind the killing is cause for international concern. Such is the gravity of our secret mission, that after I have served my purpose, I believe they intend to kill me and have another plan in their mind for my wife, who is a mother of two boys, she's a sister and the legal guardian of her baby sister," Tommy wrote in his letter.

Astella walked into the main room with Ada who was carrying a tray with a teacup and cups, "Do you want tea, darling?" Astella asked as she walked over to the couch, looking at him.

Tommy didn't respond as he continued writing the letter, Astella sighed before walking over to Tommy then placing her hands on his shoulders, he placed his left hand over one of her hands as he continued to write the letter, "I, therefore, want to name a particular individual in this letter. The agent who has initiated and orchestrated this crime is Major Chester Campbell of the British Secret Intelligence Service. He chose my wife and me for this dirty business as an act of vengeance, prompted by hatred of long-standing. Astella is his daughter and he didn't raise her correctly therefore, she ran away from a father who abused her mentally, emotionally and physically. In the event of our deaths, it is imperative he be brought to justice. If you are reading this, then we or one of us are dead already. I hope that living as you do in a truly free country, you will be able to make the above facts known to the world. Yours sincerely, Thomas Shelby," Tommy finished writing the letter and then leaned back in his seat, smoking his cigarette.

Ada walked over and placed a cup of tea on the table, "Did you one anyway, you ignorant git," Ada said.

"Ada," Ada looked at them as Tommy folded up the letter, "Sit down here for a minute," Tommy put the letter in an envelope as Ada walked over and sat down at the table, "Ada if anything happens to us today..." He licked the envelope and sealed it then placed it in front of her, "We need you to post this letter," Ada looked at him, "Stamp's already on. Don't ask any questions, it's to do with insurance," Tommy said.