Without A Trace

Thirty-Six.

The next morning, I listen to the rain beat against the windows in my bedroom while sitting in my large copper soaker tub in the middle of the room. I watch the fire turn the wooden logs to grey ash, listening to it crackle while resting my head against my arms that are on the edge of the tub. I hear a knock at the door but dont bother to acknowledge it.

The door creaks open slowly as Anna and Ivy enter the room closing the door behind them.

"We brought you some breakfast Cor, since you weren't downstairs this morning," Ivy says softly as she sets the plate of toast, sausage, and an egg next to me.

I glance down at it before turning my attention back to the fire, "Thank you, now what are you guys doing in here," I ask leaning over and grabbing my cigarette before taking a puff off of it.

"We just came to keep you company. And to talk and listen about how you're feeling," Anna says draping my robe over the back of the couch before taking a seat. "I can only imagine whats running through your head right now Cora..im so sorry," she says quietly.

"It's probably pretty close to what you were thinking when you saw Lewis laying in blood at the track," I say putting the cigarette back in the ashtray. "How on fuckin earth you were going to have to live your life without the one person who breathes life itself into you," I say sharing a sad glance with her before looking back at the fire.

"We will help you in any way we can," Ivy chimes in before crossing her leg over the other, fanning out the skirt of her silk nightgown. "We know that you want to know everything about Campbell. And we want to help you do that."

I turn my head and look at them, "You'd both betray your husbands to help me. Why?" I ask as a tear rolls down my cheek.

Anna smiles soflty, "The fuck kind of question is that? We're family Cora. Thats what family does."

The door creaks open again to Thomas walking in, taking the cigarette out of his mouth and blowing the smoke out as he locks his eyes onto mine.

"You didn't come downstairs.." he says clearing his throat.

"Nope," I say turning back to look at the fire, "I sure didn't."

Thomas takes a step closer, "Cora we need to talk about this-"

"You should've thought of that when you started getting things around," I cut him off with my cold response, "Get out and let me talk with the girls Thomas," I say swallowing the tears in my throat as I hear his heavy footsteps leave the room and the door close behind him. The girls and I sit silent for a moment before I speak.

"You know I've never loved a man like that way I love him?" I say leaning back in the warm water. "I never spent so much more time with horses and reading. Never spent so much time being able to enjoy the things I loved with someone else until I met Thomas."

Anna pulls her legs up to her chest, pulling her blue silk nightgown around her legs, resting her chin in her knees.

"I never felt alive until I found him," I say staring up at the ceiling as my voice cracks softly. "But now I feel that deadness coming back."

Ivy takes a warm rag and rests it on my forehead as she rests her arm on my shoulder, "We won't let anyone get to him Cora.

"You're fuckin right we wont," I say sniffling before taking the rag off my forehead and putting it on the back of my neck. "Because we're going to get to him first. And if they get to Thomas first, we weren't thorough enough."

"I've already made my own copies of what Lewis has been working on. With matching the names and such," Anna says sliding the list of names on the table next to me. "Later this afternoon we can take a better look at it once the boys are gone. We can weed out who is suspicious and who's trusted."

"I've already made notes on there as well of the people that are placing large amounts of money on horses. Specifically the ones that have never placed bets before," Ivy says pointing to the check-marked names. "These people have never placed a bet with the Shelbys since the gambling room opened. I went through all of Michaels log books and none of these people are in there."

I nod my head at all the information they've already gotten so far. "Good," I say leaning back down in the water, "We'll go through it later like you both said. And I'm very grateful for everything you two are doing." I say pausing to take a puff of my cigarette. "But I haven't gotten my cry out just yet so if you excuse me I plan to be a fuckin sap just a wee bit longer."

The girls lean back on the couch as the room goes silent. The only noise to be heard is the rain and the firewood crackling again.

"This family will fall to shambles without him in it," I say as tears start to escape my eyes, "I will be in shambles without him in it. Every breath I take, everything I do for this family it all stems from him. If hes gone, my fuckin life is gone. My heart, my soul," I say sniffling before rubbing my eyes. "My best fuckin friend and love of my fuckin life. All will be ripped away from me but you know what?" I say sitting up softly, "Let those fuckers take away my lifeline and I will burn every single one of their fuckin homes down with their lifelines in it. And I dont give a single fuck," I say sniffling before grabbing my cigarette with a shaky hand.

"My heart will stop beating when his stops," I say bringing the cigarette to my lips, "From that moment forward the only thing that will be beating out of my black hole will be revenge and power. And thats a fuckin promise."

The girls sit there quietly listening to me ramble and get out all of my feelings. I take a few deep breaths before turning and facing them, "Alright. Now that thats fuckin over, help me out of this bloody thing so we can go downstairs. Lord fuckin knows Aurthur wont know his ass from a hole in the ground unless I get down there and tell him what to do," I say starting to pull myself up out of the tub, "Same with John."

Anna wraps the towel around me as Ivy grabs my robe and hands it to me along with a nightgown as I dry off and slip it on. I grab my pack of cigarettes and stick them in my bust before walking towards my bedroom door. I open it to Aurthur, John, and Thomas all waiting for me.

I sigh and look at each of them, "Can a girl not get some fuckin privacy in this bloody house?"

"You lost that when you married Tom," John says chuckling softly.

"The boys want to know if you want them to go with me, or go to the pub and do their normal duties there," Thomas says leaning against the wall.

"Arent you the fuckin boss?" Ivy asks crossing her arms, looking at Thomas.

"Yes. But every boss has their own boss. Mine just happens to be my fuckin wife," Thomas says lighting a cigarette.

"Aurthur you go with Thomas. John," I say looking over at him. "You're to stay here with me and the girls. I have things for you to do here."

"Oh come off it! Why does John get to sit on his fuckin ass all day whiles I go bust mine?" Aurthur says harshly.

"Because you're the fuckin eldest. If you want to keep your rank in this fuckin family I suggest you go with Thomas," I say shooting daggers at him.

Aurthur groans before stomping down the hallway. Thomas turns and looks at me, "You have plans for John here?"

"Dont fuckin worry about what I'm doing here. You're keeping me locked up here for christ sakes already. Get to the port before you're late. You know Charlie wont fuckin wait for your pretty face before unloading shit," I say smoothing out his vest. "And learn to dress yourself properly will ya? The fuck am I? Your mum?" I say before walking back downstairs with the girls and John behind me.