Without A Trace

Thirty-Seven.

Sitting in the office I put out my cigarette while staring at the list of names that are unfamiliar to me that the girls provided.

"All of these people are going to be at the masquerade party tomorrow as well," I say quietly to myself as the girls and boys enter the room with Pippin to my surprise.

Pippin makes her way over to me, fidgiting with her fingers.

"Go on Pip, ask Auntie Cora and your uncles what you asked me," Ivy says clenching her jaw slightly nervous.

"Are you bad people?" Pipin asks quietly.

Thomas and I sit there taken aback by our nieces question.

"Lovey," I say gentley pulling her closer to me, "Now where did you hear something like that?"

"The kids at school...they make fun of me because I'm a Shelby..." she says with teary eyes, "And they told me my daddy and my uncles are bad people," she says as her voice cracks and the tears fall down her face.

Michael walks over and scoops up his daughter in a hug, resting his daughters head on his shoulder, "My sweet Pip," he says softly before kissing the side of her head. "You don't ever listen to those people," he says swaying softly to console his daughter. "You tell them, daddy and your family make all the bad guys go away," He says lifting her chin and wiping the tears off her face before kissing her forehead.

Pippin nodds before rubbing her eyes with a slight yawn. Thomas reaches out for her as Pippin leans over for him.

"Its alright my lovely," He says stroking her hair, "Uncle Tommy doesn't let anything bad happen. And certainly nothing bad ever comes with being a Shelby," He says tucking her hair behind her hair and lifting her chin. His eyes meet her beautiful green ones, "Aye?"

Pippin nods her head before wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder tiredly. He leans his head against hers softly and looks around the room, "Get to work everyone, we'll have our meeting later tonight," he looks at me, "I'm taking John, I don't care what the fuck you say."

Michael and Ivy each give Pippin a quick kiss before Michael puts on his cap and heads out the door. John and Aurthur each give pips hand a quick kiss before leaving as well.

"I'm going to put her down for a nap and then I'm off," Thomas says quietly looking at me and the girls before walking away.

I look over at Ivy who looks back over to me, "Cora I'm sorry she was just upset-"

"Its alright Ivy," I say giving her an assuring soft smile, "Pippin comes first," I say squeezing her hand softly before leaning back in my chair. We sit in silence for a moment. I listen for the sound of Thomas's heavy footsteps grow quieter, and the door opening and closing.

"The the list of names you provided me are also on the guest list for the masquerade ball tomorrow," I say pouring us each a glass of whiskey.

"I know Lewis told me something about Tommy having a plan for the party. Apparently a big target will be there," Anna says taking her glass and handing one to Ivy.

"Thomas has his target, and we have ours," I say sliding them a picture of a man in uniform.

"Tomorrow, we will poison and kill that man. Hes part of the italians. One of Sabinis men," I say taking a sip from my glass.

"Sabini is one of the biggest threats to the Peaky Blinders. Hes very back stabbing, and needs to remember who the fuck runs this town," I say meeting their eyes.

"How the fuck do you expect us to poision him? Do you know how many fuckin platters of drinks there will be there?" Anna asks.

"We're going to order him a drink. I'm going to deliver it personally. I think Thomas has jobs for the two of you tomorrow so I will deliver it to him," I say lighting my cigarette and taking a few puffs off it.

"That is the nice thing about masquerade. Can't fuckin tell who is who," Anna says swirling her drink.

"But that can also cause a problem," Ivy chimes in. "What if something happens and we lose each other?"

"That wont happen," I say leaning back in my chair, crossing one of my legs over the other. "Thomas and all the boys will be there. They'll keep us safe. And you know Michael can spot you out of a crowd of 500 fuckin people," I say with a smile taking another puff off my cigarette.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night we gather in the diningroom, I swirl my drink in my glass rambling to Thomas.

"Are you listening to me?" I ask him annoyed.

Thomas sighs taking the cigarette out of his mouth, looking over at me, "Cora I always fuckin hear you. Jesus."

"Aint that the bloody truth. Im surprised your fuckin vocal cords dont fall off," Aurthur chimes in taking a seat at the table. "I could hear your mouth all the way down the bloody stairway."

I sit there and glare at them, "Well, at least you can fuckin hear me. Thats all that matters."

Once everyone enters the room and takes their seats Thomas begins the meeting.

"Tomorrow theres a masquerade ball that we have been invited to," He says leaning against the tall cabinet. "We have one main target to eliminate tomorrow, Father Hughes."

"May God bless us in our endeavors," Aurthur chuckles covering his mouth with the top of his hand. John and the rest of the boys also chuckle at his joke.

"Girls," he says turning his attention to them, "Ivy and Anna, I need you two to keep his friends hes going with occupied."

"Tom I'm really nervous. What if you guys cant find us in the crowd of people and something happens?" Ivy says nervously.

Michael wraps his arm around his wife, "Nothing will happen to you love," he says running his finger down the side of his wifes cheek, "I'll be right there before anything remotely bad happens,"

Ivy clenches her jaw and nods her head softly.

"We leave tomorrow at seven so be ready by then," Thomas says throwing back the rest of his drink, "We go in as a group, do our job, and leave as a group, alright?" He says meeting everyones eyes. We all agree in unison.

"Thank you for that lovely speech, truly powerful and moving there at the end," I say standing up, "If you are finished now, I would like to spend the rest of my night outside with the girls and Pippin. You boys are more than welcome to join us and fuckin relax for a moment for once." I say taking the whiskey and walking outside with the girls.

John throws some logs on the fire before taking a seat in the grass, throwing a ball with pippin while puffing on his cigar.

"Guys I'm really fuckin scared for tomorrow," Ivy says rubbing the back of her neck.

"It'll be fine Ivy," I say squeezing her shoulders, "Just try and be positive. When you're fuckin worked up your mind will stay worked up."

"I agree with Cora," Anna says sitting down offering us each a cigarette, "Our family is thicker than blood and molasses. Nothing bad will ever happen to us. Nothing we cant handle anyways," She says with a smile before lighting Ivys cigarette for her, "Just relax and enjoy the night eh?"

Ivy takes a long drag of her cigarette, looking over at her daughter playing with John and Aurthur. The smile spread across Pips face and the boisterous laugh that emmerges from her. Ivy blows the smoke out of her mouth slowly, "I'll try."