The Angel of Small Heath

Where is She?

***

Watery lane under the cover of night, was a gloomy and mysterious place. Drunken figures stumbled home from drinking their nights away, it was a dangerous place for anyone especially woman. 

None of this mattered to Freddie Thorne. The sound of his heavy breathing echoed in the street as the wanted communist ran down the lane, he was a man on a mission.

Thumping loudly on the Shelby door, he panted waiting to be let in. "Ada!!"

Scurrying out of the room, Aurora hopped down the stairs two at a time. Ripping the door open she let in the newly donned father. "Come meet your baby, Freddie" she smiled, directing him into the living room. 

Locking the door safe behind her, she moved back up the stairs to check on her own children, all of whom where sleeping soundly in Tommy's old room. It brought tears of happiness to Aurora's eyes as she watched them, she was feeling nostalgic from the day events. Closing the door softly, she made her way back down the stairs.

"Open up Police!" 

The yell caught everyone's attention, freezing them in place. Aurora thought it was a trick, but the series of bangs that followed told her the coppers where at the door. They were here for Freddie.

 With baited breathe Aurora met the eyes of Esme, Johns newly required wife.  She was definitely getting a unique welcome into the family business.

Scrambling up Freddie handed his  son to Ada, waiting as the police broke down the door. He had no place to go, He was trapped.

Jumping into action Aurora stumbled down the remaining stairs trying to prevent the cops from entering the room. It wasn't right to take a father away from their child.

"You can't come in here! There's a baby just been born" Esme yelled, before being roughly pushed aside . "Stop, you'll harm the baby" Aurora shouted her french accent catching the policemen's attention. They had honed in on her beauty, this must be the famous Mrs.Shelby. Someone they've been looking for. 

With their decision made, Aurora was grabbed by two coppers and placed in a tight hold. She could feel the bruises manifesting immediately, her skin was not use to such harsh treatment.

"We'll be taking you too Mrs.Shelby" they grinned, looking at the beauty before them. They were feeling lucky tonight.

"Get off! What are you dong! Stop!" she cussed in panic, looking for a way out. The scream of Aurora startled Polly out of her stupor, she wasted no time in attacking the coppers trying to reach her.

 "What are you doing?!! get off her! she's done nothing wrong" Polly screamed, pulling with everything she had. 

But there was no hope for the woman as more coppers entered the house, pulling the known communist and innocent wife out of the building. 

Tears ran down her face, as she watched them drag a gagged Aurora out of the house. Their hands running down her body in a perverted manner as she was thrown into the van, Freddie following suit.  

Polly raced down the street in a disheveled state, the events playing on repeat in her mind. Only one name popped up as the cause, under her stress she didn't realise he would never do that to his wife. He'd rather shoot horses dead than harm his wife.

Slamming through the bar doors, Pol's eyes zoned in on her target. 

"It's a boy!" she shouted, rushing towards him angrily. Standing Tommy only had seconds before he grabbed his aunts raised fists, his smile dropping off his face in confusion.