Rebound // Alfie Solomons

58. Escaping Death

"There's been a mistake." Polly declared. "There's an appeal process underway that doesn't begin until January." dragged forward the shelbys were going to be hung. "I want to see my lawyer, Mr Patrick. Stop! This shouldn't be happening!"

They were all to be hung, Tommy couldn't save them. He didn't care, he did this to them. Caro had been calling and trying but she didn't know half the things Tommy had them doing. Polly told her to stop, to never see Tommy again and just be free of their awful family once and for all. But Polly was her family too and Cora didn't want to give up.

She loved that she had Charles as a distraction, loved how he developed into his own little person. Loved his smile. Loved how he ran into their room every morning jumping on the bed ready to start the day. Alfie didn't like that as much but he loved seeing Cora's smile when she saw Charles every morning. He wanted that. He wanted this family, to give her a child. Alfie wanted to marry Cora. He knew it completely. Every day that passed, seeing her change from the boss in charge that was flirting with him, that woman was sexy but this woman before him taking care of Charles, singing him songs and telling him stories, tucking him in every night. Singing into the spatula when she was baking cookies dancing around the flat that woman was everything.

"Get your hands off me!"

"All right! I'm John Shelby!"

"Michael? Michael?"

"Arthur!"

"Arthur! John!"

"Arthur! Arthur! No! No."

"Where's Tommy?"

Where was Tommy? That was the million dollar, noose on the neck question. Why didn't he save them like he promised? Where was he when they needed him because they were always there when Tommy needed them. No questions asked. They should have asked questions.

Charles was a great distraction. Cora had sold off sections of her company, integrated other portions into the bakery so she could spend more time with Charles. Alfie loved her being there at the bakery. Didn't like how Ollie looked at her sometimes but Alfie knew Cora loved him and only him.

"Arthur, you have to call the King."

"About what?"

"About this." files were dropped down on the desk. "This is the case of a family of Birmingham gangsters on trial for murder and sedition."

"Why would the King intervene?"

"The leader of the gang, Thomas Shelby. He claims his family was caught up in a wider conspiracy. He names Winston Churchill."

"You woke me up for this?"

"And he also sent us this." a letter dropped down.

"How the fuck did a Birmingham racketeer get his hands on a personal letter written by King George?" he read it over rubbing at his tired eyes. "During a robbery at Hampton Court, Shelby discovered a box of correspondence. Among the papers he stole was that letter from the King himself, which proves his Majesty was involved. Oh, utter fuck."

"If his family walks free, then he will burn the papers in my presence."

Cora thought Charles was quite possibly the sweetest boy ever. She honestly didnt know where he got it from, his parents were awful. But this little boy was sweet. Charles was finally getting used to the idea of Alfie being okay when Alfie started bribing him with cookies. Dont tell mama Alfie would say and Charles would giggle taking the cookie eating half of it before running to Cora and saying Mr. Scruffies gave me a cookie again. 

"Mr Scruffies still?" Alfie would counter running a hand over his bearded jaw but he loved when Cora laughed, her head tipping back, as though her laughed needed more room to echo over the room. Charles would show it to Cora waved it around before eating the rest. "That boy is not a Shelby." Alfie had decided. "He's not sneaky." 

Cora was proud of Charles for being a good and honest boy but Alfie was right, Grace was a spy, a shit spy falling for her mark and Tommy was the head of one of the largest and sneakiest gangs in birmingham. Charles was more Cora than either of his birth parents which only made Cora love him more. 

"When are they due to hang?"

"Today. This morning in Winson Green prison."

"Why the hell didn't you bring it up before?"

"The plan was for the Lord Chamberlain to intervene at the appeal but late last night some local judge brought the executions forward."

"Put me through to His Majesty.... Well, wake him up!"

"In the bleak midwinter." Arthur muttered

"In the bleak midwinter." John echoed.

"Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done... Help, Lord Jesus, with this rope pull me up to heaven." Polly begged. "I see your face shining down on me.

No heaven, no hell, no innocence. No heaven, no hell, no innocence. No heaven, no hell, no innocence. No heaven, no hell...

"Wait!"

Nooses tied, levers ready to be pulled, they had to except their fate but there is was again, like an angel. Polly was sure it was Cora coming to save them, that girl had always been a saint putting up with their shit. 

"Wait!"

No heaven, no hell No heaven, no hell No heaven, no hell...

"Also, sir, in return for burning the King's letters Thomas Shelby has asked for something else. Inclusion in this year's New Year's Honours List. Thomas Shelby has asked for the King to award him an OBE, sir."

Cora rolled over in bed leaning into Alfie running a hand over his chest. Ignorant to what was happening until she got a phone call. 

+

When the shelbys got out on January 1st Cora greeted them. 

She hated tommy for what he did but she got something she always wanted. Charles was her baby now. She wasnt giving him up for anything... at least that was the plan. 

Cora could tell they were all struggling. The noose had been put on their necks, the floor about to be dropped from under their feet. Saved a moment a mere fraction of a moment later and they wouldnt be saved. They would be a having a funeral. Many funerals. 

So Cora did what she was best, what they all needed. Cora baked cookies. Charles was running around laughing and dancing, he had stopped running into chairs, getting the hand of his legs and Alfie's flat.  Cyril loved him. Charles was constantly spilling food because like Cora, Charles liked to dance around the kitchen as they cooked and Cyril was vacuuming it up. 

So when the Shelbys got out Cora offered them hugs and cookies. 

"Got a lite?" Michael countered. 

"And a fresh pack." Cora agreed holding it out for him. 

"Thanks Cora." Michael whispered hugging her again. 

"But eat a cookie before you get smoke in your mouth, Charles and I worked hard on them." Cora remarked as Charles held out the plate. 

"Thanks Charles." Michael agreed grabbing a cookie. Charles saluted him almost dropping the cookies. He laughed out looking to Cora. 

"I caught it!" Charles assured her still laughing. 

"What do you want to do? Where can I bring you?" Cora questioned. 

"I would love a good fuck." John mused winking at her as he kissed her cheek. 

"You just nearly escaped death." Cora corrected. "Alfie would kill you for even teasing such a thing." 

"Good point." John agreed. 

"Cookie? It fixes all problems." Charles declared.