Roguish Women- Tommy Shelby

Dual Threats

Kate left before the police arrived on the scene. She returned to her hotel suite and barricaded the door with a nightstand. Shedding her blood-stained dress, she grabbed the phone and rang for Alfie. She knew Tommy was still days away from arriving back home.

"You know, I'd be fucking angry, right, if I'd be getting a call at four in the morning. M'only fucking awake because me wife's in labor. So, if don't mind, piss off!"

"Alfie!"

"Katie?" He paused. "Didn't think you'd be calling so soon."

"Mabel's in labor?"

"Yeah, her water broke 'bout an hour ago. Twins are still asleep, hoping they'll stay that way for a bit. Midwife's here though so just a waiting game now, innit?"

"That's...that's exciting." Her throat constricted. "I have terrible news."

"Right well, I've got very good news here so I s'pose I'm in a good enough mood to hear the terrible news." He replied.

"Your uncle's dead. He was murdered by an Italian."

"Fucking hell," Alfie grumbled. "One life goes, another one enters, aye?"

Kate swallowed. "I'm so sorry, I-I tried to warn him that people were probably out to get him. But I-I think I got here too late. Maybe if I'd come a couple of weeks earlier..."

"No changing the past, m'afraid."

There was a moan from the other side of the phone and Mabel called out to Alfie. "Go comfort her," Kate said softly.

"The second Tommy gets ashore; I'll send him right back to Boston," Alfie promised.

"No, don't tell him. Not yet."

There was a pause. "You're alone there, Kate, you know as well as I do that you need allies to win wars. You're completely outnumbered, ain't safe for you there."

"I'll be alright. Go give my Mabel my best. Give me a ring when the baby's born and give the boys my love." She said, hanging up quickly so Alfie couldn't protest any further. She took a deep breath and dialed the operator again. "Camden Town, please."

~~~~

Charles Solomons was carted down the street as if he were a member of the royal family. Kate had recalled hearing people call him King so it only seemed suitable. People lined the streets to pay their respects as the hearse slowly rolled by.

Kate slipped through the crowd, veiled in black as she followed the hearse. Her eyes were moving around, watching people mourn. Or perhaps they were there to gloat.

In the week since Charles passed, she had been laying low. The new head of the Italian mafia in Boston knew she was there. She had no doubts that they knew where she was staying and that she was now alone. But for whatever reason, they were keeping their distance.

She spent most of her time in her hotel room, writing in notebooks, and planning. She called her boys every night to tell them how much she loved them. She spoke to Alfie and Mabel about their newborn daughter, Freyda.

"It means joy, right, it's Yiddish. Should see her Katie, she's got these big brown eyes like her mum." He couldn't brag enough about her.

Six days after Charles died, Kate finally called Tommy.