Adopted By Polly Gray

Chapter 25: Ms. Meyers

The clicking of heels hitting the hardwood floor as they paced back and forth at a steady pace echoed through the house as herbal smoke exited the Shelby monarch's mouth like smokey from a chimney. It had been exactly one week since her family planned with Antonio to lure Ms. Julie Meyers to Birmingham to the Garrison to interrogate her about Jones and Mr. Cooper. Polly had been up tossing and turning all night while her mind ran through every scenario that could occur today. This woman she's never met is the newest key and at the same time breaking point to if Starlene will be found and brought home or not. Is Starlene still alive? Is she okay? Is she in America? Has she escaped on her own and is trying to get home? These were just some of the millions of questions Polly has been asking herself almost daily. While the family was handling business dealings, Polly's main focus was Starlene. She has given advice when needed and attended meetings when Tommy required her to but otherwise Polly had been trying to talk to anyone who could possibly have connections to Jones, but everyone has been a dead end. But today could be her day. This could be the day that leads her back to her missing daughter. Polly tossed the last bit of her cigarette into her fireplace before looking at the time, 12 o'clock exactly. It was time to head to the Garrison. Right as she was heading towards her front door to grab her coat a knock was heard on the door.

"Pol, open up! It's time to go!" Her eldest nephew yelled from the other side off the door.

Polly rolled her eyes as she finished getting her coat and grabbing her purse. She opened the door and walked outside.

"We're here to escort you over to the Garrison this afternoon. Shall we get going?' Tommy asked as he lit his cigarette and inhaled.

Polly adjusted her coat, "We know for certain this lady is going to show up. You made sure Marrero isn't going to double cross us?"

"I went and checked at Garrison myself, Pol. He's there with 'is wife and we got men watching the pub to make sure he doesn't make a run for it. The wife is clueless on what's going on. From what she knows she meeting up with her friend to talk about getting their daughter into shows in London but also catch-up." John reassured his concerned aunt.

"Alright then, let's go. I want to get myself a drink before this Ms. Meyers arrives." Pol started walking off leaving the boys behind.

"Ya heard her boys, let's go." Tommy gestured to his brother to start walking and they caught up with their aunt. Together they went to the Garrison, ready to do whatever it takes to bring Starlene home.

Inside the Garrison Antonio sat nervously while his wife Chloe kept chatting away about how happy she was to be seeing Julie and how she really hopes she can help Sophia get into show business. While Chloe kept happily talking, the anxious man kept drinking his whisky praying the liquid courage would hit him swiftly so he can make it out of this situation alive. Unfortunately for Mr. Marrero, the whiskey wasn't working fast enough. His wife stopped talking and when he turned to see what caused her to go as quiet as a mouse, he saw the Shelby family entering the pub.

"My love, maybe we should go. Them there is the Peaky Blinders." Chloe leaned slightly forward to her husband while still staring at the gangster family.

As Tommy took off his head he nodded at the couple before him, and the family went into their private room within the pub.

"We're alright, Clo. They won't bother us none."

Time slowly passed by and by 12:30 someone else was entering the pub. A blonde woman, roughly in her 40's, with stunning facial feature and a body to match, wrapped up in a fur coat came walking into the pub.

Chloe shot up from her seat, "Julie! Oh, it's so great to see you!" The excited woman ran over and hugged her friend.

"Oh darling, it's so lovely to see you! Look at you, beautiful as ever!" Julie hugged her friend back before heading over to the table Chloe was previously seated at.

"Antonio, you're looking good as well." Julie added as she took off her coat and sat down.

"How's it going Jules?" Antonio asked before tossing back the rest of his drink and gesturing to the bartender to get him another.

"Oh, you know, busy as ever. There's so many shows going on and everyone wants me to design costumes for them and it's almost impossible to keep up with demand. I sometimes wish there was more of me to help." The blonde laughed.

"But you get to travel and work with some of the most talented people in the UK. Your life seems like something out of a fairytale." Chloe chimed in.

Julie sighed, "It is adventures and definitely fun but I'm getting to the point where I want to slow down, maybe even settled down with someone. Live a domestic life for a bit."

While the girls chatted the Shelby family sat in their private room waiting. Athur had his ear pressed against the door listening while the rest of the family enjoyed their drinks.

"Has Antonio brought up Cooper yet?" John asked in a whisper.

Authur shook his head, "No, not yet. But Ms. Meyers gave him an opening to."

"This is ridiculous. I'm going out there and getting this woman to talk." Polly got up and began to walk towards the door but was stopped by John jumping in front of her to block the exit and Tommy grabbing onto her arm and pulling back. Polly aggressively ripped her arm out of Tommy's grip.

"Pol don't go out there. Stick with the plan. Once he brings up Cooper, we'll go out there. If you go out there now all you'll do is scare her off and we'll be back to trying to find connections to Jones all over again."

"You saw how nervous Marrero was out there. He's going to cave in and either not bring up Cooper or he'll expose the whole plan and cause her to run." Polly snapped back.

Before Tommy could say anything else Authur cut him off, "He's asking! Get ready!"

"So, Julie, have you talk to Mr. Cooper at all. We've been trying to get Sophia into the business, and we've been working with him but haven't heard from him in a while." Antonio asked.

Julie took a sip of her drink, "I talk to him quite often. I'm supposed to call him in the next hour actually. We try to talk on the phone once every few weeks if we can. It's hard with our schedules and us constantly traveling."

"Is he the someone you're hoping to settle down with?" Chloe asked with a cheeky grin.

The blonde let out a slight awkward laugh, "Yes, I believe he is. He is a little bit older than me, but we've really have gotten close since he's been in London quite a bit and I think he's the one."

That was enough evidence for the Peaky Blinder to know that Ms. Meyers not only has a solid connection to Cooper but could be used as leverage against him. Polly led the back as the boys flanked behind her as they exited their private den and went out into the main room.

"Ms. Meyers, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Polly Gray and you have information I want." Polly walked over to the woman and looked down on her while her nephews surround the table making sure no one could make an escape.

"Let's have a chat, shall we?"

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