Caught in the Crossfire

Good for nothing

Polly led her to the garrison and left her there whilst she went off to get the girl a dress. Two men stood at the bar and from what Catherine could tell the other men were avoiding their gaze. They were probably part of the same gang as Tommy. Their beasty eyes scanning the room as men jolly from whiskey and rum laughed and shouted across the pub. Catherine looked down at the floor where the man she killed once lay. It felt like a life time ago but in reality was just a day past...not even that. Even though she would never admit it, she felt a chill pass through her. To take a mans life is no easy task but that day Cathy made a decision she knew exactly what needed to be done. For what ever reason her chauffeur had for attempting to assassinate Thomas Shelby was, in Catherine's eyes, not important.
To the right of Catherine was a door to a little private room. She knew that this room was one for Shelby and decided to get some quiet before she's noticed and put to work.
She sneaked into the room before anyone would notice her. She slumped down into the seat that lines the wall of the little box room. The realisation of her situation has become very apparent. She's come to foreign place without the protection of her father and brother. She's got very little money. She's made a "friend" of a potentially dangerous person. Polly was right about one thing, Catherine's scared, terrified. Even if she does manage to get enough money to go to Yorkshire what would she do there. Her uncle lives there and is offering her sanction but he's just a posh estate owner, not the kind of life she wants at all. Her uncle is from her mothers side, her mother was from a rich background. But she got disowned when she married her father; a nobody from London. That's when he got into gang situations, trying to get enough money for her mother to have an eloquent lifestyle.

"So? Where is she?" A familiar voice drawled. Thomas was outside, his power was confirmed by the silence everyone in the pub held. She'd only been here for around twenty minutes already he was on her case.

"Who ya talkin' about Thomas?" An Irish woman answered, the only brave one to answer back. Catherine knew she should probably regain herself and reveal her whereabouts; murmurs outside began to get louder. Catherine knew she had to leave this room before Thomas walked in and found her. Maye there was an escape exit? No. Only one door. Only one exit.

She walked up to the door about to pull it open but the door opened itself to reveal not just Thomas Shelby but another woman. A blonde kind looking girl.

Thomas sighed "I found her."

Catherine did nothing but give a sheepish grin.

"Stop grinning girl and get to work." He pushed past her, a glass in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. The woman followed him in and sat by his side not even looking her in the eye. Cathy rolled her eyes at his blunt behaviour. She stormed out the room but then she thought of something to say and barged right back.

Thomas didn't even look back up when she swanned back in, hands on hips. He simply got out a cigarette and began to light it up.

"What makes you think I need your help mister? What makes you think you can talk to me like that? What makes you think that you're all THAT?!" She was just working herself up. She had a very short fuse, getting herself more angry by the second. "And would you stop calling me girl? where I come from people treat me with respect and I'll have that here!" Thomas perked up at this point, actually curious at this girls background. It's obvious to him that this girl was spoilt but she is use to violence which tells him that she's use to his environment. She is not even the littlest bit frightened of him.

" - and where about do you come from girl?" he muttered, cigarette still in his mouth. She stopped talking. "AH" finally! You've stopped talking." He said lifting his arms up in a congratulatory manner. "Let me tell you something girl , where I come from people treat me with respect and right now you're in my city. Do you understand? I've shown you kindness, I've shown you mercy. Where is my thanks may I ask?" He began to walk towards her now, Catherine tried her hardest not to shy away but even his stare is quite intimidating. He walked right up to her, they were almost nose to nose when Thomas blew his smoke into her face. He stared into her green eyes never blinking, not even for a moment.

"Thomas enough!" The Irish woman stood up and began to pull on his arm. "She's just a girl. Leave her alone."

This made Catherines blood boil. "JUST A GIRL? I'M JUST A BLOODY GIRL!" Her arms were flailing manically. "Well, then. In that case! I'll just go do some girly things then like go and brush my bloody hair. Thanks for our hospitality but I'll manage on my bloody own. Ta!"

She stormed out .