Tear It Down

Chapter Twenty One

Adrien shook with anger as all three Shelby brother yelled at her. She didn't care about the yelling, she cared that they believed her incompetent. "There's no way in hell someone could have seen me, or even have noticed me for that matter." Never once had she ever been caught, hell, even suspected, when she had gathered information before.

"Well it seems like someone has." Tommy said, the only one who seemed to try to keep himself level headed.

"Bullshit Thomas!" She sat in a chair in their kitchen as they stood around the table glaring at her. Polly sat looking at her with an unreadable look on her face. "You do so like to claim about all the enemies you have, it doesn't take a halfwit to realize it was one of them." If she had a bottle nearby she would have broken it across all three of their heads.

Keep calm. Keep calm. She told herself as Arthur's voice raised above the others, once again suggesting they kill her. She rolled her eyes with a cross of her arms, wishing Arthur would think of something more intelligent to say. Taking a deep breath she ignored the pain in her arm and reached for her best defense.

Smirking she looked to them and said, "Are you not checking what I have been reporting to you? Have you not been trying to insure that I'm worth the trouble? I have been able to slip past you three multiple times, so my being seen is not likely, but you three don't have the skills as I do. Slipping up and making a mistake doesn't seem so far fetched for any of you."

"Do you not remember that I caught you?" John asked, looking pleased with the reminder.

She had a remark on the tip of her tongue but she stopped it. There was no use in getting them angrier. "A misjudment on my part." She wanted to wipe that look of satisfaction from John's face but she took a deep breath before continuing. "I did not write anything down. I wanted no indication of my presence anywhere. I have done this for long enough to know what the hell I'm doing." She looked to Arthur and gave a short laugh. "Unlike others it seems. Tell me, how badly did it hurt?" Indicating the bruises that had begun to form.

Arthur gripped the back of the chair as he looked to her, his own smile unnerving her though she met it with a roll of her eyes. "Go on then. Keep telling us how you never make a mistake. When it comes out that you have it will be even better."

"With how you are Arthur I wouldn't be surprised if you were the one who was seen. After all, you were the one who was attacked."

"Do you know who the attacker was affiliated with?" Polly asked as she looked to Arthur.

"No idea." Arthur grumbled as he scratched at the back of his head. He looked worn down but that didn't quell the anger in him.

"Also," Adrien butted in, refusing to be ignored. "How would they know I would be associated with you Blinders? How many other gangs have people sneaking about for them? They could have easily believed me to be working for anyone, not just you three. That message was meant for you, Arthur, no one else."

Tommy rubbed at his forehead as he paced back and forth in the kitchen, eerily quiet. When he finally spoke Adrien couldn't keep the look of self satisfaction from her face. "She has a point Arthur."

"So you're siding with her?" He asked incredulously.

"I'm not siding with anyone. I'm simply looking at this from all perspectives. Yes she could have been found out but it was you who was attacked. A message for you, no one else."

"Or a message for us." Polly said as she leaned back in her chair. "After all Arthur is viewed as the leader so if they make it clear to him then they make it clear to us all. We had better watch our backs."

"Did you see any clothing or something they wore that would indicate who they worked for?" John asked.

"Funnily enough their clothing wasn't my main concern." Arthur snarled.

"Fighting among ourselves helps no one, and it doesn't give answers either." Polly said as she lit a cigarette with a shake of her head. "Would you be able to recognize who attacked you?"

Arthur rubbed his jaw as he thought. "Maybe. Their voice I would be able to with no problem."

"What do you suggest then, parade him around so he can hear the voice of every man we come in contact with?" John asked incredulously.

Tommy shook his head as he paced the kitchen, quiet as his gaze seemed far off. After a moment he looked to them all. "I may know who could be behind this. But I want to ensure I am right. The last thing I want is a war on my hands." He looked to Adrien and she sat up straight and met his gaze. "I have another job for you."