Rumours || Thomas Shelby [1]

t h r e e

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KAT WAS WORKING IN THE MARKET WHEN SHE HEARD THE NEWS. It had been a rather dull day, selling and bagging fruit and veg. The usual customers came and went, some were braver at attempting conversation than others and those were the few customers that Kat liked. Working in silence was torturous work and the few customers who tried, sometimes they made her day. Most came and went, no signs of gossip or news. That was the usual.

Today was one of the more interesting days. The news of Danny Whiz Bang's episode which ended with an Italian's death did it rounds through the city. Kat wasn't overly surprised by the news, having believed that it would have happened eventually. What was unfortunate was that he killed an Italian. It was known - to Kat anyway - that the Italians resented the Peaky Blinders. And while Danny wasn't technically a Blinder, he was certainly affiliated with them. In fact, Danny was a tunneler alongside Thomas Shelby in the Great War. There was nothing great about it was the truth.

Despite Danny's violent episodes, he was a well loved man. Before his war days, Danny was the friendliest man in Small Heath. But the war changed him, like it did with many men. And when the men changed, so did the women. Danny's wife who was so happy and a genuine ray of sunshine before the war, was now an aged woman who not only had to look after her young children but her shell shocked husband as well. The woman had developed chronic pain in her back as a result of the stress but the family lacked the money to do anything about it.

Danny's affiliation with the Peaky Blinders was going to be the reason for his death, Kat decided. And in a few hours, Kat's prediction came true. The streets darkened as news of Danny's death came to light. And like every other woman in Small Heath, Kat visited the poor widow and her children. And like every other woman, Kat offered her condolences and but didn't offer any solutions.

There would be no funeral for Danny Whiz Bang since he was shot in the head by Thomas Shelby. The Peaky Blinders killed Danny, so they would be the ones to bury him. Kat thought this was for the best in this situation. No wife should see her husband's brains blown out. Perhaps she wouldn't ever get closure but at least she won't be traumatized by his messy death for all eternity.

The news of his death left Kat with a heavy heart, bringing back memories which she tried to suppress but never could. It was for that reason that she found herself in the graveyard at two o'clock in the morning. She often did this avoid the curious stares of people during the day, which was kinda ironic. She hated people getting into her business.

She sat crossed legged on the grassy ground, her skirt dampening slightly. Her back was pressed against a monument, so that if anyone would walk by, they wouldn't see her. This was highly unlikely at two in the morning but she didn't care. Her fingers played with some grass as she stared at the names engraved on the headstone in front of her. The moonlight illuminated the cravings and she closed her eyes.