Roguish Women- Tommy Shelby

Wanted for a Reward

            Kate did her best to support Tommy on their walk to the Yard. The sky was clouded so there wasn't much light to go on. They were slow-moving with Kate trying to keep him upright and to make sure he didn't fall or misstep on the uneven streets.

When they made it, Tommy opened the gate and staggered through the entrance. "Curly!" He called hoarsely. "Get that stuff for when their legs go lame."

"Tommy?" Charlie looked aghast at the sight of his nephew. "They said you'd be in for another three weeks." He pulled up a chair.

"I need to get on a boat to London, now."

Kate frowned. "Tommy, you didn't say anything about London. You need medical attention!"

"The lass is right, Tom, you're burning up." Charlie agreed.

Tommy just shook his head, the motion throwing him a bit off balance. "I need to sleep in the open air. Do you have a boat here?"

Kate ran a hand through her uncombed hair. She glanced behind her to where the gate was ajar. She could just go back home, get under the covers, leave Tommy to his own work. If he wanted to be a lunatic, he could do it on his own. But abandoning him didn't feel right.

Coughing from Tommy brought her back to the conversation. "If I sleep all the way, it's Camden Town we're headed for."

Kate helped him stand up. "Why are we going there?"

But he wasn't ready to explain anything quite yet. "Tell Polly she's in charge while I'm away. If I don't come back, tell her she's in charge for good."

~~~~~~~~~~~

It stunk of canvas and cigars under the covered boat. But Kate knew she had to watch Tommy. He slept for a good deal of the trip, only stirring every so often when the boat rocked.

In the faint candlelight, she could finally take in his injuries. Nearly his entire face was swollen from the beating he'd taken. The way he slept too made it evident that he was sporting at least a few broken ribs.

Kate didn't have much of a nurturing background but she felt she could at least get Tommy to last the few days it would take to get to London. She kept a cold cloth on his face to try and help his fever. Every few hours she tried to get him to wake for a drink of water. He was mostly incoherent until they were two days in.

He began to sit up for longer periods of time and could hold a better conversation with Kate. More than just mumbles and groans of pain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Here." Kate handed him his cigarettes. "Halfway there, 'least that's what Curly says."

"Thank you." He replied quietly.

"So, can I finally know why I'm on a boat headed for London?" She sat down near him.

Tommy struck up a match and took a few puffs of his cigarette before answering. "Alfie Solomons."

Kate recalled the Shelby boys telling her that name a long time ago. "He's a bookie." She remembered.

He nodded. "Ready to do business with him."

"And why do you need me to come along?" None of it made much sense to her.

"He's not just a bookie. He makes rum as well, so I've heard. And you know a bit more about the American market. Things he might be interested in knowing."