Roguish Women- Tommy Shelby

Burned Words

            "Hello, Lizzie." Kate tugged off her gloves and hat as she walked into the office.

The pretty brunette looked up from the typewriter. "You've been gone for a few days." She noted.

"Yes, well, Tommy showed up to my flat in the middle of the night to take me on a four-day cruise." She snorted. "Unfortunately, it was in a canal and the destination was London."

Lizzie smiled and handed her a few envelopes. "Well, these came for you while you were gone."

While working at the office together, the two women had struck up a bit of a friendship. Both being working women, former and present, they had a deeper understanding of each other. But Kate didn't trust her. She'd learned from her time with Grace. A nice woman who was willing to listen to her talk wasn't someone to automatically be trusted. It was something Kate realized she might've learned a bit too late. After all, she'd learned not to trust men a long time ago. She should've realized women could be just as dangerous. She wasn't the only one with secrets.

"Thank you." Kate took the small pile of mail and began opening and sorting through them by Lizzie's desk. "How's your class going?"

"Good." The other woman perked up. She loved talking about the typing class she was taking and Kate loved seeing the pride in her eyes. Someone who had, for so long, known nothing but working the streets of Birmingham. Now she was educating herself, looking toward a brighter future. "I'm learning shorthand."

"Is that difficult? I don't know much about it but I..." Kate's voice trailed off as she skimmed through one of the letters.

Lizzie's brow creased. "Everything alright?" She asked when the conversation abruptly stopped.

"Yes, I'm sorry, I just need to-well I-" She looked around the room as if it were spinning. "I'm going to read this in Tommy's office." She excused herself quickly and shut the door behind her for some privacy. Setting the other letters aside, she read through what had stopped her in her tracks. It was written in French and the handwriting was hurried but not careless.

Dear Kate,

I hope this finds you. I am in fear of your life. A man came to the cabaret last night with your picture. He wanted to know who smuggled you out of France and into Britain.

No one said much to him but he threatened our lives. All of his men had guns. Gabrielle felt she had no choice. She told him about the Peaky Blinders.

I think he is coming after you and I do not think he has good intentions.

It was dated and signed by a woman who danced with Kate at the Moulin Rouge.

She felt beyond sick to her stomach trying to process what was happening. It was one thing to get a vague letter from Santo. But this letter changed everything.

Kate jumped when the doors to the office opened suddenly.

Tommy stood in the entryway with a frown. "What are you doing in here?"

"I-I was reading a letter." She held it out to him. "Tommy, Santo is in France, he was asking about me and about you."

He took the letter but realized quickly it was no use to him. "I don't speak French." He replied.

"Well, I'm telling you." She followed him to his desk. "I'm telling you that he's tracking me down."

"He already knew where you lived." He pointed out. "Why is this different?"