Chapter twenty-three: Running up that hill
One week later,
Kate hums 'You made me love you' as she nears the Shelby house on Watery Lane. This week with Thomas had been going very well. they shared lunch together almost every day and they talked in depth about many things. Kate really found him a very interesting man. she'd never met a man like him. he had a dry sense of humor and a wickedly, mischievous smile. He liked to things close to his heart, but Kate found she could always read whatever it is was he didn't want to say outright.
as she raises her hand to tap on the door, Finn Shelby runs out and crashes into her. "Hi Finn." She laughs as she rights him. "Where are you going?"
"Out." He glances at the door. "I wouldn't go in there if I were you. Thomas and aunt Polly are arguing again."
Kate exhales. "Thanks for the warning."
"You here for Thomas?" he asks, his brown eyes curious.
"Yes." She holds up the basket. "I brought him his lunch."
"Oh. He's in the kitchen, go on in."
With that, the youngest Shelby boy takes off running down the street. Kate shakes her head in amusement before heading inside the house. "It's the last time I'm going to say this." Kate follows Thomas's weary voice towards the kitchen. "It wasn't me who shot Freddie Thorne."
"I'd ask you to swear on the bible." Polly said harshly. "But there's nothing you hold sacred."
Kate taps on the doorframe and both sets of eyes swivel towards her. "Sorry for the interruption but, Finn told me to come on inside."
Thomas heads towards her. "Where's he?"
"Took off running down the street. He did suggest that I not go inside, but I didn't want your lunch to get cold." Thomas gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Hi."
"Hey there." he takes the basket from her. "Shall we?"
"You're still seeing him?" Polly says annoyance on her face. "You're a bigger fool than I give you credit for."
"Polly," Kate says patiently. "you're going to feel terrible when the real person who tipped the police off is exposed. I genuinely feel that Thomas is innocent. Otherwise, I wouldn't be with him."
"Well, keep telling yourself that when Ada's found dead from hunger!" Polly turns and walks out of the room.
Kate frowns. "I don't understand."
"Ada won't touch the food Polly brings her." he explains. "It's either a hunger strike, or she's got some food in the house and she won't touch anything of ours."
"I really hope she's eating, it's not good for the baby." Thomas takes her by the arm and leads her towards the back room. "What are you going to do about Freddie?"
"I don't know." he shakes his head. "It's another wrench in my plan that I've got to figure out. I am working on securing his release; it's just taking a lot longer than she anticipated." He opens the door and leads her into his office. "Now, let's talk about more pleasant things."
Kate nods reluctantly. "I suppose, we only have an hour."
"I promise, everything will work itself out in the end. Now," he sets the picnic basket on his desk. "how are things going at the restaurant today?"
Throughout the entire hour, Kate's thought strays back to Freddie and Ada. Kate had given Thomas a week to sort this problem. Now, she was contemplating taking matters into her own hands. She didn't want to do this, but she had no other choice. If Ada and her baby were going to survive, they needed Freddie Thorne back in their lives right away.
Kate swallows as she steps inside the police station. She steps towards the desk, clearing her throat. The officer looks up at her. "Who would I talk to about securing the release of Freddie Thorne." All goes quiet. She holds her head upright. "Tell me."
"Uhh, that'll be inspector Campbell. But trust me, he won't-
"Is he in? I shall need to speak to him immediately." Everyone just kind of stares at her, which infuriates her. "Fetch him at once!" Her voice rings though the station.
"What is all this yelling about?" A middle-aged, mustached man approaches her. he glowers at the man behind the desk. "You, miss, need to calm yourself."
"Are you inspector Campbell?" she demands. "I've requested your audience and this man refuses to budge from behind his desk to fetch you."
"What is it I can do to assist you?"
"I'm here to secure the release of Freddie Thorne."
"Perhaps we'd be better to talk about this in my office."
"Yeah," Kate says sarcastically. "I know all about what happens to women who step into your office inspector."
His eyes flash with anger. "I can have you arrested for saying such things."
"Well, in that case, let me telephone my lawyer." Kate picks up the phone. "Operator, connect me to Gilbert Kovach's residence." Everyone freezes in place, to stare at her in shock. "Yes, that's correct. I'll wait." Kate looks to Campbell. "Will you release him?"
"Never." He growls out.
"I'm sorry to do this then." Kate smiles as she speaks into the phone. "Hello?"
Katherine! Her brother sounds almost panicked. Good God! Where the hell are you? You've been gone for months now!
"I know, I'm sorry about that. Look, is father there?
"Your father is Gilbert Kovach?" Campbell hisses out. she nods her head, a smirk on her face. "You bitch."
What do you need with dad for?
"It's an emergency. I need his help with something now."
Alright, I'll get him. don't go anywhere. Kate chuckles as she hears him yelling for their father to come to the phone. What happened Katherine? Why did you leave?
"I'd rather not say. I'm in a police station now and frankly," she glowers at a few of the officers. "everyone is far too nosey for their own good."
Katherine? It's her father on the line now. Where the hell are you?
She said police station.
What the hell are you doing there? were you arrested?
"No, but I may be arrested in a matter of minutes." Kate exhaled. "But I need you to do something for me for me first. a friend of mine had a baby last week, her husband has been arrested on some trumped up charges and he needs to get back to his wife."
Katherine, I am not going to interfere-
"Inspector Chester Campbell arrested him." her father's voice stilled. She knew her father hated him, just not why. "Do I need to go into details?"
Put that bastard on the phone.
Kate smiles and hands the phone to the inspector. "He wants to talk to you."
The inspector glowers at her darkly before reaching for the phone. "Yes, Sir?" her father begins yelling at him. "Sir, the man is a member of," his face goes slightly pale, letting Kate know that whatever it is her father has hanging over the man's head is good. "of course, Sir. Yes, he'll be released immediately." Two officers immediately spring into action as Campbell glowers at her. "Yes, she's here. Of course." He hands her back the phone. "You'll pay for this, mark my words."
"Don't make me inform my father of that threat. Don't want whatever dirty secret he's holding over you to appear on the front page in a newspaper." She talks back into the phone. "Thank you."
The man is scum, vexing him is almost as entertaining as the follies. Her father's tone now becomes stern. Now, where are you?
"I'm not saying, because I know you'll come after me." her father curses violently. "I want your word that you'll not come looking for me. I'm happy and safe here."
I don't want you out there on your own.
"I'm not alone. I've got a business and there's a family who looks after me. please, I just want to be left alone."
I'm sorry, I can't do that. I promised your mother that you'd always be safe. Where are you?
Kate's heart sank. "By the time you trace this call back, I'll be long gone from this city."
Now, wait just a minute!
"Look, I left for a good reason, I'm never going back with you and Anton." With that, Kate hangs up the phone.
Campbell glowered at her. "You bitch. You'll regret interfering and letting a dangerous communist free!"
Kate ignores him and looks towards where two officers are rapidly walking/dragging Freddie towards her. Kate hurries towards him. "Freddie?" He looks up at her and Kate shakes her head. The man is bleeding and bone thin; he's obviously been beaten while in police custody. "Come on, I got you out of here." Kate takes a hold of him around the waist, she nearly shudders as she feels his ribcage. He takes a few steps and nearly falls on his face. "Alright, let's get you home to Ada and your son."
"Ada?" Those words brighten his load slightly. "God, how is she?"
"Aching to see you. I've already got a cab waiting for us outside." She gets a dirty from inspector Campbell as she opens the door to help Freddie down the stairs. "Come on, let's get you home."
"I won't forget this. I owe you one."
Kate says nothing. What can she say? Because of him, she has to get back to Birmingham, turn the restaurant over to Abigail and Christopher, pack up as much as she can carry and get out of Birmingham before her father and brother close in on her. None of that bothers her.
The only thing that is bothering her is wondering what Thomas Shelby's reaction will be. Knowing his temperament and protective nature, he's not going to make it easy on her.
LittleBabyFox: Thank you and thank you for reviewing!
MeriemDjez: There's going to be a very interesting explosion between all 3 characters at some point.
Shariebery: Thank you very much.
Idcam: Well, let's just say Kate's going to catch her in one big moment and shots will be fired. I had to go shopping for a few things today at two stores, it was freaky! The poor cashiers were struggling to keep up against the crowd of people. Still haven't found any toilet paper, but a friend of mine can't find any greens to eat, so, I'm trading her two Asian green plants for some! (Pays to know how to garden.)
Thank you everyone for the best wishes to my mother. She has aplastic anaemia, which means her body can't produce blood cells and platelets properly. The condition is caused by failure of bone marrow development. There isn't really a cure, so she has to be on medication for the rest of her life.
