It was later that night when the rain began, hammering down on the streets of Birmingham. The darkness and patter of rain on the glass offering Elizabeth some comfort as she curled up on the armchair beside the fire that was burning low. She was still in her dress having been unable to sleep, tossing and turning as she relived the events of the day and unable to shut her mind down. Her book was balanced on her knees as she drank a lukewarm cup of tea, her eyes drifting across the page as she reread the familiar story of Tarzan. It wasn't her favourite book, but she had needed something to allow her mind to wander, not wanting to focus on the day's events that prevented sleep from finding her.
She was the only Shelby currently awake which was very rare. She'd peaked in on all the rooms to check, a small wash of relief when she'd seen Ada had come home instead of staying at Polly's as she had been. Both Arthur and Tommy were knocked out as far as she could tell which was a comfort. Tommy and Arthur, like herself, both had recurring nightmares, or just nights that they refused to sleep. It was Tommy more so than Arthur, their eldest brother normally drinking himself to sleep ensuring nothing could plague his mind. It was odd to sit by herself, but she found she didn't mind, as much as she enjoyed the company, she'd rather they rest. The night would only consist of her and Tommy sitting together in the shop or in the kitchen as she was now, her nose in her book and his in a paper.
Elizabeth had just turned over a page when she heard heavy footsteps falling just outside the window. She glanced up to see a figure jog past and quickly got to her feet, setting her book and cup on the table as she raced to the door to open it before the knocking would waken her brothers, knowing they needed rest and if it wasn't serious it could wait until the morning. She pulled the door open just in time to see Curly at the other side.
"Curly?" She asked, frowning at the man in his fedora, knowing it must have something to do with a horse or Charlie "What's going on?"
"Tom, Tom, he must come quick." Curly stuttered out around his heavy breathing. Elizabeth nodded her head, pulling the man in out the rain.
"Ok, ok Curly. Just take a breath and stay quiet, I'll get him." She soothed quietly, letting him stand in the hallway as she turned and quietly strode up the stairs, she knew it was serious, Curly was too panicked for it not to be. Turning around the banister she paused outside Tommys room, closing her eyes for a moment as she took a breath. Letting out the sigh, she gently pushed the door open.
"Tom?" She called gently, not wanting to enter the room too much, "Tommy?" She took a step in, her eyes catching sight of a pipe but ignoring it as she got closer to her brother placing an arm on his shoulder, "Tom?"
Suddenly her back was on the floor, an arm against her neck as it held her down, the other hand over her mouth. Elizabeth tried not to panic, her eyes wide as Tommy stared down at her with hatred before almost snapping out of it. He was up like a rocket, breathing deeply as he backed away from his sister and rubbing a hand over his face. Elizabeth said nothing, pushing herself up so she was sitting, her hands shaking as she pulled in her legs and curled up slightly, nearly rocking but trying to hold it in. Tommy let out a few deep breaths shaking his head as he tried to control the emotion going through him as Elizabeth tried to control her breathing, flashes of similar scenarios filling her mind.
"Curly is downstairs." She breathed out after a moment. Her eyes blinking rapidly before she looked up at her brother who had sat down on his bed, "He needs you. Right now."
The two sat in silence, Tommy unsure what to say to her and Elizabeth trying to process the fact her twin just tried to kill her. Her eyes flickered to his bed, seeing his revolver still sitting under his pillow and let out a shudder, knowing how close she was to death by her own twin's hand. Tommy followed her gaze and winced at the sight of the gun, knowing if he'd not snapped out of it, she could have been dead.
"I…" Tommy started, staring at the gun then his sister who was still staring at the gun, opening his mouth to continue when he heard Curly pacing and mumbling downstairs, "I'll be back." He promised, knowing Elizabeth still processing what had happened.
"Ok." She breathed shakily, not all there. Tommy leaned over and grabbed the gun, only to lift his hands in surrender as his sister backed up with a small gasp of fear and some plea in German, her eyes glazed over as if stuck in a memory. He gently set the gun to the side before he picked up a coat and pulled it on, his eyes still on her even as he got ready. He pulled on his boots as his sister began to breathe more erratically and paused kneeling down beside her. He placed both his hands on the sides of her face and dragged her attention back over to him.
"I'm sorry. Ok? I'm not going to hurt you." He promised.
"Please don't hate me Tom, I had to." She pleaded, her brother shaking his head.
"I don't hate you Lil." He promised. Elizabeth looked directly at him, her shaking reduced to just her hands, her eyes filled with sadness and regret.
"They put you to the Somme cause of me." She breathed, her eyes glazing over once more, "I didn't get enough, he tried to, and I killed him, Tom. An officer, he was bleeding, so much. I just, I stopped him." Tommy watched as his sister slipped from him once more and moved his hands to her shoulders, giving her a light shake.
"You're home. I'm home. I'm not in France and you're not in Germany. You're alright, 'ey Lil? You're ok." Tommy reminded her yet again, Elizabeth still shaking even as she listened to him, her eyes becoming more focused.
"We're ok." Elizabeth breathed out, Tommy letting her shoulders go, "I'm home." She repeated, tears in her eyes, bawling her hands into fists as she focused on them, "I'm home. I did my job. I'm home." She whispered.
"You're home Lil." Tommy repeated to her once again, trying to help, knowing he'd caused this. He glanced to the door, hearing Curly's mumbling become more frantic, "I've got to go Lil, let's get you downstairs ey? I'll get Aunt Pol." Elizabeth shook her head, cutting him off.
"No, no, I'm fine Tom." Tommy cast her a disbelieving look, but Elizabeth ignored him, pushing herself to her feet. "I'll be ok. I just, need some tea." She offered, trying to hide her hands behind her back.
"Lil." Tommy chastised slightly, earning a hard look.
"I'm fine." She snapped, before taking a breath and brushing down the front of her dress, "You need to go." She reminded him. Tommy eyed her for a moment, reaching over to grab his revolver, watching her for any signs of fear only for her to roll her eyes at him, "Go." She ordered.
Thomas said nothing further, offering her a small nod of apology with a small promise in his eyes that implied they'd be talking about this later. Elizabeth nodded her head in return, knowing there was nothing she could do to argue given what had come out her mouth in her brief moment of fear. She followed Tom out the door and down the stairs, offering a smile to Curly before him and her twin disappeared off into the night. She let out a breath as she closed the door after them, a few tears running down her cheeks before letting of a huff and wiping them off. She had work to do.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she watched her brother's playing cards. Arthur's coat over her shoulders as she leaned forward on the table, her head resting on the palms of her hands as she sat beside their eldest brother, Tommy opposite her and John between him and Arthur. Tommy had barged into the house an hour ago and all but dragged her down to the Garrison, not even giving her a chance to grab her own coat or hat. She had then been placed into the snug, while the boys had gotten their beers. She had played a hand or two of the game before getting bored and had now taken to watching for cheats while listening to the group outside attempting to sing.
She kicked Arthur under the table as he tried to peak at Johns cards, just as the door opened and a blonde woman to appear in the doorway with a bucket of beer. Elizabeth straightened slightly, her hands falling to her sides as she tilted her head slightly, watching as her twin looked over at the blonde. A smirk passed over her face as she recognised a small flash of affection in his eyes.
"Did you want whisky as well?" The woman asked, her eyes meeting Elizabeth's for the first time.
"No, just beer." Tommy answered for the group, watching his twin as she eyed Grace with interest. The blonde nodded, filling up the empty glasses for the men, keeping an eye on the only other woman in the snug as she did so.
"Why no whisky, Tom. You expecting trouble?" Arthur asked, taking a drag from his cigarette as he cast a look to his sister. Tommy didn't answer, looking over his hand.
"Jesus Christ, Tommy, what the hell made you let them sing?" John asked, as the group outside picked up on another verse, "They sound like they're strangling cats out there." The men shared a chuckle of amusement as Elizabeth smiled shaking her head at her brother's.
"All right. Twenty's the play, come on." Arthur reminded, shuffling in his seat as he watched the blonde finish filling up the glasses and turn to leave, catching Tommys look at the woman "Now, what did make you change your mind though, Tommy? Hmm?"
"It's about time, Tommy." John commented, also seeing the glance Tommy cast towards the barmaid.
"Time for what?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Tommys question and smirked, leaning back in her chair.
"Well... Time you took yourself a woman." John answered with a smirk, teasing his older brother.
"Just play the bloody hand." Tommy ordered with a smile, shutting down the conversation before it could start.
"You stay the way you are, Tommy. Remember what Dad used to say. Fast women and slow horses..." Arthur began.
"Will ruin your life." John and Arthur finished together. Elizabeth chuckled leaning forward to steal a sip from Arthur's glass, earning a prod to her shoulder from the eldest Shelby. She rolled her eyes but kept the glass as she leaned back.
"If I'm going to sit here and watch you play cards at least let me have a drink, Arthur." She joked, taking another sip before the drink was taken from her.
"Why are you here?" John asked, raising his eyebrow at her. She frowned before raising her own eyebrow in return.
"Love spending time with you too, John." She bit out sarcastically, before shrugging, "I was done cooking and apparently Tommy wanted some sane company for a change." Arthur and John let out playful shouts of annoyance as she and Tommy smiled at them. Elizabeth's smile fell though as a bright light went past the window behind her, alarm bells instantly ringing in her head. She twisted to have a look a bad feelings washing down her spine. She turned back to look at Tommy, a worried frown on her face as his smile also disappeared.
"Coppers?" John asked, tilting his head to look past Elizabeth.
"No." Tommy answered, the twins well aware of the deal they had made, his eyes full of warning for his sister. Elizabeth twisted back to the window, climbing on the bench to peer through the smallest gap in the frosted glass.
"Oh fuck." She breathed, "It's Billy Kimber, Tom."
The brothers froze at the information, all sharing looks of concern for Elizabeth who was now perched in the window staring intently at the wooden frame as they listened. The group stayed quiet as the voices of the singing locals died down, hearing the boots of the enemy walk in. John scoffed slightly and went to stand when Elizabeth and Arthur both raised their hands, giving him looks of disapproval and silently telling him to sit back down. Arthur and Elizabeth looked to Tommy, the man deep in his own mind. Elizabeth, unable to help herself, rolled her eyes and leaned back to look out the window as the King himself got out the car and walked towards the Garrison door. There was a moment pause when the door swung open and shut again, Tommy still calculating as the three other Shelby's exchanged looks.
"Is there any man here named Shelby?" A booming voice asked, the pub remained quiet as the group in the snug still waiting for orders from Tommy. Elizabeth winced as a gunshot went off and a few women let out screams, "I said, "Is there any man here named Shelby?""
Tommy stood up, pulling down his jacket and nodded to his brothers. The three turned to Elizabeth, who had already pulled on Arthur's coat and leant over the table to steal the hat Tommy had left on the table, twisting her brown hair up before placing the hat on her head. Kimber was known to love the company of the ladies and she was not going to give the man the advantage or the chance to touch her. She knew in this situation to stick to the back and hope they just thought she was a young boy, new in the ranks. Thomas nodded once she was as disguised as she could be, and led the group out, John and Arthur followed him close, followed by Lovelock and Scudboat whom she hid behind.
"Harry, get these men a drink. Everyone else go home." Tommy ordered, the locals quickly dispersing at the order, knowing trouble was afoot with the King on their doorsteps. Elizabeth quickly moved next to John, keeping her head down to try and hide her face and grateful she had just thrown on an old pair of Arthur's boots when she had gotten up, and the coat covered her dress entirely being too big for her. Her brother took the opportunity to give her a quick nudge as a sign for her to leave, which she ignored.
Grace began setting up the drinks as Arthur took a seat at the table, gesturing to the two the chairs opposite in silent invitation and allowing Kimber to sit with his associate. Elizabeth chanced a look up, swearing under her breath as she noticed one of Kimber's men staring at her, she moved so she was more behind John, hiding her right arm and slowly reached up to tap his back twice, he glanced back at her seeing her flash her gaze to the man. He nodded before lifting his hand up and clearing his throat, Tommy tensing at the sound.
"You go home." Tommy ordered as Grace placed the drinks on the table. The woman glanced at him.
"But Mr Fenton said..." She argued.
"I said go home." Tommy cut in, turning to look at Elizabeth pointedly, "Make sure she gets home." Elizabeth nodded at the order, lifting her hand up to guide Grace out when she saw the man clear his throat and lean down to whisper something to Kimber. The brown-haired woman, tried to lead the blonde faster only to sigh when she heard a gun cock and freeze. Elizabeth pushed the barmaid on even as she froze and turned round, keeping her head tilted down.
"Hang on, no one is leaving without my say-so, and that includes you." Billy called across the room, Elizabeth noting he was now standing and aiming the gun at her. She withheld an eye roll but nodded her head, walking back over to stand between Scudboat and Lovelock, noting how tense her brothers were. She tried to keep her head down even as she watched the gun waving at her "Take off your hat." He ordered. Elizabeth sighed quietly but took off her cap, allowing her hair to fall.
"Ya know, I've never approved of women in pubs but when they look like that..." Billy commented, his eyes on the mystery woman. Tommy seeing his eyes lingering on Elizabeth, pulled out a cigarette as Arthur quickly poured some drinks.
"You said you want men called Shelby. You've got three of them." Tommy told the man, trying to put the man back on track.
"Right, I never heard of ya. And then I did hear of ya, some little didicoy razor gang. I thought to meself, so what? But then you fucked me over. So now you have my undivided attention. By the way, which one am I talking to? Who's the boss?" Billy asked, gesturing between the three Shelby's sat at the table.
"Well, I'm the oldest." Arthur answered first.
"Ha! Clearly." Billy laughed back.
"Are you laughing at my brother?" John asked dangerously, both him and Arthur tense from the entire situation involving the revolver aimed at their sister.
"Right. He's the oldest. You're the thickest. I'm told the boss is called Tommy, and I'm guessing that's you, 'cause you're looking me up and down like I'm a fucking tart." Billy ranted, his gaze firmly on Tommy even as it flickered to the mystery woman the Shelby's been trying to smuggle out, his temper rising as he watched the corner of her mouth tilt up. Elizabeth, seeing the man's eyes on her tried to withhold her smirk but couldn't help herself, the man sounded like a spoilt child.
"I want to know what you want." Tommy responded, Kimber's temper rising slightly more as the woman seemed to try and hold back a laugh. Kimber's associate glanced at the man in charge before leaning forward.
"There were suspicious betting patterns at Kempton Park. A horse called Monaghan Boy..." The man explained, "He won by a length twice and then finished last. With 3,000 bet on him." Elizabeth tilted her head and watched as Kimber seemed to get angrier at the reminder, flexing out his hands before bawling them into fists.
"Which one am I talking to? Which one of you is the boss?" Tommy responded cheekily.
"I'm Mr Kimber's adviser and accountant." The man revealed to the group, but Tommy had pushed a few buttons too far.
"And I'm the fucking boss, okay?" Billy shouted, getting to his feet, "Right. End of parlay. You fixed the race without my permission. You fucking gypsy scum! What, live off the war pensions and these poor old Garrison Lane widows? That's your level. I am Billy Kimber! I run the races and you fixed one of them. So, I'm gonna have you shot against the post. And you'll be coming with me." The man finished pointing up to Elizabeth, who didn't react to the threat as Scudboat and Lovelock instantly pulled their guns at the same time Billy's men did.
"Mr Kimber!" Tommy called as the man walked back towards the door, getting to his feet to stop John and Arthur reacting more violently to the threat, Billys men instantly moving their attention to him. He quickly tossed something to Billy, "Look at it. That has mine and my sister's names on it." Tom said, gesturing between himself and Elizabeth who eyed him, unsure as to what he was speaking of, "It's from the Lee family. You are also at war with the Lees, Mr Kimber, am I right? The Lees are attacking your bookies and taking your money. Your men can't control them. You need help."
"Perhaps we should listen to what Mr Shelby has to say, before we make our decisions." The accountant voiced, making Billy pause. Tommy took this as his chance.
"Right. The Lees are doing a lot of talking at the fairs. They have a lot of kin. They're saying the racetracks are easy meat because the police are busy with strikes. Now, we have connections. We know how they operate. You have muscle. Together we can beat them. Divided, maybe not." Tommy explained to the men, Elizabeth frowning as she took in this new information and realised what Tommy had been doing and what exactly he'd thrown to Kimber.
"Mr Kimber, perhaps we should take some time for reflection. Possibly make arrangements for a second meeting." The accountant offered.
"I admire you, Mr Kimber. You started with nothing and built a legitimate business. It would be an honour to work with you, Mr Kimber." Tommy continued, playing to the man's ego.
"Nobody works "with" me. People work "for" me." Billy bit out, upset with the way the day had gone, Elizabeth watched as he pulled a coin out his pocket and threw it on the floor. "Pick it up, pikey."
Elizabeth turned a heavy glare on Kimber at the insult towards her twin. John got to his feet instantly as Tommy went to pick it up, Elizabeth taking a step to him and holding her arm out to stop him making any moves as Tommy lifted a hand in warning.
"Sit. Sit down." Tommy ordered. Elizabeth pushed John back slightly before raising to her full height as her twin picked up the coin and stood.
"It's for your ceiling." Kimber offered, smirking and winking at Elizabeth who tried to hide her disgust as the man left.
"Thank you, Mr Kimber." Tommy called after the man.
"We will be at Cheltenham." The accountant informed the group as he stood and collected his items.
"As will I." Tommy nodded to the man. The accountant pulled his hat on, nodding once more to the three other Shelby's before exiting out the front door. The two members of Kimber's army were quick to back out after the man, leaving the small group on their own inside the bar.
As soon as the door was closed, Elizabeth let out a breath and sagged against Tommy's vacant chair, twisting it around slightly and taking a seat as she reached out and downed a glass of whiskey. Her two brothers followed suit, all quickly downing a shot as Tommy went over to lock the doors, ensuring that Kimber had indeed left. She leant her head on Arthur's shoulder, opening Tommy's packet of cigarettes and pulling one out.
"So you picked a fight with the Lee's on purpose." Arthur called to Tommy who sauntered back over to the table as Elizabeth took her first drag, "Tommy, we can't mess with Billy fucking Kimber." Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Arthur.
"More importantly, when were you gonna tell me the Lees want me dead?" Elizabeth cut in not seeming too bothered, earning an eye roll from Arthur and John. Tommy ignored her, his eyes on Arthur and John.
"Get yourself a decent haircut, man. We're going to the races."
