When The Boys Are Away

Part 22

Tommy, Jay and the rest of the Shelby family had been going out of their minds. Nobody had seen Harlow since the morning after the explosive argument with Tommy; somehow she had just vanished. Thomas had sent all of his men out, and not one had found a trace of her. With every passing day they became more concerned, and since a month had gone by; they were beyond worried.

They had called a family meeting to discuss alternative possibilities, but usually they always ended in the same way; Ada screaming at Tommy that it was all his fault in the first place, and then he stormed out and got drunk. This time, their luck was about to change.

Jay, Finn, John and Arthur sat around the table, glaring at Tommy as he paced the room. All he had done since Harlow's disappearance was drink, pace and shout at people. The guilt was eating him alive; he couldn't bear to think that she had gone missing because of what he had said. Soon after the fight, he admitted that he was sorry, but it was too late as Harlow was long gone.

Polly, Ada and Lizzie were trying to reassure the group, but deep inside they were frightened too. Usually the girls told each other everything, but not this time. John's kids were perched impatiently in the corner of the room, waiting for the meeting to end so they could run down to the stables to see their Uncle Charlie.

"What can we do Tom? We've searched everywhere." John explained, tapping the table anxiously, getting more worked up by his brother's constant footsteps. Tommy froze, leaning against the mantel piece with his back to them, "Obviously not, or we would have found her." He muttered coldly, his appreciation for their concern dropping by the day.

"Harlow's not stupid, she wouldn't do anything to put herself in danger." Ada called out from her seat as Tommy rolled his eyes frustratedly, "What Ada? Like the time she went down to London alone to meet Alfie Solomons? Or the time she went to make a deal with Billy Kimber? No, I'm sure she'd never put herself in danger." He uttered sarcastically as Jay sat up straight.

"Alright, no need to have a go at her. She's just trying to help. As I recall, it wasn't Ada who had a fight with my sister." He glared at his friend who couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his argument. Normally, Jay and Tommy saw eye to eye on everything, but not this time.

"I see the roles have been reversed today." Arthur cracked a smile, trying to lighten the mood, yet nobody but John could find it in them to grin. Their brother turned back to his pacing and only stopped when he heard the betting shop door swing open. He rolled his eyes, knowing that John failed to lock it.

"We're closed!" Arthur grumbled, hoping the person would go away after they heard an angry Shelby. Fortunately for them, Harlow wasn't scared, "What a shame, I was going to place a bet." She sauntered in, indicating for Michael to say out of sight as the group jumped up in shock.

"Oh my god." Ada gleamed, running over to her best friend, wrapping her arms around her neck tightly as Harlow couldn't help but laugh, "Where have you been?" The question was lost in the air as she was engulfed by the others. First John, then Jay, Lizzie, Finn, Arthur and even Polly found it in her to hug the small brunette, despite her disappearing act.

Tommy couldn't help but stare over at her in shock, a feeling of relief rushing through his body. She gave him a faint smile, but quickly turned back to the group, "I'm guessing they didn't tell you where I was then?" Harlow grinned, making eye contact with one of them.

Polly gasped looking around, "Someone knew where you were this whole time?" Every member of the group peered at each other suspiciously, every ounce of trust flying out the window. The main suspect was Jay, but eyes soon trailed to Ada who threw her hands up in defence, "I didn't know."

"Who then?" Arthur rose his eyebrows, complete dumbfounded as an agitated look crossed Tommy's face. He hated the idea that someone could have stopped his worrying, yet they chose to let him suffer.