Alfie couldn't believe his ears. It had to be a mere coincidence.......didn't it? He didn't think that Shelby was an unusual surname; surely thousands of people were also called Shelby, who didn't have a damn thing to do with those fuckers in Birmingham, and the young woman by his side, was just one of those. But the more that he caught sight of her out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but see hints of not only Tommy, but also Arthur and their John too. Yet what those boys would be doing letting their sister walk around Camden Town on her own, couldn't help but make him wonder. So now that she seemed to have calmed down a little after her run in with Billy Murphy; there seemed no better time than now to dig a little , and find out as much as he could about his new acquaintance.

"Ya got any family round ere........?" Alfie asked. The Londoner smiling a little as the beautiful woman looked up at him.

"No..........I......well, I have some family in Birmingham.......sort of........"

"Sort of...........?"

"Yes.......I.......I haven't seen or spoken to any of them in years. I haven't even had so much as a letter from them for a very long time......after my brothers got home from the war, one of them.......his name is Tommy......decided to send me away to school, and I have been in one boarding school or another, since then. I finished schooling last week, and as I really had nowhere else to go now, I decided to come to London and see if I could start a life of my own. There seemed little point going to Birmingham; it was obvious that they didn't need me, that they didn't....... didn't want me, so why should I waste my time going there. I know it sounds a little childish, but I just suppose I want to prove that I can survive without them, now that I have finished with school. I was going to look for a job and somewhere to live......though given what happened earlier, I suppose I haven't made a very good start at proving I don't need them, have I.........?" (Y/n) chuckled sadly. Her grip on Alfie's arm getting a little tighter as she once more contemplated what might have occurred, if she had not come upon the Jewish gentleman who had been so kind as to help her.

"Aye. it could be better.........." Alfie replied. This time her amusement sounding much lighter, as she laughed at his comment.

"So.......this so called family a yours....big is it.......what do they do......?" Alfie continued to question; doing his best to make it sound like mere curiosity, rather than an interrogation. He needed just a little more to know whether he was truly dealing with a real Shelby, or just that ever bastard in Birmingham was called fucking Shelby and she just happened to have a brother called Tommy as well.

"Well, big enough I suppose. My mother died when I was only very small, and my father......I don't really know anything about, other than the fact that Tommy would always call him a bastard. But I have four brothers; Arthur, Tommy, John and Finn, and then a sister called Ada and an Aunt Polly too. I suppose there is Uncle Charlie and Curly as well, but I doubt they ever remember me. And as far as what they do........well, its sort of a family business. All I know is that Tommy is in charge of everything.....other than that......as I said, I haven't spoken to any of them in years.........." (Y/n) explained. Not noticing the small smile that had come to Alfie's lips, as a thought sprung to mind. A notion of a wonderful way to get one over on Thomas Shelby.

"And ere we are..........." Alfie suddenly announced, as he and (Y/n) came to a stop outside the front of the bakery.

"The Aerated Bread Company..........you're a baker, Mister Solomons?" (Y/n) asked, as she looked up at the sign and then the scene around her; it all reminiscent of what little she could recall of Small Heath. The darkness of it all, despite the sunshine overhead; the barges on the canal that was just in front of the buildings, and the men that wheeled around barrels and moved sacks that were being taken from and placed on to the barges. (Y/n) finding it a little strange that the workers seemed to be doing their best to not look at her; but she had to suppose that it was better than being ogled at, than being whistled at. And given that this Alfie had claimed that all of Camden Town was 'his turf' she had to think that he was a well known and respected businessman in the area, and as such, they thought it better not to look at her, as she was standing with him.

"Best fu........best baker this side a tha river......." Alfie replied. Doing his best not to swear. Sure, that this particular Shelby was going to have to be handled with a certain amount of delicacy; especially after the morning she had already had. That, and if he was going to be able to get his little plan to work, she had to think he was a nice guy.

Alright, it might be wrong planning on using the poor, obviously slightly naïve girl against her family. To keep her hidden away until he could manipulate her to his side and then present her to Thomas when the time was right; a Shelby that had turned her back on the family, just as they had turned on her; could it get any better. Alfie sure that if she was anything like the others, there was a passion underneath that sweet and beautiful exterior; that gypsy blood running deep in every one of those fuckers. So, if he could perhaps appear to want to help; if he supported her little rebellion of wanting to prove herself now that she was out in the big bad world; he might just be able to really fuck up Tommy. And anyway, who was he to refuse this little gift that had just been dropped into his lap. Alfie sure that God must have been smiling on him that day.

"Shall we........?" He continued, gesturing for her to enter the building, as he opened the door. Alfie making sure to lead her up the back steps that would steer them more to his office, without having to pass all the workers.

                                                       >>---------------------------------<<

"Alfie...where.......oh........." Ollie began. His eyes growing wide, as he saw the young woman who still had lines of mascara on her cheeks, appear from behind his boss as they made their way up the stairs.

"Ollie. Will ya be so good as ta get Miss Shelby here a cup of hot sweet tea......she had a bit of a shock, didn't she........." Alfie told the tall, dark-haired man. Poor Ollie's eyes growing even wider at the sound of the woman's name; finally nodding as Alfie gave him a warning look.

"Of course, Alfie.......hot, sweet tea........" Ollie smiling at her slightly, before quickly scurrying off to do as he was told. Having no idea what Alfie was up to, this time; but knowing better than to ask.

"Now, let's get ya sat down in my office........" The Londoner continued, placing his hand carefully in the small of her back, before steering her to his private room.