If I Can't Have you

(42) Sabini

"This sounds like a trap," Jemima responds.

"It's not - believe me, I'm the only one here that can give you the slightest chance of getting you out of in the next couple of days. The only one willing to," Jamison says, and reluctantly, cautiously she follows him.

"I can honestly say, I never expected to meet you," Jamison states, entering the bedroom, shutting the door once she'd come in too.

"Why would you have?"

"Jamison Mitnen, I was apart of the 179th tunnelling unit," he says, "Sabini is illiterate, I was homeless, in need of a job, he pays well."

"Why should I trust a word you're saying?" Jemima scoffs.

"I owe the Shelbys a lot," Jamie tells her, "you are Jemima, correct?"

"I am."

"Being Sabinis hand means I know a lot, I know Tommy is alive, I know he has been in contact with a man named Alfie Solomons," Jamie says, "I cannot risk direct contact with the Shelbys, but I can get you to someone who can."

"How long? How long until I can be rid of this hellhole?" Jemima questions, not showing her relief that Tommy was alive.

The last she'd seen of him he was laying unconscious on the floor, bloodied, battered, looking lifeless.

"Wednesday morning, Sabini has an appointment, the house will be empty," Jamie states.

"What if he comes here tonight, or tomorrow night?" Jemima asks.

"He won't, Sabini is many things, but not a rapist, whatever he said to Tommy was just to get in his head," Jamie explains, reaching into his pocket, revealing a switchblade, "but if you'd be more comfortable with this, take it."

Jemima takes the knife from his hand, eyeing it suspiciously, "you're risking a lot for people you haven't seen in years."

"Years of no contact does not mean I am no longer indebted to them," Jamie responds.

-

"Where's Jemima Morrigan?" John demands, standing at the reception of the hospital, they'd all been to see Tommy, but Jemima wasn't there, she wasn't at home.

"I've told you sir, we have no records of a Morrigan as a resident of our hospital," the lady responds.

"Can we use your phone?" Max asks, and she nods.

Max goes around the desk into the back room, finding the phone, and starting the call.

"12, Walford," he says when the operator picks up.

It takes a while but soon he hears Evander on the other end of the line, "hello?"

"It's Max, is Jemima with you? Have you seen her since last night?" Max questions.

"No - why? What's wrong? What's happening?" Evander queries.

"Nobody has seen her, and Tommys in hospital, the last we saw, she was with him, but she's not here, she's not at home," Max speaks, his words hurried.

"She's not here," Evander responds, his tone turning into one of worry, "what happened to Thomas?"

"He hasn't told us, staying pretty silent on the matter," Max replies, "but he's not in good shape, we think it was the Italians."

-

Jemima did not close her eyes once during the entirety of her stay, she kept hearing footsteps outside the door that she'd barricaded with a dresser, the windows had bars on the outside.

She didn't eat, she just kept that door shut, sitting on the bed with the knife in her hand.

She was praying that she could trust Jamison. She wanted to see Tommy. She needed to see that he was alive.

Thinking about him only made her cry, she should've done more to help him, she should've fought harder. She shouldn't have left him there - no matter who was taking her away. He wouldn't have done that to her. He wouldn't have 'allowed' himself to be taken from her.

She had failed him. She should've protected him better.

-

"Time to go, the house is clear," Jamison says, knocking on her door.

"Is it just you?"

"Yes, it's just me," he responds, listening in confusion as he hears furniture being dragged along the field.

"What'll he do once he finds out you helped me escape?" Jemima asks, opening the door.

"He's not going to find out, for all he knows, I was writing a correspondence in the basement like always, you were eager and took your opportunity. His fault for not adding more security if he's holding someone hostage," Jamie shrugs, "come on, we've got to be quick."

Jemima follows him through the house, out a side door, to a car. She stops before getting in, "if you've lied about this, about Tommy, I will kill you."

"Would I have given you my only weapon if I was going to lie? Left myself defenceless against an attack? No." Jamie replies, handing her a hat, "put it on, hide your hair."

Jemima does what she is told, tucking her hair into the hat.

They drive for about 15 minutes, before he pulls over to the side of a road, "it's that building there, he knows you're coming."

"Who is he? What is he?"

"Alfie Solomons, he's a baker... of sorts," Jamison says, as she gets out of the car.

"Tell them I say hi," he adds.

She knew exactly who he meant by them. He needed them to know he was the one that helped her. That he's repaid whatever he feels indebted to them for.

"Another question, if someone in the Shelby family lives in London, why would you bring me here instead?"

"You're less likely to be attacked by Sabinis men here, they're watching her house," Jamison answers.

Jemima crosses the road, and the door opens instantly, a scruffy man opening the door, an apron strung around his waist, he doesn't speak, just gestures for her to enter.

-

"Where has he gone?" Polly asks Charlie.

"He didn't say much, just told Curly to take him to London. Something about the Italians, Jemima and a baker." Charlie responds.

"And you let him leave?"

"You should've seen him, Polly, he's never been that worked up in his life, even a fucking demon wouldn't deny him of anything when he's in that state," Charlie says.

"So Tommy got attacked by Italians? The last we saw Jemima was with him... now he's going to London. What if the Italians have her? What if that's the reason he's so eager to go to London?" Levin suggests.

"He'd be a fool, he can't walk, how does he expect to 'save' anyone in that position?" Charlie replies.

"You think Sabini has Jem." John says, his hands clenching around the back of the chair he was leaning on.

"I think it's a possibility, yes," Levin nods.