It was 10:30 and the Shelby boys were waiting at the station, tickets in hand waiting for the train to take them back to Birmingham.

"Do ya think this kid will turn up?" John asked, turning to look at Tommy and Arthur.

"By the sounds of it this kid does whatever Alfie says without question. He's a good little soldier, always follows orders." Tommy said, as he looked down at his watch, wondering if the train would be early for once.

Five minutes later the trio watched as a distinctive swagger could be seen coming up the platform, a porter following close behind the man with a large steamer trunk on a trolley. A few girls looking at him and giggling as he passed them. Richie smiling and tugging respectfully on his cap. Attention from girls always made Richie feel uncomfortable, but it went with the territory, if he wanted to keep up the pretence then he had to make it look good.

Richie came to a halt in front of the Shelby's, the porter nearly running into him before apologising profusely.

"What's in there kid?" Arthur asked, pointing at the large trunk.

"Suits, shirts, and ties, everything that a gentleman needs. I like to dress well, and as Mr. Solomons representative, I have a standard to maintain." Richie told him, as Arthur looked over his shoulder at the girls who are still eyeing Richie up and down.

"Bit of a lady's man are ya kid?" Arthur smirked.

"The name is Richie, not kid, and I have my moments." Richie told him, as he stared into his eyes of the older Shelby, a wicked grin forming across his face.

"See, I told you he was the London version of you." Arthur chuckled, as he turned and slapped John on the back. Arthur laughing loudly, as John muttered under his breath at his brother's comment.

As the train arrived the porter helped put Richie's trunk in the baggage carriage.

"I'm sorry again for nearly bumping into you Mr. (Y/l/n), it was an accident." The old man said nervously, as he looked down at the platform.

"Don't worry Mac, that's why I asked for ya, I know ya a good man. Ere, is that missus of yours still sick?" Richie asked, as he looked down at the man.

As the porter nodded his head, Richie took out a five pound note from a roll of money and put it in the man's top pocket.

"Ere, this is for you, you get ya wife some medicine and decent food. But don't tell anyone I gave it to ya right?"

"Thank you, Richie, I appreciate it." The man said The porter shaking Richie's hand before he scurried away.

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

Richie took a seat in the carriage next to the window, lit up a cigarette and opened up a copy of The Times seemingly ignoring the Shelby's but listening intently to everything they said. Sometime into the journey Arthur looked at Richie and then at Tommy, finally speaking to Tommy in rudimentary French which he must have picked up during the war.

"Pensez-vous que nous pouvons lui faire confiance Tommy?" Arthur said, asking Tommy if he thought they could trust the man sat in the window seat.

Richie smirked to himself, Arthur obviously didn't think that he could speak French, well the joke was on him. Richie had learned French and German from immigrants who came to London when she was younger, she had proved a quick study in both languages and was more or less fluent. Before Tommy could reply to his brother's question Richie interjected without looking up from his newspaper.

"Peu importe si vous me faites confiance ou non, monsieur Shelby, ju suis employe par monsieur Solomons et il me fait confiance. C'est tout ce qui est important." Richie replied in a perfect French accent. The Shelby's look at one another. Arthur in particular looked dumbfounded, as Richie folded the paper slightly and look over the top of it.

"And if you aren't quite sure what that meant, I said, it doesn't matter to me if you trust me or not Mr. Shelby. I'm employed by Mr. Solomons and he trusts me. That's all that matters." Richie told him, grinning before returning to his paper.

"You speak French?" Came a voice, obviously that of John. Richie folding the paper completely and placing it on his lap with a small sigh.

"Yes, I speak almost fluent French and German, but I don't suppose there won't be much call for either in Birmingham!"

As Richie sat quietly watching out of the window as the world passed by, John couldn't help but stare at him.

"So, Richie, tell us about yourself." Jon suddenly said, as Richie loooked over at the younger Shelby, seeing the wicked glint in his eyes. Richie knowing he was up to something, but deciding to play along.

"There's not much to tell. Parents died when I was young, brought myself up and learnt everything I know from anyone and everyone I could learn from. Been fighting since I can remember, I've got a mean right hook, a bad temper and an itchy trigger finger. I do anything and everything that Alfie requires and most of my time is taken up with the business. And if I'm not working, I can usually be found in the nearest pub drinking whisky and beating idiots out of their hard-earned money at cards. I'm really rather boring." Richie told John, as he turned his head to look back out of the window. John deciding to push a little further.

"We got told that the fellas call you 'The Dandy'." John said with a chuckle as Richie took a deep breath and leaned in close to John, trying to keep his face as emotionless as possible.

"They only dare call me that behind my back, cos if they are stupid enough to say it to my face, I'll shoot them between the fuckin eyes." Richie told him, glaring so intensely that it made even John shuffle slightly in his seat. Richie leaning back as he heard Arthur and Tommy chuckle quietly, causing John to fold his arms and grumble.

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

By the time they arrived in Birmingham, Richie was more than ready to get off the train; his legs were sore, his backside was numb, and the compartment smelt of cigarettes and sweat. Despite how good Richie's act was, there was still something about smells that real men seemed not to notice that Richie did, and he needed air.

As the train came to a halt, Richie stood up and smoothed his hair back over his head before putting on his hat. He straightened his suit and wrapped the large black over coat around his shoulders, finishing off the ensemble with a pair of leather gloves.

"Trying to impress the girls of Birmingham straightaway are ya kid?" Arthur asked, also rising to his feet.

"Well, a gentleman should always make a good first impression." Richie told him as Arthur slapped him on the back.

"John, you've got competition. I think the girls will think they've died and gone to heaven when this one steps into the Garrison.' Arthur joked, slapping John on the shoulder. John simply staring at Richie, as one of the most beautiful smiles he had ever seen came to the young Londoners face.

The Shelby's led Richie to a waiting car which they all piled into it.

"We're gonna take you to the hotel you're booked into, and in an hour, I'll send a car to pick you up so you can meet the rest of the family." Tommy announced from the front seat, as he looked at Richie through the rear view mirror. Alfie's right hand man nodding absentmindedly in agreement.

John sat to Richie's right in the back seat, his eyes falling on the skin of Richie's face. It looked soft and smooth, perfect in fact; he couldn't see a sign of stubble or dark shadow. He looked at Richie's eyes. They looked too gentle to harm anyone, despite the young man's fearsome reputation. They were deep green like dark jade and his lashes were long and slightly curled. If Richie was a woman, he would be beautiful, John mussed; beautiful, intelligent and deadly, just his kind of woman.

Tommy dropped Richie off at the hotel, reminding him that the car would be waiting to pick him up outside in one hour. Richie thanking the three Shelby's before making his way inside. As he got to his room, Richie knew that he didn't have much time to freshen himself up, no time to remove the bindings that concealed his true physique. So instead, he washed his face and put on a new shirt and tie. Slicking back his hair, he put on cologne; slung the coat back around his shoulders, and wrapped a scarf about his neck, before grabbing a walking stick from the trunk. Looking at himself in the mirror to ensure that everything was just so, before he finally made his way to the street to wait for the car.

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

After a short quiet drive, the car pulled up to a large house, the driver informing Richie to go knock on the door and that the Shelby family would be waiting inside. Knocking on the door, Richie watched as it opened slowly to be greeted by a small young woman.

"You must be Mr. (Y/l/n), they are expecting you." She said politely, curtsying to Richie before escorting him to the main sitting room and opening the door. There stood a number of people, and all eyes turned to look at the visitor; Richie giving his coat, scarf, hat and stick to the maid who scurried off, as Tommy made his way over, holding out his hand for Richie to shake.

"Come on Richie, come and meet the family, they've all been expecting you. You of course know Arthur and John." Tommy began, as he watched Richie nod his head in greeting.

"This is our youngest brother Finn." Tommy introduced, as Finn gave Richie's hand a firm shake.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Shelby." Richie told Finn, as the youngest Shelby sent the young man before him a cheeky grin, seemingly more than happy with his respectful greeting.

Moving further into the room, Tommy proceeded to take Richie over to two women.

"I'd like to introduce you to our aunt Polly and our sister Ada." Tommy continued, as Richie smiled and looked gently into their eyes.

"It is a pleasure to meet two such visions of beauty. Ms. Polly, Ms. Ada; I can see who got all the looks in the family." Richie chuckled, as he took each of their hands in turn, and kissed them delicately on the knuckles.

"Oh, I like him Tommy, he's smooth; I think we'll keep him?" Polly chuckled, as she lit a cigarette.

"He's even smoother than John." Ada added, as she continued to watch the suave looking Londoner.

Richie looking over at John, who now seemed to be sulking in a corner.

Finally, Tommy introduced Polly's son Michael and his friend Isaiah. Richie shaking Isaiah's hand warmly, and then turning to shake Michael's hand, Richie noticing that this Michael was looking at him strangely. For a moment it was like he can see through the disguise, but it's impossible; Richie had spent so many years perfecting this character that he believed it to be perfect. That if Alfie couldn't see through it, then what chance did this stranger have.

"Nice to meet you Mr. (Y/l/n), the boys have told us all about you." Michael said, as he finally let go of Richie's hand. Richie giving him a small smile, as he decided to try and avoid any further conversation with him, at least for that night.

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

The rest of the evening was spent laughing and drinking with the family. The usually observant Richie not noticing that three pairs of eyes were on him. John hadn't taken his eyes of Richie all night, as he tried to work out why he couldn't get this new associate out of his mind; Michael stared with suspicion, he felt that there was something odd about the young man, that he wasn't entirely what he appeared. And finally, Ada. Who could feel her heart flutter slightly every time that Richie would smile or laugh.

"Who's up for a game of cards?" Arthur suddenly asked as he got to his feet.

"Come on Richie, you said you weren't a bad player." Arthur continued, reminding Richie of his earlier boast about taking money from idiots.

"I don't mind taking your money if you want to throw it away." Richie replied with a laugh as he and the rest of the boys joined the game; Arthur beginning to deal as soon as the stakes were agreed on.

After a few rounds it was very clear to the rest of the man that Richie's boasts had not been idle ones, and that the Londoner was very good at the game. Richie sitting at the table quietly, as he took the smoke from the cigarette deep into his lungs. His eyes watching over the group, noticing each man's tells.

Michael was easy Richie noted. If he had a bad hand he would mess with his ear; a good hand and he would constantly look at his cards. Isaiah on the other hand would smile when he had a good hand; and would look at his money when it was bad. Both habits which Richie had seen on numerous occasions.

Poor young Finn would tap his temple when he had a bad hand, like he was thinking how to fix it; when he had a good hand, he would pick at his nails. Richie always trying his best not to chuckle whenever the young man did either.

Tommy and Arthur were a little more difficult to read. But it didn't take too long for Richie to figure even them, out. Tommy's good hand tell was a subtle twitch in his left eye, probably unnoticeable to most people. A bad hand resulted in him constantly combing his fingers through his hair. Arthur on the other hand would puff incessantly on his cigar when his hand was good; and rolled it around in his fingers when his cards were bad.

Then finally there was John. He was just so obvious that Richie couldn't believe he ever won a hand of cards. With a good hand, his face would light up and he'd drink a little more; a bad hand and he would just look miserable.

Richie on the other hand had learned from the best to hide his tells; keeping a stoic look on his face, taking one look at his cards when they were dealt, never needing to remind himself again.

After about an hour, Michael, Isaiah and Finn were sick of losing money and had bowed out of the game; another hour later and Tommy and Arthur threw in their cards, hoping to come away with a little self-respect, and money still intact. Leaving just Richie and John.

"Well Mr. Shelby, why don't we make this interesting?" Richie asked, smirking at the man across the table.

"Interesting how?" John enquired, lifting his head so that his eyes met Richie's. Watching as the out of towner pulled out a large wad of notes from his jacket pocket and place it on the table. The others gathering around the table to see what was about to unfold.

"If you think you can beat me, why don't you put your money where your mouth is, and we can play." Richie said with a grin, as he folded his arms across his chest and leaned back into his chair.

John looked at the man across from him and smiled, before pulling an equally large stack of notes out of his pocket.

"Come on Richie boy, let's see what you can do." John retorted, as he grabbed the cards.

"Oh no, after you Johnny boy." Richie told him, as he pulled the cards from John's hands, shuffling them expertly before dealing.

After another hour John's pile of money was severely depleted; his hands balling up into fists as he banged on the table.

"YOU'RE CHEATING!" John shouted, as Richie stood up and leaned on the table.

"I don't need to cheat to beat you, you have tells that even a blind man can see; and if you were any other man, I would fucking shoot you were you sit for accusing me of that shit." Richie growled, as John stood up, mimicking the stance of the man across from him. Both of them glaring intently at the another.

"Come on John. Richie won fair and square; and he's our guest so be fuckin polite yeah." Tommy said, his voice seeming to break the tension.

"Thank you for your hospitality Mr. Shelby but I think it would be better if I left now." Richie suddenly said, as he turned to face Tommy.

"No, you don't have to leave Richie you can stay the night, we have plenty of room." Ada insisted, as she looked between Richie and Tommy.

"That's very nice of you, Ms. Ada. But I can't intrude on your hospitality any longer; also, all my things are at the hotel. I would not like to meet you in the morning all unkempt. A gentleman should always look his best for a lady." Richie replied, as he gave one last glare in John's direction.

"That's a good idea Richie, I'll get the car to take you back to the hotel." Tommy said as he rang for the maid, instructing her to bring Richie's coat.

"Well good night ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for a very interesting evening." Richie told the others as the maid helped him on with his coat, before Richie turned around to head for the door.

"Oh, and if you ever want a rematch John you know where to find me." Richie called out, leaving before John had a chance to reply.