The Blood War, Peaky Blinders

𝟎𝟐𝟎 Hey one question: What the hell

The blood war
chapter twenty, Hey one question: What the hell
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-1921
Birmingham, England

Tommy goes forward with his meeting with Campbell at the given day and place. He makes his way towards Campbell as he stands in the hallway in front of the door frame. "You might think this is a curious place for me to suggest a meeting but... your surprises have only just begun" Campbell said, walking through the frame. Tommy follows closely behind and they walk into their room for the meeting. "You look a little unsteady, Mr Shelby" Campbell said, "Take a seat." He motioned to the seats in front of them.  

Tommy stands still, looking at the two people sitting in front of him. It was Irene O'Donnell. Tommy looks between her and Campbell and it all clicks. "You're working together. Blowing up the Garrison was your idea. You who chose me" Tommy said. Tommy squints his eyes and tilts his head slightly, "It's funny" He points his finger, "I thought the Fenians has a policy..." "Enough" Irene cuts in. "... Of not mixing personal with political" Tommy finished. "I said enough" Irene repeated. "I think I will decide on what is enough" Campbell said. 

"Who's in charge here then eh? Who's in charge?" Tommy questioned, "Right let me understand this, you answer to an agent of the crown" "Perhaps we can just..." "Very interesting" "Perhaps we can just stick to the agenda?" Campbell suggested. "Whose agenda?" Tommy asked. "There is a form of words here" Campbell said. "Whose words?" Tommy asked. "Arrogant bastard" Irene's accomplice said. Tommy looked him dead in the eyes, "I'm not accustomed to be spoken to like that" Tommy warned. "Just come to order" Campbell said.

"I am here to listen, but not to the fucking infantry" Tommy said. "Enough!" Campbell shouts, "Jesus" He sighs before continuing, "Now..." He sits, "Some weeks ago, Mr Shelby carried out a military mission on behalf of the pro-treaty republicans here in Birmingham." Tommy sighs and looks up at the roof, smiling sarcastically. "You..." He points a finger at the two in front of him, "working for the crown-" "It's the king" Irene said. "The king's dead" Tommy said. "The replacement, haven't you heard? The king of Wales is coming over" Irene said, with a raised eyebrow. "Fuck sake" Tommy sighed. "Can we get on with the task at hand, please?" Campbell asked, slamming his hand on the table. "I can't be bothered sitting here and listening to you two bickering" He finished.

"There is a unique political situation" Irene said. "Yeah, How does that feel?" "Let us..." Campbell started. "How does that fucking feel?" Tommy asked. "...Stick to the form of words" Campbell carried on. "Temporarily, we have a shared interest" Irene said. "Oh I see" Tommy said. "Shall we just stop him laughing?" Irene's accomplice asked. "You wanted me to stop laughing? Explain me this pal-" "Following the success of your mission..." Campbell tried to but in.

"We're going to make you do it again" He said. "Will you shut up?" Irene asked. "Can we just conduct ourselves here, please?" Campbell asked, "Conduct ourselves!" "Please" Tommy said. "No one in this room wants to breathe the same air as anyone else!" Campbell shouts, clearly pissed off. "Nevertheless" "Nevertheless, the pro-treaty Paddies and "The King" want the same man dead" Tommy said, "Am I right?" Irene picked up a document and threw it across the table to Tommy. Tommy walked over and picked it up, opening it and flicking through it. "Why him?" He asked. "Did you ask why in France?" Irene asked. 

"Yeah" Tommy said, looking up from the document. "So it's the same answer- Because" Campbell said, looking up at Tommy. "Why me?" Tommy sighs. "Because" Irene said. "Because?" Tommy asked, "Because if anyone connects me to this, it'll be assumed as a criminal act and not a political one." "No, you need not fear being connected to the killing because I will see to it that no connection is ever made" Campbell said as Tommy nods, "You will have complete immunity after the fact. But in execution, you will get no help from agents of the crown." "And we can't be seen to be involved" Irene added.