𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃, ⁱˢⁱᵃʰ ʲᵉˢᵘˢ

26

"Who the hell are you? What do you want with me?" the man asked as Tommy entered the cell.

"You've been passing information about a robbery at the Lanchester factory in Sparkbrook."

"Are you Tommy Shelby?" he asked.

"I need to know the name of the person in the organisation that was giving you information." Tommy spoke. "What organisation?"

"The Economic League, the Vigilance Committee, the Odd Fellows, Section D. They have many fսck¡ng names."

"Shit, shit, shit." the man whispered. "Give me the name of the informant."

"Mr Shelby, they are very, very dangerous people." he shook his head.

"Oh. Hmm. Well, fortunately, so are we. You have to choose who you're more afraid of. The Peaky Blinders at exactly 11:43, or Section D at some point in the future. If you make the wrong choice, you won't see 11:44." He said, leaning forward.

-

"Do they always have to do the stock taking at night, Arthur?" Linda asked, walking through the bathroom:

"Only 'cause, you know, it slows down production." he said, she handed him a towel. "Thank you. Thank you." he stepped to the mirror.

"Night work will have to end."

"It will. It will."

"You'll have things to do at night." she said quietly. "Yeah. I know. We've spoken about it."

"I was gonna wait until you had a strong cup of tea in your hand." she started. "Come on, then." he shrugged.

"But I'm gonna have a baby, Arthur." he stepped back into the bathroom.

"Pregnant?" he asked after moments of silence. "Yeah. You said you spent the night taking stock. Well, so did I. This working at night will have to stop." she whispered.

"You'll have a baby." he smiled. "Yes."

-

Isiah and Florence laughed loudly as they walked into the snug of the Garrison alone. "Harry" she knocked on the wood beside the window that separated the room from the bar. "Yes, Miss Gray" he wiped his hands on a cloth.

"A bottle of whiskey please, and two glasses" she said politely. He nodded, turning and grabbing the item.

"On the house" he smiled, handing her them. She nodded and poured two glasses, handing one to Isiah. "So" he began. "Heard you threatened to shoot John" he grinned.

"I did" she huffed, sitting down and crossing her legs. "Why's that?" he asked. "Pissed me off didn't he" she shrugged.

He laughed at her slightly, amused at the way her mind worked.

"So does ya mum still not know that you work for Tommy?"

"Nope, but i think Micheal had an idea. I shut him down quickly though" she sipped the liquid. "How'd ya do that"

"Well, i can think of lies quickly than i can say them. I'm one of the only people he can't read like a book."

-

"It's not fair" Esme sighed. "They're off drinking and shooting rifles and we sit here" she said. "Listen to the mugs swearing"

"Spitting on the bloody floor for us to fucking wipe up" she shouted.

"What's going on?" Florence asked, placing her bag down. Lizzie looked up at her. "Without men here, they'd be like dogs pissing up the wall"

"I was just saying it's not fair" Esme looked at her. "The men are down there like lords,"

"Esme, just get on with it" Polly shook her head. "I'm bloody five months gone" Esme shouted.

"Forgot the combination" Polly sighed. "24-8-22" Lizzie told her. "How do you know the paper cash combination" Polly asked.

"Tommy talks in his sleep" Esme says.

"Shut up Esme" Lizzie sighed.

"He's changed the combination"

Lizzie threw the pen down. "You've put it in wrong"

"No i have not"

"You been drinking, Mum?" Florence asked, watching the woman stumble about. She ignored her. Esme sniffed cocaine off her hand.

"And actually, i am sleeping with Tommy, now and then. Because he wants to when the mood takes him" Lizzie told them.

"Right, Lizzie, nobody asked" Florence said. Lizzie looked round.

"None of its fucking fair" Esme repeated.

"Where are the lads anyway?" she asked. "Gone off for a meeting, somewhere private, they don't trust anyone" Lizzie said.

"Course they are"

Suddenly there was a bang on the door. Polly went to open it, revealing Linda. She placed her hat down. "Arthur said you'd be short staffed today because they are on a works outing"

"You mean a meeting?" Lottie raised an eyebrow.

"I brought sandwiches and lemonade i made myself" Linda placed the basket down.

"I'll make tea and empty ashtrays but i won't handle money or slips" she nodded. "Arthur says what you do here is illegal but not immoral"

"Why you here then Linda, will god not be angry with you?" Florence mocked.

"Depends what time you get here Linda" Esme sighs. "And anyway i thought i'd offer you my physical and spiritual support in your time of need"

"What's she talking about" Florence asked her mother.

"Oh Linda if you want to be a help, run up to the shops and get me twenty senior service" Polly asked. "Lizzie will give you the change" she chuckled.

"No i won't"

"Actually i'll use my own money, Polly. And before you ladies decide to find me so amusing, i have a message for you"

"Oh god no Linda" Polly grabbed her head. "I've been to church already"

"It's not a message from God, Polly. It's from Jessie Eden"

"Who's Jessie Eden?"

"She's the lady shop steward at the Lucas factory in Sparkhill."

"Lady shop steward?" Esme asked. "She's bringing all the female workers in the spot welding and wire cutting shops out on strike for the day. A protest at being made to work on a holy day. Poor conditions, lack of holidays, unsanitary lavatory provisions"

"And lower pay for female workers"