Firecracker- John Shelby

-twenty-

John and Arthur walked in looking tense, I scanned them to figure out what was going on before non other than arthur shelby senior stepped into the room behind them.
"Shirley" he said jovially
"I see my sons haven't scared you away yet, you've grown, you know you where always like a daughter to me, it's good to see you" he said like nothing had changed.
I stood there speechless, then Arthur brought in a plate and put it in front of him,
"Thank you, your a good boy" he said and then he started saying grace.
"Jesus Christ" I scoffed coming to my senses
"Please, Shirley, not in vain" he said
"Finish your sandwich and sling your hook" polly said
"Pollyanna. I'm the guest of the head of this family, so why don't you maybe tend to your mangle or your scuttle?" Arthur sr said
"He ain't the head of the family" John said
"Tommy and uh Shirley sometimes helps me with business,dad"Arthur said
I scorned him mentally knowing I had whispered every one of Arthur's moves into his ear for years.
That moment the door opened and tommy walked in, Arthur sr was looking at me curiously before he ripped his eyes up to Tommy.
"Aye, well, speak of the devil. How are you son" Arthur sr said
"Get out" tommy said curtly
"Come on son. I'm a changed man" Arthur sr said
"This family needed you ten years ago, and you walked out on us. Not now, get out of this house" tommy said
"Tommy, he's different—" Arthur started
"Shut up" tommy cut him off
"It's alright son, Arthur shelby never stays where he's not welcome...quite something you've become" he said addressing tommy, then he walked out
After a long silence Arthur spoke
"He's our dad"
Tommy scoffed
"He's a selfish bastard" tommy said
"You calling someone a selfish bastard? That's a bit rich Tommy. I mean, thanks to you, we're already down a bloody sister" Arthur said
"You want to see him, Arthur? You want to see him? You go with him" tommy said
Then Arthur stood up and lingered in front of Tommy before leaving.
I walked over to tommy and hit the side of his head.
"What the bloody hell was that for" he said angrily.
"He's gonna lure Arthur in with all these promises then leave again like he always does, and who's gonna have to clean up the pieces, he's your brother, go after him" I said
"Why don't you go after him then, eh? He made his decision" tommy said
"This is family business, and I'm not actually a shelby" I said looking at polly.
I walked out and I heard John say
"What did you say her pol?"

I headed straight to the garrison as from what I could see I wasn't needed and I desperately needed whiskey in my system.
I was a few drinks in after an hour when Tommy himself walked in.
He spotted me and sighed, he walked over and sat down silently next to me.
"Your angry" he stated, I stayed silent.
"Polly didn't mean it, she's upset and confused." Tommy said
"Polly doesn't say anything she doesn't mean" I said
"Pollys saying what she thinks will hurt because she's angry, everyone knows the only thing that bothers you is people saying your not a shelby, but you are Shirley" tommy said
"Well-" I started but was cut off by someone approaching us.
"Mr Shelby?" A man asked
"Who's asking?" Tommy said
"My name is byrne. I had word from your man in Camden Town you wanted to parley" the man said
"Then parley it is, speak to my business partner Shirley"tommy said patting me on the back, trying to prove a point.
The man raised his eyebrows but carried on non the less
"A few months ago, a man named Ryan came to this place with a view to buying some goods from mr Shelby. Mr. Ryan met with an accident. He was shot." The man said
"I heard" i said
"He was a man with a quick mouth. I know that. I wondered if he made any enemies in here." The man said
"Non that I know of" I said
"It not the kind of place to make enemies." The man snorted
"All are welcome here mr byrne" I said
"Including Irish?" The man asked
"Oh especially Irish." I said
"Ryan told mr Shelby he was a member of the IRA. Was he welcome?" He asked
"Like I say, any man that buys beer is welcome" I said
"And women too apparently" he remarked
I sat up in frustration.
"Why don't you get to the point byrne" I said irritated.
"You see Shirley, Ryan, for all his quick mouth, was well connected. Very well connected to our brotherhood. By membership and blood, he was my cousin. I am from Armagh. I'm a man of influence there. Now you tell him to address me himself" byrne said pointing a finger at tommy.
"Grace, bring a cordial and water to the snug" tommy said standing up and we all walked to the back room.
"First of all, what's the dynamic, who am I speaking to" byrne said
"Both of us, we are equal partners and you address us both" tommy said
"Fine, my cousin came to buy guns" byrne said
"And we told him we had non" tommy said
"Your man, Danny Owen talks a lot when he's drunk. He said the peaky blinders do have the guns, robbed from the factory down the road. He boasts about a stack of Lewis machine guns and enough belts of ammunition to hold up gods trousers."byrne said
"Yep, that's sounds like our Danny. He has an imagination. Like I say, sometimes it's the whiskey that does the talking."I said
"He sais only the brothers know where the guns are kept." Byrne said
"Well, Danny also says he sees German infantrymen on the back of mill carts, and he shoots them with his broomstick" tommy said
"We have men in the bsa factory, they say it's you that has them. And we have men who work in the police station. Every finger, points in
One direction, please don't mistake me for a fool" byrne said
"Let me get to the point, I don't care what half arsed tinker operation you have going here but I can assure you, I represent a very different category of organisation. My cousin was shot. I am judge, jury and executioner. I find you guilty and pass sentence. You deliver the guns to me, or I deliver death and hells fury to you and your little tribe of heathens. Am I making myself clear?" Byrne asked
"Let me confess something to you. We have the guns, but they have become a burden. Perhaps it is time to upload that burden. For the right price" tommy said
"And does your business partner agree" he mocked.
"My name is Shirley Shelby"