Firecracker- John Shelby

-twenty five-

"Is Tommy there" I asked Harry over the phone.
"No, the coppers came and he left with grace" Harry answered.
"Where are the coppers headed" I asked
"Nowhere, they called it off" Harry said
I internally scoffed, adding the fact Campbell called off the search as soon as he figured out Tommy was with grace to my growing list of evidence she was a mole.
"So Tommy's gone to graces place" i asked Harry.
"I think so" he said
"Thank you" I said before hanging up.
I decided I would head home, I wouldn't go to find Tommy and warn him against grace, or go to the shop to make any calls, I'd just be going home.

I came home and the lights had all been turned off and the house seemed quite.
I walked up to johns room and opened the door slowly as to not make noise and found John sound asleep. I stood for a moment and watched and for the first time I noticed just how peaceful he looked, like a person. I slowly walked in and shook him awake.
He stirred then slowly opened his eyes, as soon as they adjusted he sat up slightly but abruptly.
"Shirley? What are you doing here. You need to go" He asked
"They called it off John" I said softly.
"Why" he asked confused
"I think I've got an idea, but that doesn't matter right now"I said
"Ok" he said not fully convinced.
"You could of gone home"
"This is my home now, I've got to get used to that" I said
He sat quietly for a second then moved over and offered me a space in the bed next to him. I hesitated then laid down next to him.

I was woke up early the next morning by Tommy storming into the room without knocking.
"Wake up, it's today" he said urgently.
"You could learn to knock" I said angrily
"It's no day for knocking, now get up" he said before leaving the room.
"Shirley" he gestured for me to come over.
We both walked out the room and shut the door.
"You didn't leave" he stated
"Neither did you" I retorted.
He gave me an unreadable expression.
"Where where you" I asked calmly.
"Does it matter" he said.
"Why would the coppers call off the search tommy" I said
"They couldn't find me" he stated.
I gave Tommy a hard look before making my decision.
"Grace and Campbell showed up around the same time, then the coppers came and took Freddie as soon as you let it slip to grace where he was, when you where meeting with those men from the IRA, Campbell called me to let me know out of concern for grace then he calls off his search for you after he finds out that your with her?" I listed
Tommy yet again gave me that unreadable gaze before finally speaking.
"What are you trying to say" tommy asked
"That your a fool" I said simply before re entering mine and johns room.