𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 ᵖᵉᵃᵏʸ ᵇˡⁱⁿᵈᵉʳˢ

10

"After he said his piece he'll come back and take his place with Scudboat" she nodded. "Scudboat, John will be here in ten minutes" Polly told the older man.

"All right"

"Five" Tommy corrected.

"Can i be in this one or am i going to be banished like always?" Delilah asked,

"No you can come with"  Polly said, handing her a coat. She grinned and shrugged it over her shoulders, following them down to the Garrison.

The three walked inside the snug, looking at Arthur and John.

"All right John, there's only one man guarding the house. What's troubling you?"

John cleared his throat.

"Polly you know what it's been like since Martha died" he nodded, referring to his dead wife, mother of his many children.

Children of which Delilah chose to avoid at all cost.

"God takes the best first" Polly placed her hand over Johns. "Truth is, my kids have been running bloody rings around me"

"running barefoot with the dogs until all hours"

"Pol, give him ten bob for some shoes. Is that it John" Tommy stated. "Tommy we would be better to do this without you" Polly scolded.

"Now what's your point" she looked back at John.

"What the kids need is a mother. That's why i'm getting married" he admitted.

"Does this poor girl know you're gonna marry her or are you just going to spring it on her all of a sudden" Pol asked. "I already proposed and she said yes"

"I think there's a shell about to land and go bang" Tom muttered, lighting a cigarette.

"It's..er..it's Lizzie Stark"

All three of them laughed, Lilah covered her mouth to hide her laugh.

"John, Lizzie Stark, is a strong woman, and i'm sure she provides a fine service for her customers" Polly mocked. "I don't hear the word, understand. Do not use that word" John shouted.

"What word is that John?" Tom asked,

"You know what word that is" John whispered. "Everybody bloody knows" Arthur said. "Everybody can go to hell" John shouted.

"Whore, that word? Or prostitute how about that one"

"Right, i want it known if anyone calls her a whore again i will push the barrel of my revolver down their throats and blow the word down into their hearts" he threatened.

"Men and their cocks never cease to amaze me" Polly remarked. "John, Lizzie Stark never did a days work vertical"

"She's changed" he shouted. "All right, people change, like with religion"

"I can agree Lizzie Stark is always on her knees but i'm sure it's not for religion, John" Lilah squinted. Tommy laughed at his daughters remark.

"Lizzie Stark has got religion, eh?"

"No, no she doesn't have religion but-"

"But she loves me" he argued. "Who could ever love you John?" Lilah teased.

He ignored her.

"Now listen, tommy, i won't do it without your blessing"

"But of all the people in the world, i want you to see it, as brave"

"Oh it's brave alright" Arthur laughed.

"Brave is going where no man has gone before" Polly said. "And with Lizzie Stark, John that's not what you'll be doing"

Finn rushed into the snug.

"Tommy" he panted, "We've been done over"

"What" Arthur sat forward. Delilah stood up, rushing out of the pub along with the rest of them.

As they rushed into the house, they saw Scudboat sat in a chair, head bleeding.

"Jesus Christ" John kicked the table, looking at the mess. "The lees, all of them" Scudboat said. Delilah scanned the room, noticing the four cash boxes that were now gone.

Tommy picked up a pair of wire cutters, returning to them. "They left these"

"Why would they leave that" Pol asked.

"Nobody move" Arthur whispered. "I think our friends are playing the game" Tommy nodded. "What game"

"Aunt Pol don't touch anything" John warned. He grabbed the back of Delilah's dress, stopping her from moving.

"Erasmus Lee was in France. Whenever we gave up ground to the Germans, we'd leave behind booby traps, set up with wires"

"We'd leave wire cutters as part of the joke" Tommy said. "Somewhere in here, there's a hand grenade" John whispered.

"Holy Jesus"

"Don't move any chairs, open any doors" Arthur moved slowly. "Go easy John boy. Go easy"

Tom shook his head. "No"

"Boys no, it's not in here. If it was it would have blown by now. It was my name on the bullet Esmarus sent. He's set up a trap all right"

"But he's set it up just for me"

"Where the fuck is Finn" Lilah asked rushing for the door and speeding down the cobble road and to the garage where her fathers car sat.

"Finn, mate what are you doing?" she asked. "Look at me, i'm Tommy and i'm the boss" he mocked, sitting inside the car.

Tommy appeared behind them.

She laughed as Finn messed around inside.

Tommy stopped, looking at the two.

"Finn, Delilah, stay exactly where you are"

"I was pretending i was you" Finn laughed. "Which door did you open to come in" Tommy asked.

"I didn't, i climbed in" Finn told him. "Dad what is it?" she asked.

"I want you to climb out exactly the same way you climbed in, okay?"

Finn laughed, pulled the door open and jumping out. "No, Finn"

Tommy grabbed something, launching it at a wall across the road, "Clear" he shouted, the men outside fell to the floor, holding their heads. Tommy grabbed the two kids, pulling them to the floor with him, covering their heads.

Delilah's breath was shaky as she slowly stood up after the bang.

"What the fuck" she whispered. Tommy kneeled beside Finn. "That's why you should never pretend to be me, okay?"