𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃, ⁱˢⁱᵃʰ ʲᵉˢᵘˢ

28

A couple weeks ago, Tommy ran into trouble with Hughes, the priest. Tommy planned on killing the man but it did not go to plan. He ended up in a critical condition, a harsh concussion and other injuries which left him in hospital for weeks.

"Did you remember your medicine sir?" Mary asked before she walked out. "Do you ever read the bible, Mary?" he asked her. "Sometimes" she shrugged.

"Do you ever read it out loud while standing naked next to my bed" he asked her. Her face dropped. "Cause when i take the morphine the doctor gave me, that's what you do. I'm wide awake, but you are standing there naked, plain as day." he informed her. "Reading from the book of Leviticus"

"Do you wanna know what happens next?" she shook her head. "No, neither do i. So i poured the medicine away. Go and get Johnny, Mary"

The woman slowly turned away from him, ashamed.

-

"Good morning Mr Solomon's" Tommy sighed, stepping to his office. "Yeah it is" Alfie nodded. "Nice little place you've got here, Thomas. What is it? A foreclosure of a gambling debt from some poor young lord who you pumped full of opium in one of your casinos?." he asked.

"Or is that just tittle-tattle?"

Florence sat with her legs crossed, observing the strange man who had walked into the office.

"Drink?" Tommy sighed. "Nah i don't touch it mate. Your housekeeper said your not allowed to drink. Eh?"

"She said you are suffering from so many ancient injuries from your sporting life, that your head is like some sort of smashed vase that has been stuck back together by a horse" Alfie looked him up and down.

"Now, word in London is that you can be found wandering the streets of Birmingham stark naked, throwing away money, Tommy"

Tommy sat down frowning. "You talk to dead people" Alfie continued. "Also that you believe you are powerful enough to summon up Jews..of a very particular standing up to the gentle wilderness wherein you live in order for them to do your fucking bidding, mate"

"And still you came" Tommy sighed. "Yeah, well, you know i was passing wasnt i?"

"And who might you be?" Alfie asked, finally acknowledging the young girl. "This is my cousin, Florence"

"And why's she in here, eh?"

"Because, Florence works with me, Alfie. I trust her, she's smart. Sometimes you need someone who is smart" Tommy sighed.

He kneeled down, looking at her face. She looked between his eyes. "Be carefully, Alfie, she's like Arthur" Tommy joked.

"What? Insane?"

Florence let out a frustrated breath at the word, standing up and making him stand straight. She stared into his eyes. His eyebrows raised. "Florence" Tommy warned.

She swallowed hard, looking down at the mans cane before taking a seat. "Now that fucking scared me that, Tom, she fucking is like him, ain't she. She's got that look in her eyes, sent shivers right up my spine, she did" he chuckled.

"Do you know something, Alfie, this morning i tried to read the paper, and i realised that the only consequence of my terrible accident is that i now need glasses." he trailed off.

"Right" Alfie nodded, "right we'll i know a man, who can make you a pair of these" he pulled out his own pair.

"He is a magician, mate" he nodded, "he is a magician. So not only will you be able to read your newspaper but you will also be able to see into the future"