Chapter Ten! I want to thank you all for reading this far. Are you enjoying the story? please let me know, leave me some feedback for even vote on you're favourite chapters or the story as a whole, leave me a comment, question, enquiry anything you like! Hope you enjoy :)
"We can help each other, now run along and spread the news" he said leaving the room
Arthur knew a war would brew rather quickly between Chester campbell and his brother and it would undoubtedly end badly. He had seen the feelings that were growing inside of his brother which he though he had lost in the war.Although he was changing he didn't know if he was going to loose the hard brother he once had and earn himself a soft one. He looked down at Ayla for some sort of reassurance.
"Just go, I'll be fine" She looked at her hands for a moment remembering something "Arthur" she said stopping him in his tracks
"Whatever you do don't tell tommy Chester has me, it will make the situation 10 times worse" she said which made sense. He nodded his head knowing he wouldn't be able to keep the secret for long
Stumbling home from the shit hole he was locked up in. A terrible amount of pain running through his whole body Arthur managed to enter the Garrison earning him a few weird looks. His fingers snapped into two and his face bleeding like a fountain it wasn't long before one of the brothers noticed pulling him into they're little room.Everyone stood up in surprise at his condition.
"Where have you been!" polly's face filled with questions which he ignored
"Blimey mate you look like shit" John poured him a whiskey, he sat down opposite Tommy
"Who did this?" Polly sounded like a concerned mother as she looked at his beaten face "Never mind get me some towels, a needle and thread and some bloody alcohol" She shouted at Finn, he did as he was told rushing off to get the things she had asked for as Tommy sat idly by playing with the cigarette in his hand he had an incline on who it may have been.
"Who did this?" His voice deep and serious, Arthur could barely look up at him in embarrassment. He didn't want his bother to get in any trouble or even killed.
"you tell me! what on fucking earth have you been doing?" he shouted grabbing everyones attention, by the looks of they're faces they didn't know what was going on either. "Where are they? where are you hiding them?" Arthur finally confronted him.
"Wheres what?" Tommy tried to avoid the conversation but no one was buying it
"What is he talking about?" Polly asked Tommy and waited for an answer
"I was gonna tell you mate, I was" Tommy tried to convince an unconvinced Arthur. "We accidentally found a crate that contained Lewis machine guns, ammunition, semi-automatic rifles and pistols with shells" he took a swig of whiskey
"And?" John asked
"Someone named Chester Campbell sent by Churchill to find them and he knows you've got em so where are they?! you do know they've got you're precious whore don't you?" Arthur said leaving the room deadly silent. Tommy's body filled with anger within a few seconds you could see it in his face. He was ready to murder his one brother
"Say that again!" his voice filled with spite
"Look if what Arthur is saying is true someone like that wont keep her alive for very long so you better make a wise decision Tommy, its either her or the weapons" Polly interrupted hoping a fight wouldn't break out.
"I'll take care of this" tommy said through gritted teeth not caring about anything else. Arthur shook his head.
"I was stuck in a shit hole with her for a few hours and she wasn't in good shape so what ever you're planning better be done fast." Arthur admitted polly and Tommy looked at each other searching each others faces for the answers.
"Pay everyone a few quid for their pictures of the king and tell them to bring it to watery lane" He said to john who nodded "And you, call the papers" he said to polly
"I hope to god you know what you're doing" Arthur took a large sip of whiskey drowning out the pain.
Later that same evening Chester campbell received a phone call. Hesitantly picking it up he heard the familiar voice of Mr Winston Churchill. By the sounds of his voice he didn't seem too pleased.
"Chester!" his voice boomed through the phone
"Mr Churchill" Chester tried to suck up to him.
"inspector campbell I hear theres been a bonfire in you're city"
"there was a small fire reported on watery lane around nine o'clock, certainly nothing to trouble you sir." The inspector hesitated
"Ah but I'm afraid it had troubled me. Half an hour ago I received a wire communication from the editor of the Birmingham evening despatch it seems one of his reporters was invited to the fire and discovered that they were burning pictures of the king" Winston raised his voice
"Of the king?" The inspector sounded a little shocked
"Any news report that may cause and embarrassment to his majesty is always referred first and as a matter routine to the home office-" The inspector cut him off
"I will go down there immediately and arrest those involved"
"not you most certainly will not make arrests. If there are arrests there will be trials if there are trials there will be more newspaper reports which will necessarily mention the burning of the kings likeness " he emphasised each word "I put you in Birmingham for one very specific reason are you any nearer to finding those guns?" He raised his voice
"Yes sir I am working with one of th-" Winston cut him off
"We need results!" he shouted again "goodnight Mr Campbell!" Winston nearly hung up till the inspector coughed grabbing his attention
"sir could I at least ask does this report name any of those involved?" The inspector asked cleverly
"It names a Mr Thomas Shelby. The reports mention he is a war hero" The inspector tried to speak but Winston hangs up abruptly. The inspector knew what he had to do next. He needed a meeting with Thomas Shelby himself. He had figured that the middle brother was the leader of the pack and would have to discuss any business with him.
His heels clicked along the wooden floor as he walked, The smell of tea and cakes nearby, hands in his pockets with his peaked cap tucked into his left pocket, calmer than ever but behind the calm lay a storm. He was out to get what he come for and without a doubt he would. Tommy wasn't surprised at the inspectors proposition after the shit he did the night before, He was counting on it.It was a fancy looking place, maids fixing afternoon tea, cleaning and shining glasses, waiting on everyone.A tall podgy figure stood in the corner of the room. The back of his head was filled with completely white hair, his face wasn't visible till her turned around letting out a breath as he felt the tension growing.
"I chose this place because it is outside both our jurisdictions.Do you want tea?" The inspector finally broke the air
Inspector, I responded to your invitation because you have someone that has great meaning to me,I want her back.I am also a businessman.I want to make my business successful." Tommy's face filled with seriousness
"And I want my city to run peacefully." The inspector raised his bushy eyebrows
"Unless my needs are met the city will not run peacefully" Tommy fought back
"So we are on the same side? "
"I think perhaps we could be."
"I want you to tell me where you are hiding the guns Mr Shelby" The inspector finally sat down as Tommy followed.
"I think you're forgetting something. Until I know Ayla is alive and well you will never find out where the guns are hidden"
"She is alive and well, you know the princess of Turkey is a fighter"
"Lets make her a part of our deal" Tommy finally said, feeling in control of this situation
"What "deal?"
"You and your Specials will leave me, Ayla,my family and my business alone,No more raids into our territory, no more baring into her house, no more smashing up pubs and no more lifting my runners.You will turn a blind eye to all my gambling operations.I also want the girl back. Now.
Forgive me.I don't seem to have a pen to write down this rather long list of demands" The inspector paused as Tommy took out a rather expensive looking pen and sliding it across the table to him."And what do I get in return? "
"I have what you're looking for.I have the guns." Tommy blinked a few times
"What guns?" The inspector played clueless
"I'm not here to play games" Tommy tried to get up but the desperate voice of the inspector made him sit back down
"Wait, wait."
"Twenty five lewis machine guns, fifty carbines, 10,000 rounds of ammunition all in a crate bound for Libya, stolen from the BSA factory proofing bay.I'm guessing they sent you to Birmingham to get those guns back.Well, it's me that has them.I have left word with men I trust that if I am taken into police custody for whatever reason, those guns will be shipped to Liverpool.From there they will be sent directly to Belfast and sold to the Irish Republican Army.All your good work in Ireland would be undone.Each stolen weapon is numbered and marked.If I sell them to the IRA, it won't be long before Mr Churchill finds out.I imagine you got into enough trouble over the burning of the King's photographs.That was just a taster.If those guns reach Belfast, your life in the force is over.Once I get Ayla back and I have achieved what I have set out to achieve , I will let you know where to find the guns." Tommy stood up. the Inspector had pure disappointment on his face.
"I'll make sure she is returned back to her home within the hour" Chester says
"You'll be a hero." The inspector stood up to face him
"You'll probably get a medal.I'm a fair man.
"It's a fair offer." The inspector smirked
"Very well." Tommy kept his face more serious than ever
"But I'd prefer if we don't shake hands on it." Chester laughed at his own joke
"Now why would I shake the hand of a man who didn't even fight for his country?" Tommy finally said before taking back his pen and strutting out the way he came in. He was growing more and more impatient. He just wanted to see Ayla again. he wanted to look into her emerald green eyes and hear her tell him she was alright.He knew once Ayla returned she would need somewhere to stay and that was going to be right beside him. He, his brothers and polly had agreed that she would be staying with them.
Around an hour later when the inspector had returned to the cells he looked down at the barely breathing girl in front of him.
"Looks like you're going home" The inspector grabbed her hair, her weak body lifting with it, blinking every few seconds all that left her mouth were moans of pain. He left her in the hands of his goons. He had asked them to take her to the garrison and leave her outside for Tommy to find. He knew one day he would receive the prize money for her return (so he thought)