Up in Smoke

1.3

Days had passed since we talked to Kimber. Tommy wasn't too pleased with my random outbursts. Tommy had a meeting with 2 men this morning at the Garrison. I wasn't allowed to go with him. I knew he'd tell me about it when he got home. Polly walked into the kitchen with a nervous look in her eyes.

"What is it?"

"Ada is getting married today."

"So Freddie did come back?"

"No one told you?"

"No. I'm the forgotten child."

"Oh shush." She smirked as she sat down with a cup of tea.

Tommy walked into the kitchen a couple of hours later. Aunt Polly glanced at me then at him.

"Are you armed?"

"No."

"Then I'll tell you. Ada and Freddie Throne were married today. They defied your orders, they haven't left the city." He walked around the room.

He grabbed the back of the chair he stood in front of with a long sigh.

"I'll deal with it. Thomas, I'll deal with it."

"Where are they?"

"Freddie's comrades have safe houses. Why do you want to know?"

"I want to send them flowers. Why do you think?"

"Would it be so bad if they stayed?"

"I promised I'd run Freddie out of town."

"Promised who?" I asked as I stood up.

Polly closed the doors to the shop.

"I told the coppers Freddie wouldn't come back. It was part of the deal."

"What bloody deal? What happened to family votes? What happened to meetings? If you let me deal with Ada and Freddie, it'll end in peace. Christ knows you have had your fill of war." It was dead silent for a moment.

Tommy took a step closer to Polly. "You get Freddie out of town, Pol. Or else I'll deal with him myself." He walked out of the shop. Polly went to talk with Freddie hours later. She was going to give them two hundred pounds. She also booked both of them tickets to New York.

I would love to go to New York. Or America in general. Anything to get out of Small Heath for a little while. Tommy and I walked to the suit shop. We were picking up our free suits. Kimber walked up behind us. The man helping us grew nervous.

"Please, gentlemen and lady. No fighting in here."

"It's alright. I come as a friend." The man ran off.

Tommy looked at the rack of suits and then back at Kimber.

"You're collecting your suit for Cheltenham, it's very nice."

"How the bloody hell do you know?"

"I know a lot of things, Mr. Kimber. As I told you before, I know the Lee brothers. And I know they're going to be at the races as well. "

"Yes. They're going to lose a lot of money on fast women and slow nags."

"No. They're planning on showing up in numbers and robbing your bookies. Running chalk and rafflers."

"You think I can't handle the Lees?" He scoffed as he glared at Tommy.

"Just a word of warning from a friend. That's all." We started to walk away. "See you at the races."

"I'll wave at you from my box. Bring that pretty barmaid of yours."

"Alright invited," Tommy shouted as we walked out.