Wear Iron//Thomas Shelby

one

I stand in the office in the betting shop at the Shelby residence. Men are rushing around the room taking bets by phone and in person. I've been working for the Shelby's since the war started. Polly Gray needed someone she could trust to be her right hand man and I stepped up. 

"Place your bets here now for the 2:30 at Kempton. Down to fours..."

The double doors at the front of the room swing open and in walks Thomas Shelby. He looks over the men's shoulders as he makes his way through the room.

"OK, girls and boys, you want to push that now, mate. Thanks very much. 2-1, get your bets in now. What d'you say? We've got Sovereign, he's an old favourite, 4-1."

"Tommy! Tommy!" his younger brother John shouts. "Tommy, look at the book. Just look."

"Tommy!" Arthur, Tommy's older brother, shouts.

"All on Monaghan Boy," John tells him.

"Good work, John," Tommy tells him.

"Tommy!" I shout. He looks over at me. "Arthur would like to see you." I smile. "Now."

Tommy steps into the office with Arthur and I. Arthur picks up a whiskey bottle and pours some into a glass.

"Now you was seen doing the powder trick down at Garrison Courts," Arthur says.

"Times are hard," Tommy states. "People need a reason to lay a bet."

"There was a Chinese," Arthur says before downing the whiskey.

"The washer women say she's a witch. It helps them believe," Tommy explains.

"We don't mess with Chinese," Arthur reminds him.

"Look at the book..." Tommy starts.

Arthur bangs fist on the desk. "Chinese have cutters of their own."

"We agreed, Arthur. I'm taking charge of drumming up new money," Tommy states.

"What if Monaghan Boy wins, Tommy?" I ask.

"You fixing races now? Do you have permission from Billy Kimber to be fixing races, hm?" Arthur questions. "Then what's got into you? You think we can take on the Chinese and Billy Kimber. Billy's got a bloody army!"

"I think... Arthur. That's what I do. I think... so that you don't have to," Tommy says.

Arthur settles down slightly. "There's news from Belfast." Tommy opens the office door. "I'm calling a family council tonight at eight o'clock. I want all of us there." Tommy walks away. "You hear me?! There's trouble coming." Arthur looks at me.

"He'll be there. You know he will," I assure.

I smile at Tommy as I walk out of the house. "How about a drink?" I offer.

Tommy and I head down to the Garrison pub. It's the pub the Peaky Blinders always frequent. They're all respected there. Hell Tommy has the owner wrapped around his finger.

Harry Fenton, the owner, is behind the bar. "On the house, Mr Shelby."

Tommy puts two coins down on the counter anyway. I look around and notice Tommy's old friend, Freddie Thorne, sitting at a table in the corner. He's with his new communist friends.

Freddie walks up to the counter beside Tommy. "I'll take a mild."

"Right," Harry says.

Harry places the beer down in front of Freddie. Without a word Freddie takes one of the coins that Tommy put down and slides it over to Harry. Harry looks at Tommy not sure what to do.