If I Can't Have you

(9) Best You've Had

"Right, I called this family meeting because I've got some very important news," Arthur speaks, "Scudboat and Lovelock got back from Belfast last night."

"They were in a pub near the Shankhill road yesterday, and in that pub there was a copper," Arthur informs, as he began to pass leaflets to everyone, "he was handing out these."

"If you're over five feet and can fight, come to Birmingham." John reads out.

"They're recruiting Protestant Irishmen to come over here as specials," Arthur states.

Ada nervously glances Jemima who was sat beside her, neatly folding the leaflet up, "to do what?"

"To clean up the city, Ada." Tommy replies, "he's the chief inspector. The last four years he's been clearing the IRA out of Belfast."

"How do you know so bloody much?" Arthur queries.

"I asked the coppers on our payroll." Tommy shrugs.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm telling you," Tommy states, keeping eye contact with his eldest brother.

"So why are they sending him to Birmingham?" Polly asks, looking at her nephew.

"All the strikes at the BSA lately, and now the papers are talking about sedition, and revolution. I reckon it's communists he's after." Tommy explains.

"So this copper is going to leave us alone?"

"There are Irishmen in green lanes who left Belfast to get away from him. They say catholic men who crossed him used to disappear in the night." Tommy replies.

"Yeah but we ain't IRA," Max says, "we bloody fought for the King."

"And anyway, we're Peaky Blinders," John adds, throwing an arm round the shoulders of his friend, "we're not scared of coppers. If they come for us, we'll cut them a smile each."

"Is that it, Arthur? Can I go?"

"What do you think Aunt Pol?" Arthur asks.

"This family does everything open. You've got nothing more to say to this meeting, Thomas?" Polly says.

"No, nothing that's womens business." Tommy responds.

"Classic Thomas Shelby, resorting to misogyny when he doesn't want to answer a question." Jemima says.

"Oh fuck off," Tommy scoffs.

"Tommy," John warns.

"While you boys were at war, this whole bloody enterprise was womens business, what's changed?" Jemima challenges.

"We came back." Tommy replies.

-

"Surprised you're not sat at the end of the bar chatting away to Daniels," Tommy hums, walking into the snug, not expecting Jemima to be sat there by herself.

"I'm waiting for him to finish his shift." Jemima responds.

"Doesn't explain why you're hiding in here whilst he's on shift." Tommy shrugs, "think I just saw Maggie Stark batting her eyelashes his way."

He'd expected that to rile her up. He'd expected at the very least her demeanour to change. A spark of jealousy would be all it took for his need to annoy her to be met.

"He wouldn't go near her," Jemima replies, tilting her head slightly as she looked up at him, "unlike some people."

Tommy clears his throat, "what are you arguing about?"

"It's none of your business." Jemima says, as Tommy pulls a chair out, taking a seat opposite her.

"Oh but it is," Tommy tuts, "I came in here to be alone, but instead I was met with your irritating arse, all because you're in an argument with Daniels."