In My Blood // Alfie Solomons

Digbeth kid

Meanwhile in Birmingham...

'Next' Finn said calling them into the room Arthur John and Tommy all sat around the table interviewing new possible employees for the peaky blinder incorporation, the mission, let's face it, it was hell raising and it was damn fun. Arthur sat reading the paper not really paying attention John looked up to face the boy briefly as he entered, he was a boy, young and had an innocence about him that the peaky blinders would crush. John puffed out a burst of smoke as Arthur began.

'All right then name?" Arthur asked looking up from his paper

'The digbeth kid.' He told them

'What are you? a boxer?' arthur questioned

'The digbeth kid. Like billy the kid.' the boy told them.

'Spend a lot of time at the pictures?' Tommy questioned 'Cowboy pictures?' He nodded and reached for his side flipping back his jacket to reveal gun holster Tommy John and Arthur all pulled their weapons pointed at the boy.

'It's fake... it's made of wood' he assured them nervously. Everyone relaxed a bit, guns still raised.

'Let's take a look then...' Tommy said standing up and walking over to him he took the wooden gun in his hand pointed at Arthur. 'bang' he said he pointed John next, 'bang' he said again John blew smoke from his cigarette out of his mouth. ''Very nice. Where did you get a gun belt?' Tommy asked handing the kid back his wooden gun

'My sister made out of an old blacksmith apron my mom did most of the stitching but she's not my real mom but-'

'But she does what moms do.' John told him

'All right their mama's boy nice to meet you get the fuck out-' Arthur told him.

'Hold up Arthur' Tommy said he had a plan, 'how educated are you?'

'Probably not as much as most' he admitted

'Well there's this phrase we like to use it's called a stand up, you ever heard of it do you know what it means?' Tom questioned

'Like you stand up?' he asked and Tom laughed and looked around at his brothers, they were all smirking.

'No, it's where you volunteer yourself to get arrested. Have you ever been arrested before?' Tommy questioned.

'Yeah' he said he wore a red polkadot bowtie he did not look like the kind of guy who had been to jail before

'Yeah? what were you doing?' John question looking him up and down

'Nothing. I haven't been arrested before' he admitted

'Perfect' Tom informed him.

'Why is that perfect?' He asked

'The home secretary wants something done about legal gambling-' Tom began.

'About damn time!' Arthur told him

'Damn right!' John said smacking the table

'So we help our coopers make their quota of convictions by having men stood up to be arrested... what do we think?' Tom asked his brothers looking around between them

'Sounds all right' Arthur said

'If it's your first offense will be in no longer than a week, will give you five quid for your time sound all right?' Tom asked him

'Yeah that sounds great' he said smiling at them.

'Give your address to Finn, we will send someone around your way' John told him. He nodded but he didn't say anything. 'Is there an issue?'

'I can't write' he admitted.

'Well don't worry because Finn can't read.' John told him a smile on his lips. 'Just tell him I'm sure he'll remember.' The digbeth kid left, john still puffing smoke.