Wear Iron//Thomas Shelby

twenty two

Tommy has called a family meeting.

"Are you all right?" Polly asks.

Tommy clears his throat before pouring glasses of gin.

"What is it? Just us?" Arthur asks.

"Just us," Tommy says.

"Are we celebrating?" Polly asks.

"Just taste this," Tommy says. Everyone takes a drink. "What do you think, Arthur?"

"Yeah, it's good. Good stuff, really nice," Arthur says. "Too good for the Garrison. I suppose we could shift it to the toffs at the Eden Club. Why? What is it?"

"That is part of an export drive," Tommy informs him. "We now have a secure warehouse in Camden Town and secure passage to the Poplar Docks. So, on Monday morning, we'll be sending out our first export crate. A crate of Riley car spares... bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia."

"Where there's prohibition," Polly states.

"Where there is prohibition. All over Canada and America, people are making their own booze in bathtubs," Tommy explains. "But rich people in New York, in Toronto and Boston are still paying a lot of money for the real stuff. So, on Monday, the first Shelby company crate will contain a thousand Riley carburettors. But hidden in the packing will be 500 bottles of the finest quality single malt Scotch whisky. And we, Shelby's, have a licence granted by the Minister of The Empire himself, which means our crates won't be searched. And, Polly, all of the whisky will be packed at the docks, so Michael can do the books without being involved. Like I've been telling you all for a year now... motor cars are the future."

Tommy and I pay a visit to the docks in Camden Town.

"So, how is your life then, Tom?" Johnny Dogs asks.

"On the up, Johnny, on the up," Tommy tells him.

"But, Tom, really, come on, how is it? You know I hate to see you not even married yet," Johnny says. "I have a fine-looking cousin, she'll make your life hell. You deserve her!" Johnny laughs. "We haven't had a good old wedding in a long time."

"Have you had a look inside these boxes, then, Johnny?" I ask.

"What do I want to look at car parts, Helena, when I haven't even got a car?" Johnny asks.

"Faith in family's a fine thing, eh?" Tommy says. "And I wouldn't even be counting. 25 becomes 24, then 24 it is."

"Oh, you know I'm no good with numbers, Tom," Johnny says.

Tommy wraps his arm around Johnny's shoulders. "And if 24 ever became 23... then that'd be tax. We don't pay tax," Tommy states.

"No, Tom," Johnny says.

"Good man," Tommy says.

We start up the stairs as we pass Billy Kitchen.

"I put an iron door on, and we've put iron bars on the windows and across the skylights," Billy tells us.

"Good," Tommy says.

"So, what will you be keeping in here, Tommy?" Billy asks.

"Temptation, Billy," Tommy tells him. "Temptation."

Tommy and I head to check on Arthur and The Eden Club that he took over from Sabini. As we walk into the room Arthur is fucking dome girl. Tommy and I don't stop.

"Morning, Arthur. We were just passing," Tommy tells him.

Tommy and I sit at a table in the bar. Arthur comes to join us.