Wear Iron//Thomas Shelby

twenty seven

While Theo and Saoirse are off in their own newlywed bliss Tommy and I are back to business as usual. Tommy needs armored vehicles and this man can help us get them.

"Your brothers came to my house," the man states. "They said the Peaky Blinders had business with me."

"You're not afraid of me," Tommy says.

He follows me as I sit in a chair across from the man. Tommy lights a cigarette. He takes a drag before handing it to me.

"So, what is it you want from a simple working man?" the man, Nutley, asks.

"Fear," I tell him.

"Poor Mr Nutley drank too much. He went for a piss on the train tracks that run behind the factory. Train came. They found his body in Saltley broken into bits," Tommy says.

"I know what you do," Nutley states. "Tell me what you want."

Tommy points to a blueprint on the wall. "There. The let's complete warehouse. Bays 4, 5 and 6."

"You have the keys?" I ask.

"Yes, I have keys," Nutley says.

"What's in Bay 4?" I question.

"Completed type 40s and type 21 s waiting for the paint shop," Nutley informs us.

"Bay 5?" Tommy asks.

"Paint shop and parts," Nutley explains.

Tommy nods. "Uh-huh. So, it's Bay 6."

"What is?" Nutley questions.

"Give me the keys to Bay 6," Tommy instructs.

"It's just old stock in storage," Nutley insists.

"Give me the keys to Bay 6," Tommy repeats.

The man sighs before getting up. He pulls a key from a hook on the wall. Tommy stands and takes it from the man.

I pull cash from my purse. I hold it out to Nutley. "For your trouble."

He doesn't take it. "Give it to your charity. I'm only doing this for the safety of my family."

Sure enough when Tommy and I go to check Bay 6 is full of armored vehicles.

Next Tommy and I have a meeting with Father Hughes at Charlie's yard.

"So, will it be just boys in your charitable institution or girls as well?" Father Hughes asks.

"Both," I tell him.

"You must divide them," Father Hughes states. "You know how the little creatures can get."

"Where are your people?" Tommy asks. "You said they'd be here by 5:00."

"They are a law unto themselves. You can never quite grasp who they are," Father Hughes says. "Like gripping wet soap."

"I've done my research," Tommy assures.

"Perhaps you know them as the, uh, Economic League," Father Hughes offers. "Only once did I get a letter from them headed "The Vigilance Committee." Which tips the hand a little."

Tommy shakes his head. "No. The name I've heard is Section D. That's what Special Branch calls them. Business men, MPs, army officers."

"Yes, it will be fun to bring such men to a Gypsy scrapyard," Father Hughes remarks.

Tommy scoffs. "You asked for privacy."

"Since the election, the government has decided that we are the enemy," Father Hughes states. "When all we're trying to do is save the country from revolution. Are you political, Mr Shelby? Because these Odd Fellows believe that the time is coming soon when everyone must choose a side."