THE GREAT WAR || T. SHELBY (3)

EIGHT

CHAPTER EIGHT: Three Little Birds

THOMAS DECIDED TO JOIN OSWALD MOSLEY'S NEW PARTY.

But only as a secret informant for Ben Younger even through Tabitha advised against the partnership. Oswald always managed to make Tabitha uncomfortable, from his gazes to his smiles. When he looked at Tabitha, it was like he was undressing her with his eyes, and made Tabitha a little violated. She didn't tell Thomas about it, just Polly and Lizzie, because she didn't want to seem vulnerable. Tabitha had dealt with Billy Kimber and Luca, but none of them made her more uncomfortable than Oswald Mosley.

Tabitha's nightmares of the people she lost and killed had come and gone the last four years. They'd be gone for awhile, and then they came back. It was mainly Grace and Charity though, caused by her greatest guilts, and John would appear certain times. Grace would tell Tabitha to listen to the voices and pay for the sins she committed while Charity told her not to. It kept her up at night so she wouldn't see them, but Thomas stated up with her.

It was the day before Tabitha's thirty-fourth birthday, and Thomas decided to have a ballet company come and play the show Swan Lake. She was looking forward to be surrounded by her family and friends for the occasion. Finneas and Kezia Hearn were going to be there along with Tabitha's little brother Ocean and his wife Olivia. Everyone was going to dress in their best attire and Tabitha was excited about all of it.

Tabitha and Thomas were in the snug at the Garrison listening to complaints of Small Heath's citizens. Arthur had yet to show up as Tabitha and Thomas spoke to an upset married woman, talking about her goldfinches. Arthur finally entered the room, scaring the woman.

"It's alright, Mrs Conners, you can carry on. It's just me brother," Thomas assured the woman as Arthur sat down.

"So, tell us what happened?" Tabitha asked Mrs Conners, her lack of sleep around her eyes.

"Uh, they were sleeping downstairs, and then my husband came home, drink from the Marquis even though he'd just lost his job," Mrs Conners explained. "We don't have any money. Anyway...He came to bed. But downstairs, they must've heard a noise. They woke up. They started, uh, calling out. They woke my husband up...and when he's drunk, you don't wake him up."

"What happened then, Mrs Conners?" Thomas asked.

"He, uh...he...He went downstairs. He killed them. Strangled then all three of them." Mrs Conners' voice began to crack as Arthur looked up from his paper with widened eyes.

"And you've, um...you've brought their bodies here today with you?" Tabitha asked.

The older woman nodded with tears in her eyes, "proof, Mr and Mrs Shelby."

Mrs Conners unwrapped a small cloth, revealing three, dead goldfinch birds. Arthur scoffed and leaned back in his chair. He literally thought she was talking about children, but it was just birds.

"Their singing was the only pretty thing in my life," Mrs Conners sobbed. "I don't care if my husband beats me...But not this."

"Mrs Conners, we have your address," Thomas said, leaning forward in his chair. "We will speak to your husband. My brother here will go to the Bull Ring Market today and but three new goldfinches and have them delivered to your door."

"With the same colours and, you know, feathers," Arthur said.

"The new ones I will call Thomas, Arthur, and Finn," Mrs Conners said, covering the birds up. "That'll make him pause even when he's drunk. Good day."

"You take care, Mrs Conners," Tabitha said kindly, exciting the woman out of the snug.

Arthur scoffed as the woman left and Tabitha sat back down. She grabbed a cigarette from Thomas' box and lit it, staying silent.