THE GREAT WAR || T. SHELBY (3)

TWELVE

CHAPTER TWELVE: Mr and Mrs Jones

IT WAS JANUARY, 1930.

The beginning of a new decade for England and Shelby Company Limited. Oswald Mosley and Thomas' new party, the British Union of Fascists was announced in January 2nd, and that's when Thomas told the whole family the plan. Barney Thomason was broken out of the asylum when Wednesday came. He was to kill Oswald at a rally in Birmingham, to assassinate him. Thomas said Barney was one of the best snipers in the Great War, but he never came back from it.

It was the day before the rally in Birmingham and early that morning, Thomas called a family meeting the saloon bar in the Garrison. Almost everyone was there, waiting for Thomas and Tabitha to show. There was Polly, Arthur, Aberama Gold, Johnny Dogs, uncle Charlie, pastor Jeremiah, Curly, Theo, Michael and his wife Gina, who Tabitha didn't like. No one liked Gina, because Tabitha knew she was the Black Cat Thomas talked about a few weeks prior when Michael came back from Detroit with his bride.

Thomas and Tabitha walked into the saloon, where everyone was waiting for the couple in silence. They both stood together in front of the fire place when Theo spoke up.

"Tom, Tabby, I have an apology from Lizzie," Theo spoke up. "Ruby's got a cold, so Lizzie's taking care of her today. She won't be here."

"It's alright, Theo. We will do this meeting without her," Tabitha assured.

Everyone noticed that Tabitha hadn't been sleeping well, due to the dark bags under her eyes. Polly knew something was haunting her she to the woman's psychic abilities.

"Welcome to Mr Aberama Gold," Thomas spoke up. "He and Polly are to be married in three weeks with my blessing. From now on, Aberama will be welcome to our meetings."

"First item of business: a bereavement," Tabitha said.

"Colonel Ben Younger, who may perhaps have become a member of of this family, was taken from us, four days ago, by dark forces. We've made some investigations. We think we know who planted the bomb. In the meantime, our thoughts are with Ada, and the baby inside of her, who may one day sit at these meetings, but...hopefully under happier circumstances."

"Let's drink to happier circumstances," Polly said, pouring herself a glass as everyone else did. Tabitha was the only one that didn't want a drink, because she wasn't feeling well.

"To Ada," everyone said, raising their glasses.

"Item number two: an announcement regarding Michael," Thomas spoke up again.

"Before you go on, Tommy, there's something I'd like to say to the whole family directly regarding finances and the future of this company," Michael said. "According to your estimations, this new venture of the delivery and shipment of opium will bring into the company around around £2 million per year. Therefore due to the amounts involved, I think this company should be restructured."

Tabitha and Thomas furrowed their brows as Michael's words.

"Michael, I think this can wait till outside this family meeting," Polly said.

"Restructured in what way?" Tabitha asked for her and Thomas.

"Because of the amounts of money involved, shipment and dispatch will be the primary source of the company," Gina said as Michael got up from his seat. "It's simple mathematics."

"And who said you were allowed to speak?" Tabitha asked with a lot more attitude.

"With the help of my wife, I will organize an expansion in America, where the narcotics business is just beginning to grow," Michael said. "So, I have very good contacts in Detroit, New York Boston, who I've already spoken to about this. And Gina has family who are very experienced in this kind of business. According to the conversations I've has with them, with a regular supply of pure opium from China, within a short space of time, the American narcotics business will bring in $20 million per annum. Enough money for you to all enjoy an easing of the burden you all now feel. See, I know all the scars and the wounds, they're on the inside, not the outside. And as a new member of the new generation, I am able to take that great burden off your very shoulders. A new decade is coming. There will be new opportunities and new territories, more money than we've ever had before. Tommy, you and Tabby can still do the new work that deep down you want to do. Mum, you can get married and live in that big house. Arthur, you can be the man Linda wants you to be."