HIS DUCHESS • TOMMY SHELBY

04. saviour

[04]
"the eyes have the answer."

LONDON, ENGLAND.

TOMMY WALKS INTO the grand library that was filled with countless floors of endless books. A couple heads rise and stare at the gangster as he makes his way upstairs. He didn't look like a man that indulged in the romance of English literature, he kept a pistol in his inner pocket and razor blades were sewn onto his peaky cap— but then again, Tommy Shelby was a man deeper than the surface you saw.

"Hello, Ada!" Tommy calls out loudly, causing people to glare at him. "I'm here to see my favourite younger sister!"

Bemused, Ada looks up at him. She had just finished stocking a shelf with new books.

"I'm your only bloody sister. And Tommy Shelby? In a library? Should I be impressed or worried?" She crosses her arms.

"I need to borrow a book about the Russian revolution and the Russian communist movement!"

"Ssh!" An old woman scolds angrily.

Tommy walks straight past her and up to Ada. "And what better place to come than where you work, eh?"

"You know, I even see Shelby trucks when I walk home from work. I can't ever escape you, can I?" Ada huffs with a small smirk.

Tommy shrugs, concealing his grin. "I suppose not. Business is booming."

"Anyway, why the sudden interest?" Ada begins scanning the shelves for a book.

"I just want to broaden my mind, that's all." Tommy was looking around, observing everything.

"Well, I have two books." Ada holds them up. "In my right hand is a book about the royal rich bastards that ran away, and in my left is a book from the point of view of the ordinary people who struggled."

Tommy immediately takes the book in her right hand.

Ada rolls her eyes. "Of course, didn't think you'd care about the workers that were actually affected."

Ada Shelby— well Thorne, was a widow and communist, much of her views had been influenced by her late husband, Freddie Thorne. Before they had met, she was something of a wild child and rebellious party girl. Now, when she wasn't watching her son Karl or working, she'd often find herself involved in heavy political debates at pubs or joining women on strike.

"You know what, let me read the other book as well." Tommy remembered that these political extremists that had captured Alena were definitely men that came from a poor
background.

"Why have you got police reports?" Ada questions, peering over Tommy's shoulder.

He was sat down now, with documents in front of him as well as the two books she had given him.

"Orlov Smith and Aiden Nikolaev? Wanted for conspiracy to commit treason..? Who are these men?"

"Men that you wouldn't want to get involved with, that's for sure." Tommy mumbles, flicking through pages.

"At Arthur's wedding I heard you and Polly whispering about a Russian spy, then next thing I know I see John in the corner of my eye putting bullets in his killing pistol."