Game Of Bliss

(8)

"Freddie? What are you doing here?" Florence asks, watching him exit Everett's house.

"I could ask you the same thing," Freddie hums in response, glancing back at the building, "it's not gonna end well, little Shelby, you should get out whilst you can."

"Ironic, I could say the same thing about following the route of communism," Florence responds, and he chuckles shaking his head, "I know what I'm doing."

"With Ada?" Florence says.

"She told you," Freddie states.

"She did," Florence nods, "don't drag her into your political war, Freddie."

"I don't need to," Freddie says, "I better be going, I'll see you around, Florence. Be careful with him, the man is rabid."

Freddie bows his head slightly as a goodbye before heading down a side alley beside the house, as Everett appears at the door, "you're back."

"What was Freddie doing here?" Florence asks, as he holds the door open so she could step inside.

"He was talking about some list," Everett says, "apparently your brothers name is on it too, want to explain that? A communist, a drug dealer, and a racketeer."

"A list of criminals, I don't fucking know," Florence responds.

"Your brother will," Everett states.

"Then why don't you waltz into his office and ask him yourself," Florence suggests.

"I don't need the fucking police breathing down my neck, Flo, and I'm sure he'll feel the same way," Everett exclaims.

"He won't care if you get caught, in fact if it'll get him off he'll be more than happy to sell you out," Florence states.

-

"Florence," Moss states, emerging from the shadows with another office and an older man in a suit.

"What?" Florence responds, eyeing them all up and down.

"We know your brother talks to you," the older man says.

He must be the Irish chief inspector Tommy was talking about.

"Well it'd be difficult to maintain a sibling relationship if none of my brothers spoke to me," Florence remarks, "which brother?"

"Thomas, of course," Campbell states, "what happened at the BSA?"

"The strike? I don't bloody know, how about you ask them?" Florence says, going to walk away, feeling a hand on her upper arm, pulling her back.

"No, not the strike, the robbery," Campbell says.

"I have no clue what you're talking about," Florence states, tearing her arm from his grasp, "I may be a lady, but I'm also a fucking Shelby, you'll do well to remember that the next time you think about placing a hand on me. If it comes to it, I'll rip you to fucking shreds."

-

"I met that new inspector today," Florence says, walking into the betting den.

"Yeah, so has Arthur," John responds, gesturing to their older brother who was groaning as Polly taped his fingers together.

"Have this," Tommy states, walking into the room, handing Arthur a bottle of whiskey, letting him take a sip before grabbing it back from him, using it to soak a cloth and holding it to his brothers face.

"He said Churchill sent him to Birmingham," Arthur says, gripping onto Tommys forearm, "national interest, a robbery."

Florence notices Polly give Tommy a look as he steps back from Arthur, who carries on speaking, "he said he wants us to help him."