The Falling Man

Chapter 48

Ethel POV

I arrive to the telephone to see Cousin Will using it, "I'm not asking you to send me...Yeah, I know." He trails off the conversation as he sees me walk into the room, I decide I will head down to the cafeteria instead before remembering I left my purse at Roberts house. "Hey, do you have any money on you?" I ask my lanky cousin. "Oh. Yeah. Uh...no, just my last twenty." He says holding it up. "That's fine. Thank you." I state taking it out of his hand, and walking away. "Um...I just got mugged by Ettie." I hear him state to whoever he's on the phone with as I close the door deciding to call Tommy later.

I head to the cafeteria where I order a couple of teas and head back up to everyone. "I've got word Ann Weiman at The University of London." Andrew states to Fred as I approach him. "Ann Weiman? Is that—That's not who I have." Fred replies, I realize they are talking about doctors. "Well, it's the name he has. Can you get someone to give her a call?" I ask my boyfriend. "Yes." He agrees quickly in a soft voice.

"Hey, Mer." I say handing him one of the mugs of tea, with milk and sugar. "Do you have regular?" He asks, annoyed. "No, I've got..." I am interuppted by Will approaching me. "Now I'm strapped. Was there any change at all?" He asks me in such a quiet voice I barely hear him as I turn to set the teas on the table. "Hey, you two." Gertrude approaches. "What?" I ask Will after not hearing him completely. "Could I have the change?" He asks again but I get distracted seeing some sort of fruit basket being carried into the room by one of The Squad members. "What is this? People are sending shit already?" Fred asks.

"It's from The Shelby's." The man states. My brother immediately looks enraged, "Call him and tell him that is not fucking appreciated." "Mm-hmm." The Squad member replies before rushing off to the phone. Fred always had an unspoken rivalry with Tommy ever since the betrayal years ago. Tommy always knew everything and my younger brother didn't like that and the feeling of stupidity that came with it; as he often felt around the Birmingham man. Frances now walks into the room, "Fred, I'm so sorry." "Thank you, Frances." He replies nodding his head. Frances had become a close confidant to the family business. After our pub burnt down and I left they offered her my job, acting as general counsel. "Can you give me five minutes. We need to talk. Over here, okay?" She says leading Fred away along with George, the business Chief Financial Officer who also walked in with her. I stand and watch their retreating figures as the door they depart through opens and closes behind them. The bitch didn't even say hi to me, I guess there are bigger fish to fry elsewhere.

Tommy POV

"Fred's here, I'm handing over the phone, here." I hear Frances say down the line. As soon as I arrived back to my office in Birmingham, I was relayed the news of the attempted murder against Robert by an out of breath Polly who had rushed to my office. "I am so sorry to hear about the news." I utter. "Likewise." Polly buts in grabbing the phone from my hand, I take the phone back out of her hand sending her a small glare. "As you know, our standing plan in the event of Robert's...absence, is to seperate his Boss and Chairman roles." I hear Frances' voice again. My mind wonders to Ethel, hearing the voice of her bestfriend makes me think of her, knowing she must be struggling and hurting at this moment in time.

I clear my throat, "You'll become acting Boss. James stays on as Chief Operating Officer. We'll need to act fast. Stabilize the attack plan." "Tommy? Tommy? I'm sorry...my brother is my focus right now. Okay?" Fred states. "Of course, it's just that there's a problem in terms of the optics if what happened earlier today between you two gets out." I hear Frances state. "I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about." The younger Switzer brother replies. "Sure. Well..." The woman replies sarcastically. "And then there's the problem with James." I state.

"As in?" Fred asks. "Robert fired him and promoted Elmer." Polly states, once again ripping the phone from my hand, relaying the news of the plans Robert had told us weeks ago that he had for today; which was to no longer have Co Chief Operating Officers rather just one and that one being Elmer. I think back to James' speech at the lunch table earlier today, the poor bastard. "Elmer? Jesus...Look, I'm sorry, I—I can't get into this right now, everyone." Fred states. "No, of course. You are in no fit state." I hear the CFO, George state. George was yet another of the new hires brought onto the team two years ago, he has since become apart of the inner circle of the Switzers friends and family. There's a long pause as I light a cigarette and rub my hand over my face.