The Darkness Within (Peaky Blinders) Thomas Shelby

21. Raising An Alarm

Babe, there's something wretched about this

Something so precious about this

Where to begin

Babe, there's something broken about this

But I might be hoping about this.

Oh, what a sin

- From Eden - Hozier

The Shelby family car drove down the streets of Small Heath, the truck with the horse loaded in the back right behind them. John drove the truck while Tommy drove the car, Finn and Arthur sitting in the backseat while Kiara once again sat in the passenger's seat. Her and Tommy hadn't said a word to each other since their argument on the Ferris wheel and their silence was beginning to make Arthur uncomfortable.

As they drove along they went past the homes of the locals and saw their doors kicked in, furniture thrown out and those cleaning it up, clearly shaken by whatever had happened.

"Now, what the bloody hell's been going on here?" Arthur questioned

"Jesus Christ." Tommy swore as they continued to drive until they finally made it back.

A family meeting was called immediately and Polly explained that the new Chief Inspector had his officers ransack people's homes and round up the communists. Of course this was just a cover, Polly, Tommy and Kiara knew what they were really looking for... the guns.

"The coppers told everyone Arthur had agreed to it when he was arrested." Polly explained. "They said the Peaky Blinders had cleared out to the fair to let them do it."

John reached over and grabbed a glass, picking one up and dipping it in the bucket of beer they had on the table and then handed the full glass over to Tommy. He then grabbed another glass and filled it up, turning to Kiara who shook her head saying she didn't want any so he kept it for himself.

"No one said nothing to that copper about smashing up bloody houses!" Arthur yelled angrily.

"All right. Which pubs did they do?" Tommy asked.

"The Guns, The Chain, The Marquis." Riley listed. "All the ones that pay us to protect them. The only one they didn't touch was The Garrison."

"Made sure people think we were in on it." Polly added. "Smart, this copper. So go on. Drink your beers. Get out." Polly ordered. "You better show people you're still the cocks of the walk."

"Hand out some cash to the landlords of the pubs." Tommy said as the other men began to get to work. "Pay some veterans to fix the places up."

"So what about you, Tommy?" Arthur asked when it was clear that everyone except for Thomas was leaving.

"I have to go to Charlie's to stable the horse. Looked foot sore in the box." He explained before they all walked out, Kiara throwing a farewell smile at her brother as they did.

Then it was just Tommy, Polly and her left. Polly closed the doors, giving them privacy and then turning to face Tommy.

"So we three know what they were looking for." She stated. "You don't read the papers?" She asked her nephew as she sat down, a cigarette in her hand.

"Racing papers." Tommy shrugged as Kiara walked over to the table and picked up a packet of cigarette that were left there before handing one to Tommy and then taking one out for herself.

Tommy lit his and then went to light K's, but instead she took the match and stepped away from him to do it herself, clearly still mad.

"So let me tell you the odds." Polly began. "I reckon it's 3-to-1 there'll be a revolution."