Sin - [T.Shelby]

Moving In

      It was a somber day, an open grave dividing two sides but bringing them together. The Shelby's stood on one side in dark tuxes, the other side was filled with angry faces and scarlet banners. "I promised my friend Freddie Thorne that I'd say a few words over his grave if he should pass before me. I made this promise before he became me brother-in-law....when we were in France, fighting for the King." Tommy spoke "Amen." Arthur nodded "And in the end it wasn't war that took Freddie. Pestilence took him. But Freddie passed on his soul and his spirit to a new generation before he was cruelly taken." Tommy looked to the two-year-old son in Ada's arms. A gloved hand slipped into Tommy's and he looked down to see soft green eyes watching him from behind a black veil.

-

         "We thought, now Freddie's gone, you might come back to Birmingham." Tommy spoke as he and his sister walked away from the crowd "God, do you know how funny it is that you've got chauffeurs in uniform now?" she scoffed crossing her arms "It's just for the occasion, Ada." Tommy told her "Do you know how unfair it is that you've got four Bugattis when half the country's starving?" she asked "I bet that dress she's wearing could pay for a month's worth of meals." Ada stared at Stella who stood talking to Arthur, she wore a silk black dress belted at her waist, short sleeves with a collar and a white ribbon tied around her neck. She had a flat black hat on her head with a veil hanging over the rim. Tommy looked from her and puffed his cigarette before looking to his sister.

    "So now they've made you ashamed of us, eh?" Tommy asked "Sometimes when I think how I used to be, it makes me embarrassed." Ada admitted "Karl's with his cousins. I caught 'em trying to pinch flowers off a grave." Pol smiled as she approached them "Ada, are you coming home?" Pol asked worried, she wanted Ada back under their roof where she was protected. "I'm going home." she said referring to her home with Freddie "It's all right, Poll. We make Ada embarrassed." Tommy puffed from his cigarette "That's not what I said." Ada sighed.

    "There's another reason we want you home." Pol told her "We're planning an expansion. I'm taking premises in London-" Tommy started to explain "Tommy, it's a funeral, business can wait." Polly cut him off "Polly, if Ada was weeping then I'd stop. But she's not. The expansion means it's going to be dangerous to be a Shelby in London for a while." Tommy went on "Yeah, well, I'm not a Shelby anymore. And I'm not a Thorne now, either. I'm free." she smiled "I've got to get Karl home." with that she left.

     "I told you. Let me do it." Pol said to him "It's all right. I'll have some men watch her house till the danger passes." Tommy watched his sister get Karl and then say goodbye to everyone. "Till the danger passes? That'll be the bloody day." Pol laughed. They watched as Stella smiled and said goodbye to Karl and Ada, making the little boy laugh putting a smile on everyone's faces. Then a man on a bike rolled up and whispered something to Arthur, and Stella noticed the change in mood. "Take care of yourself." Stella told Ada.

-

    They got word that the Garrison had been blown up and they rushed over. They got out of their cars to see the beloved Garrison nothing but singed wood and ash. "It happened at exactly 7am. Nobody saw anything." an officer told them as Tommy, Pol, and Stella approached the rubble "Our patrols were not in the area. Mr. Shelby, have you got any idea who might've done it?" the officer asked "I'd say it was something to do with the gas." Tommy cleared his throat and pulled a few bills from his pocket "It's just been fitted." he handed the money to the officer who pocketed it.

Pol walked forward trying to see if anything was salvageable "Madam, the structure's not yet declared safe. Madam!" the officer called "Pol what is it?" Stella asked "This is all over the place." she said showing the pieces of paper in her hand "Confetti." she said letting it fall to the pavement "You can go." Stella spoke to the officer who tipped his hat and left. "Who?" Pol asked as the three of them looked up at the scorched building "Who did this to us?" Pol asked. "Well the fine officers of Birmingham may fail at their jobs but those employed to me do not." Stella looked over to see a skittish girl hiding around a corner.