Painting The Races Red | Tommy Shelby

Chapter Eleven ✔

C h a p t e r E l e v e n
L a d y C h a r l o t t e M c L a u g h l i n R e t u r n s

The tension was strong in the Shelby Betting shop as everyone gathered for the meeting stood silently. Lynette and Tommy had woken to a phone call from Moss informing them that the boy who had signed up to work for the Peaky Blinders - The Digbeth kid - had been found in his cell with his throat slit. The male that shared the cell with him, reported that the men responsible had empathised the name Sabini.

The stress was clear on Lynette's face as she leaned against the wooden bannister between Finn and her fiancé. Her eyes were heavy and dull, and her posture was tense. Most of the men in the room kept their distance. On the rare occasion that Lynette did not greet any of them, they knew that she was upset and more likely to yell at one of them.

She was angry at the fact she had warned that the boy was too young, and now he was dead. He was just an innocent kid looking for some money which made her feel immensely guilty. Despite her temper, she knew she could not be mad at Tommy, because none of them would have expected that Sabini's men would make it into their own town's prison. On top of tightening up their security with Moss' men, it only made them more determined to take down Sabini.

The green doors connecting to the Shelby home opened to reveal John, who had gone to find Polly when no one could get a hold of her. She walked in behind him at a brisk pace, joining the gathered group while setting down her bag and coat.

"This had better be good to interrupt my holiday," the woman grumbled while removing her leather gloves.

"Where's the boy?" Arthur asked.

"In the back room. I only brought him because afterwards we're going to the museum."

"He wanted to come in and say hello but -" John began before he was interrupted by his aunt.

"Shut up, John. There is nothing of interest to Michael in this room," she snapped.

The atmosphere only became more uncomfortable from Polly's attitude. Lynette frowned at the woman, it was strange for her to see the strict business woman more interested in being anywhere else but there. She understood that Polly was protective of her reunited son, but Michael was a smart kid who had already sussed out what they did for a living. In her opinion, keeping him away from it would only make him more determined.

"Tommy, get on with it."

He followed his aunt's order, putting out his cigarette before addressing his men with his hands held cupped in front of him. "Last night, one of our men had his throat cut in Winson Green. This morning, I had a telegram to say it was Sabini who ordered it."

There were many looks of surprise around the room, all thinking the same as Tommy, Lynette and Arthur - their partnership with the officers had become corrupt. Their reliability on Moss and his men was deteriorating.

Arthur raised the mentioned telegram in his hand. "And it says here that Thomas Shelby's next," he growled while ripping the piece of paper several times.

"If our men think we can't look after them in prison, they'll not work for us. Sabini knows that. So we need to get the Green sorted out. Scudboat, you and one of the boys break a couple of windows and get yourselves arrested. I'll have our coppers get you into the Green and you can find the bastards who did it."

"Instead of breaking a window, can we pinch a car?" Scudboat questioned, causing some of the other men to snicker. "What? Everybody else is getting a bloody car. I'm still on a donkey."