𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 13

"Who are we?" John shouted at the peaky blinder boys. "The small heath rifles" they shouted back. John grinned, ruffling his younger brother's hair and following them outside. Florence trailed behind them with a light grin on her lips. John turned to her.
"I heard you're apart of this business now," John said, "To a certain extent." she nodded. "Only until i'm fifteen, the Tommy said i can be involved more."

"Polly ain't gonna be happy if she finds out."

"She won't find out." Florence whispered.

Florence sat on the edge of the van, kicking her feet, waiting patiently, "Is that Arthur?" she whispered. "I'm back!" he shouted, looking at everyone. "What the bloody hell are you doing here, does Polly know you're here?" he shouted. "Tommys orders." she sighed.

"You're late." John stated. "Please, i had business." Thomas told him as he appeared. Arthur wrapped his arms around Tommy.
"How did you get me out of that?" he asked. "I need you today brother." Tommy smiled "We pulled some strings, you all right?"

"I am now." Arthur laughed.

John watched carefully. "So Arthur's back in charge now?" he asked, looking away.  "He's in charge of you." Tommy pointed at the younger boy. "And you're both in charge of him, lookout duties only today and everyone is to keep an eye on Florence." he said, referring to the youngest Shelby.

"Tom i'm getting sick of this." Finn spoke up. "Finn," Tommy said, "you don't obey orders, you don't come." Finn stayed quiet, taking a step back.

"Johnny doggs," he smiled. "Tommy."

Florence looked the strange man up and down for a quick moment.

"Your boys will meet us there?" he asked. "Well the Lees will be there Captain." Johnny said. "Captain?" Tommy frowned. "I've promoted you," Johnny informed him. "Well the boys say you're no longer like a sergeant major. Fucking those rich woman and using those fancy words." he added.

Tommy looked behind him.

"I'd say you're more like a captain these days," Johnny said quietly. "Fine well i'll take it as a compliment, just don't bloody shoot me." Tommy whispered. "Let's go to the Derby boys." he said, walking toward the front of the van. "Florence you can sit in the front." he offered his hand to his cousin to help her into the van.

-

Florence watched as Tommy stood on the side of the van, a bag over his shoulder, the rest of the men holding gun. She attempted to listen to the conversation he was having.
"Gentlemen, today we are not fucking about, i hope you've all obeyed instructions and brought loaded firearms with you."

They all replied with a quick yes.

"Good, you will all know that if you are lifted on a racetrack these days, with a loaded weapon, you get 20 years." he stated. "That's all right, today you won't get lifted. Because today there will be no coppers around to lift you. At exactly three o'clock, there will be an incident in the owners enclosure. All the coppers on the track will be diverted, all of them" he nodded. "They'll be looking for someone. You'll be free to operate at will:"

"Looking for who?" Arthur interrupted. "Me, they will be looking for me." Tommy told him. "Now while the coppers are busy with me, you will make your move in Sabini's pitches. You confiscate his takings, destroy his licenses and you do it at gun point." he instructed. "He usually has police protection so he won't be armed."

Small grins appeared on each of the boys faces.

"We should aim to complete the takeover without a shot being fired, understood?"

A takeover, that's what it was.

"Remember, the licenses are more important than the takings. All right before the fun begins." he stepped onto the floor. "You can all lay ten bob on Nom De Guerre, i hear she's going to win. Only beer before hand boys," he reminded them. "Plenty of time for rum and whisky after. And remember, do not make a move until three, that is all."

"What are you going to do that every copper at the Derby looks the other way?" Arthur laughed. Tommy lit a cigarette. "Trust me brother." he patted Arthur's back and returned to Florence.

"And what exactly am i supposed to do?" She asked

"Well you, you follow Arthur and John. They're robbing peoples racing licenses, you're going to be the one holding the gun."

"But won't they just laugh? I'm a kid." She said  "That's the point, they laugh and you cock the gun, let them know you're serious." he started up the van. "And if it doesn't work, Arthur will intervene."

-

Tommy offered his arm to Florence as they walked up to the stairs. She took it and watched the people around her. She watched as people stood around the bar and people placed bets, most of them drunk. "I have something to do, stay here with John and Arthur." he whispered, disappearing toward where the horses were being kept.

John and Arthur walked over to the betting station.

"Put this on Nom De Geurre," John told the man, sliding him money. Arthur stood behind him, his head facing down. Florence watched as Sabini walked in, men behind him.

"There he is," John said quietly. "Fucking meatball bollocks." Arthur said. "All right let's go," John said, placing a hand on Florence back. "Who's he?" she asked. " A bad man, Flo, a bad man."

"Mr Shelby," one of the policemen nodded as we walked outside.

"What is Thomas doing?" She asked. John looked down at her. "Checking on his horse," he said. "And that woman who looks after the horse." Arthur winked. "May Carleton?" Florence asked, "heard of her."

"John," she stopped him. "What?"

"Something feels off," she whispered, looking around. "You're just in an unfamiliar place." he waved her off. "John, i'm not Curly." she sighed, growing cautious.

She looked around and shivers crawled up her spine. Perhaps it was just because she was in an unfamiliar place but Florence was certain it was something else.