𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 26

Isiah and Florence laughed loudly as they walked into the snug of the Garrison alone. "Harry." she knocked on the wood beside the window that separated the room from the bar. "Yes, Miss Gray?" he wiped his hands on a cloth.

"A bottle of whiskey please, and two glasses." she said politely. He nodded, turning and grabbing the item.

"On the house." he smiled, handing her them. She nodded and poured two glasses, handing one to Isiah. "So," he began. "Heard you threatened to shoot John." he grinned.

"I did." she huffed, sitting down and crossing her legs. "Why's that?" he asked. "Pissed me off didn't he." she shrugged.
He laughed at her slightly, amused at the way her mind worked. "So does ya mum still not know that you work for Tommy?"

"Nope, but i think Micheal had an idea. I shut him down quickly though." she sipped the liquid. "How'd ya do that?"

"Well, i can think of lies quickly than i can say them. I'm one of the only people he can't read like a book."

-

"It's not fair." Esme said with a stern tone. "They're off drinking and shooting rifles and we sit here. Listening to the mugs swearing. Spitting on the bloody floor for us to fucking wipe up." she shouted.

"What's going on?" Florence asked, placing her bag down. Lizzie looked up at her. "Without men here, they'd be like dogs pissing up the wall." The angered woman spoke.  "I was just saying it's not fair. The men are down there like lords,"

"Esme, just get on with it" Polly scolded with a shake of her head. "I'm bloody five months gone!" Esme raised her voice.

Florence looked between the two with amusement on her face. Esme was a character — she knew what opinions she had and she wasn't afraid to be open about them. Florence liked that.

"Forgot the combination." Polly groaned with her head against the safe. "24-8-22" Lizzie told her. "How do you know the paper cash combination?" Polly asked, turning her head toward the woman.

"Tommy talks in his sleep." Esme teased.
"Shut up Esme." Lizzie hissed.

"He's changed the combination." Polly pressed.

Lizzie huffed in annoyance and walked to the older woman. "You've put it in wrong."

"No i haven't."

"You been drinking, Mum?" Florence asked, watching the woman stumble about. She ignored her. Esme sniffed cocaine off her hand. Polly said nothing. "And actually, i am sleeping with Tommy, now and then. Because he wants to when the mood takes him." Lizzie told them.

"Right, Lizzie, nobody asked," Florence said. Lizzie looked round.

"None of its fucking fair." Esme said again.
"Where are the lads anyway?" Florence asked. "Gone off for a meeting, somewhere private, they don't trust anyone." Lizzie said.

"Course they are," the young brunette sighed.

There was a bang on the door. It was Polly who went to open the door and to their surprise, there stood Linda. She entered and put her hat on the table to reveal her perfect, blonde curls. "Arthur said you'd be short staffed today because they are on a works outing."

"A works outing my arse." Florence scoffed whilst playing with a pencil in her hand.

"I brought sandwiches and lemonade i made myself," Linda sighed, proudly. "I'll make tea and empty ashtrays but i won't handle money or slips," she nodded. "Arthur says what you do here is illegal but not immoral."

"Why you here then Linda, will god not be angry with you?" Florence mocked.

"Depends what time you get here Linda." Esme told Linda. "And anyway i thought i'd offer you my physical and spiritual support in your time of need." Linda explained.

"What's she talking about?" Florence asked her mother.

"Oh Linda if you want to be a help, run up to the shops and get me twenty senior service." Polly asked. "Lizzie will give you the change." she tormented.

"No i won't." Lizzie laughed and crossed her arms.

"Actually i'll use my own money, Polly. And before you ladies decide to find me so amusing, i have a message for you—"

"Oh god no Linda," Polly grabbed her head. "I've been to church already."

"It's not a message from God, Polly. It's from Jessie Eden."

"Who's Jessie Eden?"

"She's the lady shop steward at the Lucas factory in Sparkhill."

"Lady shop steward?" Esme asked. "She's bringing all the female workers in the spot welding and wire cutting shops out on strike for the day. A protest at being made to work on a holy day. Poor conditions, lack of holidays, unsanitary lavatory provisions." Linda explained.

"And lower pay for female workers."