𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 31

Once finishing the conversation with the woman who had approached him, he looked around for a moment. "Thank you for your time—" he said nothing and walked away, looking at every place in the room. A frown was now clear on his features.

"Where's Charles, Ada?" he asked. "I gave him to you." she furrowed her brows in confusion. "Where is he?" he frowned. "I don't know." She shook her head.

"Boys-1" Tommy tried to stay calm. "Have you seen Charlie?" he asked. "I dunno he's playing ain't he?" Arthur looked over to the other children to realise Charlie wasn't there.

Florence too looked around from where she was stood but struggled to locate the boy.

"Pol wheres the Charles?" he asked again. Polly couldn't give him an answer. He turned to Lizzie who was mid conversation with someone. "Charles, have you seen him?"

"I don't know." She answered simply.

"Florence, where's Charlie?" He asked, panicking slightly. "I'm not sure, is everything okay?" She stepped toward him.

"Back door, kitchen. Get to Blake street where the cars are!" he said to them all. It was a demand not a request. Florence was the first out into the hall.

"Charles!" Florence shouted, running to the front of the house. "Charlie!" Arthur was outside right after she was and he grabbed her arm. "Ada said someone saw a woman getting into a car with him—" he breathed. Her eyes widened. "Shit."

"Charlie!" Tommy's voice rang out and cracked as he ran outside in a panic. He threw up on the pavement and Arthur grabbed him. "Stop. We've blocked off all the junctions, we've called Moss." he held his face. "You need to go to the office and sit by the phone, whoever took them is going to call."

-

"I need Micheal at the Maypole junction. Moss to block all the roads south." Tommy spoke quickly whilst he walked through the den. Polly pulled a chair for Florence.
Tommy held the phone, calling Moss before throwing it at the wall. "Tommy." Polly said.

"It's them." He said with wide eyes as he paced. "Look it might just be some random woman." Polly suggested.

"No, it's them." he was certain.

"Fucking who?" Florence shouted. "Did you break the phone?" Polly whispered, rushing to it."Tommy answer me for fucks sake!" Florence begged. "Father Hughes." he said. "You've broke the phone, it's all right we've got another." Polly interrupted.

"Tommy?" Ada shouted, walking in. "Ada?"

"There's someone outside, a priest."

Tommy rushed past her and outside into the rain. Florence's heart beat rapidly again just like earlier that day and she placed a hand to her chest, feeling unable to breathe. Ada's eyes landed on the girl. "Florence?"

No response.

"Florence, are you okay?" She asked. Again, no response. Ada kneeled beside her and put a hand on her back. "Can you breathe? What's the matter?" She asked with concern. Florence just stared at the table, a hand resting on it. Polly watched her daughter in confusion. Ada looked at Polly and neither of them knew what was happening.

Arthur walked in and was confused at the sight. "What's up with her?" He poured a glass of whiskey. Ada shook her head in response. "Florence?" Arthur asked. She slowly looked up at him.

After a few moments, Tommy returned and John appeared at the end of the den.

"Esme's waters broke, i was just with her running around fucking broke her waters." He said. "Where's Finn?" Tommy breathed heavily, his clothes soaked.

"Out with the youngers looking for the Riley:" Arthur said. "We can't reach him."

"I need to know who spoke—" Tommy breathed. "The enemies know everything. Everything. I need to know who spoke about the business outside the family."

-

"This morning i was out with Tommy on the road." Michael spoke. "I killed a man" Arthur looked at him. "He needed cover i was all he had."

"What did he give you?" Arthur asks. Michael pulled the gun. "Said it was good for close range."

"You're better with my gun." Arthur told him. "No, no this is mine now." Michael assured. "Feels part of me hand."

"Where'd you hit him?" John asked. "I hit him in the side of the head." Michael said.
"How was you when he went down?" Michael took a breath after the question. "Tommy said i did alright,"

"This is where we think Charles is being held" he showed him the paper."They're not expecting nobody, so you should be alone. There's two good men there. You do what they say."

"But i fire the bullet, all right?" Michael told him sternly.

"When you're sure the kids are safe, you call Finn."

-

Father Hughes opened the locked door, looking at the boy. "Hello there." he whispered. "Here you go, how's that?"
He placed food down in front of him.
"You like a spoon? A shiny spoon?"

Michael sat in the car, gun in hand. "You wait here." he told one of the men. "I'll do the killing, that's a fucking order." Micheal walked into the room with his gun at the ready. If he wasn't careful he could have himself killed or worse, Charlie.

Father Hughes walked out of the room, oblivious. He then saw Michael and his face fell. "What do you think your doing, boy?" he asked. Micheal cocked his gun and pressed it to Father Hughes' eye.

"Please don't. Please don't shoot." He panicked.

He then hit the gun from Michael's hand and began hitting him. Michael reached for a blade and brought it up to Hugh's face.
The two men who had drove Micheal entered and had their guns pointed. "I'll take him—" he said, pointing the gun. "No" Michael stopped him. "This bastards mine. Go call Finn."

He pushed the knife into his neck, watching the blood pour out. "This is for what you did to me and my fucking sister all them years ago." he shouted. Hughes face turned pale and his breathing stopped.

Michael sat against the wall, watching as Charles peaked his head round the corner, smiling at him innocently.

-

Michael walked into the office, Charlie in his arms. "Oh my god." All three of the woman jumped up. Ada took charles from him. Florence looked at her brother sadly and watched Polly go to him, touching his face. But Michael just stared at Florence. He brushed past Polly and went to his little sister who, in this light, looked just like the little girl she was all those years ago when they experienced the abuse from the church. Her eyes were glossy and her hair was messy.

"It's done." He whispered. "It's over Michael said to her. She let out a breath and he pulled her into a hug. "He's gone." He whispered into her hair. Florence held onto him tightly, the height difference allowing him to lean his chin on her head.

She felt a lump in her throat and tears burn in her eyes. But she refused to let them fall. She just held Michael tightly. "Thank you."