𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 57

Tommy walked into his office, looking at Polly who sat alone. "Arthur asked whose side i was on," she said. Tommy sat. "There will be a war, and one of you will die, but which one i cannot tell" she said.

He hummed. "He's gonna do it anyway"

"Yeah."

"You should know if Aberama takes his side, i will kill him." Tommy said. "And what about me" she asked. "I'll do what i have to do Pol,"

"Kill, and kill.." she said. "The only way to make people listen" he whispered. She grabbed an envelope,  placing it down. "Soon you will have a stage to stand on, millions of people will listen to you and you will run the country like you run this family"

"It appears to be what people want."

"But not me, not anymore, my resignation" she said. "You've destroyed my daughter, Thomas" she said before walking out.

-

"Look i have to go, yeah, i have to go" Finn said, patting Billy on the back. "Go where?" he asked. "They're shooting the fascist tonight" he said.

"They're gonna do what?"

Finn shushed him.

"Mosleys in town" Billy said. "Really?" Finn said sarcastically. "Look, go into town, get some drinks and some girl." he placed a roll of cash in front of him. "Listen to the radio"

Finn left and Billy glanced at the phone, hesitating before grabbing it.

-

"Micheal" Florence sighed, walking through the house. "I'm leaving, i'll be back later" she said, not wanting to talk to him.

"Where are you going?" he asked. "Mosley, they're killing him tonight. And i'm getting put in the fucking box with Barney" she said, fixing her lipstick.

Gina waltzed into the room, sipping her drink.

Florence left, leaving the two alone. Gina smacked her lips, grabbing the phone. "Gina what are you doing?" he asked. "Gina"

"I'd like to report something" she said over the phone. "Somebody called Florence Gray, at the town hall" she continued.

Michael's heart dropped.

"An assassination"

She put the phone down.

"Gina what the fuck have you done." he grabbed her wrists. "I've reported your dear old sister, Micheal" she grinned. "We can't all have what we want, can we?" she shrugged. "Do you not think it's strange how she's committed all these crimes and got away with them all?"

"She's my sister, Gina" He shouted. "Yeah, well, let's hope they'll put her in an insane asylum too"

-

"Here, look, a little" Arthur whispered, giving Barney some cocaine. "Here i'll join ya"

Florence nervously tapped her fingers on the wood. "You know what you're doing don't ya?" He asked. "Yeah, Tommy checks his pocket watch, i count to ten, then i blow the other blokes head off"

"Yeah" he nodded. "That's for after" he placed a vile in his pocket. "Thank you Arthur"

"Oh and Soldier, you're meant to..you run like fuck, don't stop."

"Run like fuck" Barney repeated.

They'd all made the decision to put Florence in the room with him to keep him in line, make sure everything went okay. She thought it was stupid. What difference would it make, she wasn't holding the gun.

-

Music began playing and lights were bright. Barney stood, his eye on the stage, gun in hand.

Aberama and Arthur stood at the wings, watching.  Florence's heart pounded. Something didn't feel right.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Oswald Mosley"

The crowd chanted as he walked to the stage. Florence breath began going shaky as she pressed her nails into her palms, causing crescent shaped marks to began bleeding.

Tommy joined him on the stage.

"Come on Barney" she whispered.

"Welcome, men and woman of Birmingham. Thank you for coming here on this cold, dark night, in spite of the obstruction and provocation of our enemies. Our enemies deal in bricks and stones and bottles. We deal in reasoned principles, argument and fact. Among those enemies, we can number Mr Winston Churchill.." he began. "Who last night, condemned me in the house as a threat to democracy."

"Them who've gone are the lucky ones. Them who've gone are the lucky ones" Barney whispered.

The cheering stopped. "But then Mr Churchill has never been a friend of the common people, faced with the alternative of saying goodbye to gold standard, and therefore to his own employment, he characteristically selected the latter. But of course, not all attending tonight will be convinced of out cause. Some will have come here tonight to find out for themselves what we stand for."

"So here are our guiding principles. Every citizen shall serve the state, Not the banks, not factions. Not the jews" he shouted.

The chant began again.

Florence sat patiently. "The barriers of class will be abolished and a greater Britain will be born"

"Whenever your ready Tom" she whispered.

Tommy checked his pocket watch and Barney began counting. During this countdown, Aberama Gold was killed, Arthur was attacked.

Florence counted down, waiting. She looked at the man who stormed in, screaming when he shot Barney in the back of the neck. "Fuck" she shouted, standing up and grabbing the man's wrist.

He pushed her up against the wall and placed his hands around her neck, hitting her with the side of the gun. Her head began bleeding and he let her fall to the floor, shooting her.

She gasped, her vision blurry as he walked out.

Arthur pushed away from Johnny dogs, running through the halls to the room. "Florence" he whispered, pushing the door open. "Johnny fucking help" he shouted, pulling the girl up to him.

"Oh my god" he whispered.

"Is she dead" Arthur cried. "Arthur come on we need to get her out of here"

Time moved in slow motion as they ran from the building, pushing past people. "Get out my fucking way" he shouted. "Oh Florence" he whispered, pushing her hair back as they got into the car.