𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 71

The man walked through the dark, cold hall, stopping in front of Micheal as snow fell. "I'm here on behalf of your wife Gina and Jack Nelson. Mr Nelson's prepared to get you out of here. But first he needs an answer to a question. If the answer is yes, you'd be released. If the answer is no, you'll stay."

"I have consulted my mother,"

"Your mothers dead" the priest said. "Nevertheless, i've consulted her. And, yes, when i'm released it is my intention to kill Tommy Shelby"

-

Micheal walked out to the door, running a hand over his hair. He placed his hat on his head, lighting a cigarette. "You want a drink first or a whore first?" the man asked.

"I want to see my wife first"

"After you've fucked your wife, you're going to kill a man, right?" he asked. Micheal ignored him, walking past him and getting inside the car.

-

Lizzie sniffed as Tommy closed the door to Ruby's room. "The smoke from your daughters funeral is still in your clothes..and you slept with someone. Not just someone, the enemy" she let a singular tear fall. "Every enemy we ever had in one woman."

"There are some things that i do, Lizzie-"

"You're not so good at lying any more, Tommy," she interrupts him. "These days the truth gets in your eyes"

"I have to go to Canada, Lizzie. I need to know where you will go" Tommy places his hands in his pockets.

"You see? You just accept it" she whispered. "You don't fight it. You are cursed, Tommy. Never to understand the limits that other people will accept. Never to be allowed in where everybody else is. A curse never to be lifted."

"I will be away, Lizzie. And while i'm gone, i know a place-"

"Always gone. Always away. I went to Florence for a bit of advice, she said she wouldn't speak badly on your name. All she told me was to think of Charlie. Think of myself " she mocked. "Well now your rings are gone, your rings are away. I'm already packed" Lizzie's voice cracked as she held her hand up. "Now leave me to say goodbye to Ruby"

Tommy licked his bottom lip, leaving the room and walking out to the stables where Charles sat. "I have to go away for a bit, Charlie." he said as the boy washed his hands in the water. "Look at me. Hey, look at me,"

"Mum already told me she's leaving. And she told me why."

Lizzie walked inside, joining them. Tommy leaned against the fence.

"Mum, where are you going?" Charlie asked. "A hotel..and then your father will get me a house." she said quietly.

"Mum...i'll come with you, i'd rather be with you, wherever it is. You're not my mum, but you're more my mum than he is my dad. He's never here, i'd be on my own here,"

"Oh, Charles, love" Lizzie breathed. "I don't think your father would allow that."

Tommy stared at the floor, listening before looking up. "You can go," he said. "You can go, son, i know a good place, Lizzie, i'll arrange that place. And, Charlie, you can take him, eh?" he nodded toward the white horse. "They have stables at this new place, after a while he'll listen to you. He'll forget about Ruby, that's how horses are."

"And you'll be here all alone?" She asked.

"I'm buying land, Lizzie. I'm buying up land. This place i've bought, i was going to knock down but you can go there."

"Dad," Charlie stopped him. "Where will you go?"

Tommy ignored him, walking out of the stables. 

-

"You said you wanted to talk to me?" Florence asked as she walked into the Garrison where Arthur sat. He wiped him mouth, looking upset. He threw a large envelope onto the table. "What's this?"

"Open it" he said, sitting down.

She cautiously opened it, pulling out an X-ray. Florence lifted it up to the light, frowning at the image. "That's Tom's" he whispered. "Tubercular"

Florence's mouth parted and she threw it back down. "How did you get that?" she asked. Arthur looked at her. "Found it" he shrugged. "Does he know?" She asked him, "that you have it?"

He shook his head. "I'm going to go over to the office" his voice trembled. "Oh, Arthur" she whispered, pulling him close as he broke down on her shoulder. "First..fucking John. And now..and now Tom" he whispered.

Florence felt a sharp pain in her chest as she held the older man. She couldn't figure out if it was because of what she'd found out, or because of Arthur's state.

-

Arthur stumbled to his feet. "I know, i stole your keys" he told Tommy. "Tuberculoma," he whispered, throwing the X-ray to the desk. "In your brain"

"Yeah, but i still have time to do what i need to do." Tommy sighed.

"Fuck you, Tommy."

"I don't need anyone to know, Arthur."

"No you don't, do you? You don't need anything do ya?" Arthur said quietly.

"No, i don't need anything. I don't need anything. How long have we been dead for, eh? You and me. At least now i'll have a certificate."

Arthur scoffed.

"Wherever it is, i'll get the drinks in and i'll wait for you." Tom raised his voice. Arthur sat. "Fucks sake,"

"Yeah, all them bullets that missed. It's funny, Arthur. It's funny is what it is. So don't you fucking weep"

Arthur kicked the table. "Weep?"

"When everyone is taken care of financially i'll take myself away. On my own. I don't want anyone..anyone who may or may not love me, to have to see me crawl, and grow insane and helpless. That would be a cruelty to me and to them. By the time people know the truth, i will be gone."

"What about Lizzie?"

"I have some papers i need you to sign on behalf of the company," he said.

"Told Lizzie?"

"I'm working with the housing minister. I will be allocating contracts, construction contacts worth ten million pounds."

"You haven't told Lizzie?"

"Some contracts i'll be allocating are with companies in which we have an interest-"

Arthur wiped the papers off the table. "Fuck you and your contracts!"

"So the Shelby Company Limited will continue to earn money. But mostly, Arthur, i'm doing it because it's a good thing. Building houses."

"Oh" Arthur said sarcastically.

"Yeah, for ordinary working people"

"Yeah. Good for you. Fucking-"

"I'm the interests of a fairer future. Before that, i will be going to Canada, to collect payment for the shipment. Five million pounds," he shouted.

"Five fucking million!" Arthur shouted back.

"Which i will share among the Shelby family. And that will be my legacy, instead of me, there will be money. Because for most of the people who are close to me, that is what i am, fucking money. That's my agency"

"Is that all you think you are, eh? Hm? Stand up" Arthur walked round to him. "You heard me, stand up, on your feet." he kicked the chair. "On your fucking feet"

"Arthur"

"On your feet, soldier. On your feet." he grabbed Tommy by the shirt and dragged him. "Stand the fuck up"

Tommy fought against him. "Arthur! No, enough!" he shouted, pushing him against the wall.

He left him fall. "Enough!"

Arthur held the table, pushing back tears.

"Now you know, you tell no one else. Until i'm gone."

"Until your gone, yeah? Well Florence already fucking knows" he whispered.

"When the time comes, i'll call you. I'll tell you where, it'll be a wagon"

"Fuck your wagon" he shouted.

"You light the flame. You bring Charlie, Florence and Curly, no one else. Get drunk, rake the ashes for silver and gold"

"Fuck you! And your fucking plans!" Arthur held his head, looking up at the portrait of John. "That time i did let you fucking win. John" he raised his glass. "Fuck you, John." he sobbed. "Fucking both of you"

"Arthur, Arthur" Tommy held his shoulder. "Come here, come here" he repeated, holding his face. "Let me see your eyes"

"I'm clean, man, the dragons fucking gone. Thanks to you, fucking thanks to you" he said, grabbing Tommy and holding him in a tight embrace.