Chapter 19 - Faith and Order
John, Arthur and Grace returned to Polly's home.
"We've come to collect the table for two!" Arthur shouted as he crossed the threshold.
"Quiet! Karl is sleeping," Aunt Polly whispered harshly.
"Where's Thomas?" Grace asked gingerly. Polly resisted slightly before sharing any words with Grace.
"He's outside. But leave him be for a moment, would you?" said Polly.
"Why? What's wrong?" asked Grace concerned.
"Great, we are gone for a few hours, and he's already in trouble," proclaimed Arthur.
"Remind you of anyone?" John said, pointing his question at Arthur. Arthur pretended to punch him.
"He's perfectly fine, he just needed some air," she said with a fake smile. Grace could see Thomas and Ada sitting outside through the window. She wondered what they could be talking about, but it looked like Ada was doing most of the work.
"Do you think he's ready to go back to work?" asked John.
"I don't think he has a choice in the matter, Johnny boy. And besides, best get it over with now than later," said Arthur. He made a large, rounded gesture outward from his own mid section. "Stop it," said Grace as she hit him in the shoulder.
"Alright alright. I'll go collect him, " said Arthur.
"Oye!" Arthur called out to them. Ada whipped her head around toward the interruption. "Hey! Can't you see we are having a conversation!" she chastised. Arthur glanced at Thomas who sat on the other side of the bench. His eyes were unfocused, not looking at anything. One palm rested at the side of his swollen abdomen, the other on his knee. "You can finish it later. We have business to attend to," said Arthur in softer tone. "Business! Do you really think that's best?" she protested. Thomas snapped out of his daydream briefly. "Yes, uh, yes, we have to go, Ada," said Tommy. She looked concerned. Tommy slowly stood from his seat. Arthur thought he needed help, but Tommy didn't allow it or didn't notice. "Shall we then?" he said. Arthur looked worryingly at him. "Yeah, come on," said Arthur. They all went back inside. He dropped his hand as the entered, but it found it's way back once they got in the car. Thomas was quiet for most of the ride.
"Tommy," Grace said quietly. He turned his head to her.
"You haven't said a word since we came to fetch you," she said.
"I'm sorry Grace, I've just been preoccupied," he replied.
"Is everything alright? I know everyone keeps bothering you, but are you?" she asked carefully. John turned his head around from the front seat. Thomas gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Everything's fine Grace, everything's fine," he said smiling. She hadn't seen that smile in a long while.
People bustled left and right as they entered their establishment. The facility seemed to come back to life with Tommy's arrival. He felt comfortable returning to an office still locked, everything left in it's place. Tommy brushed the top of his desk lightly with his fingertips, taking a layer of dust with him. A half smile tugged the corner of his lip. "So what's the first order of business, Tommy?" asked Arthur. Tommy reclaimed his thrown and unlocked one of the drawers. He pulled out important, but neglected documents, schemes past made and treasured knowledge never disclosed. Long awaited excitement made the baby stir. His hand subconsciously went to calm it underneath the desk.
"Right, you said people started losing faith. Let's give them something to believe in," Tommy responded. Arthur and John took seats. Grace stood in the corner of the room. Aunt Polly stood beside Arthur's chair lighting a cigarette.
"Arthur, John, and myself will survey the facility, show our faces and give strict orders to cocky personnel," said Thomas.
"You want to be seen! And what about your situation?" interrupted Polly.
"I'll get to that, but we need to restore some faith and order in this business if we are to take back London," replied Thomas.
"Faith and order. You make us sound like a God damn Church," jested John. Polly shot him a nasty look, which shut his mouth.
"Alright, after we comb through our entire facility, I want Arthur to make a soldier speech about our company's new legislation. How it will be run. No more reliances or dependence if people act out, stricter code and control on how we train our people," continued Tommy.
"I can do that Tom," concurred Arthur.
"What about me Tommy?" asked John eagerly.
"I want you and Grace to be in charge of the bookies and finances. You did a great job of it last time, now we have another pair of eyes to make sure nothing is being messed with without our knowledge," replied Tommy.
"I'm sorry, but why is Grace involved in this?" Polly said directly, taking a drag from her cigarette. "Esme and I have been running the books without her. Why does she need to be involved," she continued. Tommy studied her face before answering.
"If you have been running the books Polly, then you've done a very poor job of late. We wouldn't be having this meeting, now would we?" he said coldly. Aunt Polly reserved her anger in silence.
"Now then, I want Grace involved so that she is better protected during the day while helping us with the books as she has done before. In addition, she can help us pick out Sabini's newest spies," said Thomas. Grace was a little taken back by this request.
"Can you do that for us, Grace?" he asked kindly. Grace simply nodded.
"Good. As far as us surveying the company, we can have some men with us if we like, but Sabini won't harm me, at least not yet," continued Thomas.
"Oh, and what makes you so sure of this Thomas?" asked Polly as she put out her cigarette.
"Because he has had plenty of chances to do so and he hasn't. He has left me alone in this state, which tells me that he is waiting for something. What that is, I'm not entirely sure," said Tommy as his family members exchanged looks, "but one thing is for certain, he isn't going to suspect that I would show myself openly."
"Presenting ourselves to the company with ensure faith and fear, and God knows we need both to control our current situation," he continued.
"And the spies, Tommy?" asked Arthur.
"The spies, yes. When we find them, by order of the Peaky Blinders, put Sabini's dogs down."