Tommy left Charlie with Polly and drove to London. As he neared the edge of town, he saw dark smoke barreling into the sky. Thinking a factory building caught fire he continued to his office. Once inside he began making calls to find Lizzy. He was on the phone with an inspector when Mosely burst into his office.
"Where did you run off to yesterday?" He barked as Tommy hung up his receiver.
"Did you find out who made that drawing?" Tommy asked, ignoring Mosely's question.
"I didn't. But someone else did." Mosely responded and Tommy looked at him curiously.
"The papers fell from the building across the street. This morning, a body was found." Mosely clarified as he looked at Tommy over imaginary glasses. "That cameraman from the club. He worked for the newspaper. Had all kinds of access to make the prints."
"Well." Tommy said. "At least we know. Eh?"
"What's got you all chipper today? Especially in light of everything that's happened."
Tommy paused at looked at Mosely, "I'm not."
"Yes, you are. I don't think I've ever seen you this cheerful. And I think I know why…"
Tommy looked at him, wondering what he was thinking.
"You were the one, weren't you?" Mosely said and Tommy stared at him. Not wanting to reveal anything accidentally. "You shot the cameraman."
Tommy chuckled a breath as he exhaled.
"I knew it." Mosely said as he slammed his hand on the desk, a large smile crossing his face. "You were testing me when you asked if I knew, weren't you? You sly thing."
"We are politicians, Oswald." Tommy said with a wink. "We don't kill people."
"Right." Mosely said as he sent a wink back, catching on to Tommy's meaning. "Well, that's wonderful. You are on top of it. He is gone and the club is gone, now-"
"Club?" Tommy asked, interrupting him.
"Yes, it went up in flames in the early morning hours. Was a mess, I tell you. Firemen and trucks everywhere trying to get it out. But it was a lost cause. Burnt completely to the ground."
Tommy's eyes grew wide.
"I know. It's awful, it was a nice club, except for the fact it was Jewish. It had to go. Too bad about its owner. Oh well." He said as he shrugged and began to walk out. "Keep up the good work."
Tommy waited until he was clear of Mosely before he called Nancy in his office.
"Yes, sir?" She said.
"Shut the door please." He instructed and she did. "The, uh, club near Camden Town… have you heard if anyone…. Was anyone inside?"
She looked back at the door, ensuring it was closed. "No sir. Everyone was out. Thankfully, the area was cleared days ago. There were no injuries or casualties."
"The owner?" He asked, Mosely's words troubling him.
"I've heard…" Nancy paused, letting Tommy know she didn't just hear what she was about to say. "That the owner was seen this morning in another factory building. Working diligently and taking headcounts of everyone from the area, just to be sure."
Tommy's shoulders relaxed. "Right. Well, do I have any messages?"
"Yes, an inspector called while Mr. Mosely was in your office. Asked you to give him a ring."
"Thank you, Nancy." She turned to walk out before Tommy said, "Oh and Nancy, how is your aunt?"
Nancy smiled a knowing smile and said, "Unfortunately, my aunt left us last year. But her memory lives on." And she walked out.
Tommy arrived at Polly's and walked in.
"How was he?" Tommy asked his aunt.
"Good. He did stay close to me all day. I think he's still a bit rattled."
Tommy raised his eyebrows as if to say, "I don't doubt it."
"He did mention it was a woman that pulled him out of the creek." Polly said.
"Yes."
"Who is she?"
Tommy cleared his throat and ignored her question. "An inspector found Lizzy and Ruby. They boarded a ship last night to America. No doubt at the urging of Linda."
Polly stared at him. "Are you going to bring her back?"
"No."
"NO?" Polly repeated in shock.
"No. Not yet." Tommy clarified. "With everything happening here, I can't go spend weeks in America trying to bring them back."
"But you will?"
Tommy didn't respond.
"So, you're not going to tell me who this woman is?"
He looked at her. "She's a soldier." And he stood and summoned his son to leave.
"And?" Nora asked Ishmael impatiently.
"Everyone has been found. There was no one at the site when they set it on fire."
"Good." Nora nodded, pleased.
"You knew that was going to happen, didn't you?"
"'course I did. They weren't just going to do nothing."
"Who did it?"
"Don't know. Either one of Mosely's men or some of his supporters. Doesn't matter." She waved a hand.
"They're setting our buildings on fire. How does that not matter?"
"It is going to get worse before it gets better, Ishmael. You know that. He still has supporters, until that stops; we keep doing what's necessary. I want men on the perimeter at all times."
Ishmael nodded and left the office. Nora left her building and walked to a bakery across the street.
"Good evening Miss Solomons. What can I get for you today?" The young clerk said as Nora eyed the bread.
"Ethel, how are you today?" Nora responded distractedly.
"I'm well." The girl said before she hesitated, and Nora looked at her. "Miss…. The club burnt down…"
"Yes?"
"Is there reason to be frightened?"
Nora looked at the young girl, nineteen-years-old at the most. She could see the worry in Ethel's eyes and felt compassion for the girl.
"No, Ethel. You just stay close to the bakery. No one is coming this deep into Camden without us knowing about it. You have nothing to fear."
"I was sad when they said Mr. Solomons was shot. He always took care of us. He was frightening…" She laughed, "But he protected us. And I'm glad you're here now."
"I think you are the only one that would say that aloud." Nora laughed.
"No. They talk about it, the people that come in here. When that awful man started blaming us for everything that caused this crisis, we were all afraid. Elders said that's how it started in Russia. When you came back everyone felt just a bit safer." Ethel said as she smiled at Nora.
Nora nodded a thankful nod and then began to buy her bread.
The next week Anna came into Nora's office holding a small envelope.
"Nancy gave me this. Said it was for your eyes only." Anna said and Nora took the envelope.
"Thank you. Anna, how good of a shot are you?"
"I'm alright. Can shoot a bottle at 10 yards."
"I want you to gather some women who can shoot or at least has potential. None with children."
"May I ask why?"
"Things are going to get worse. I want to make sure I have enough guns. Women are easily hidden. I also want to put some on the borders. Make sure the women know what they are agreeing to. Once you get me numbers, I will get them all guns and holsters they can hide under their dresses. Would you be willing?"
"Absolutely. I was made for this." Anna said as she smiled with pride.
"Good girl. Go on soldier." Nora said dismissing her.
Nora opened the envelope and read:
I have news. Come after dark.
Don't be daft, burn after reading.
Nora rolled her eyes at Tommy's cheekiness but did as she was told and burnt the note. After the sun had set, Nora left London and travelled to Birmingham. She exited her car and walked up the front steps. Before she could ring the bell, the door opened.
Charlie stood in the entryway and held out his hand. "Hello. My name is Charles Shelby."
Nora chuckled as she walked in and shook his hand. "Hello, Charlie. My name is Nora. It's nice to officially meet you."
"Thank you for saving my life." He said, his mannerisms making her smile as he attempted to act a gentleman.
"You don't have to thank me for that. I'm that glad I did."
"Did I do it right Dad?" Charlie asked, turning his attention to his father.
Tommy nodded and Charlie looked back at Nora and smiled before turning and running up the stairs.
"What was that?" Nora asked as she smiled at Tommy.
"You saved his life, he owed you a 'thank you. Shelby men are taught to show respect and be polite.'" He answered as he led her to his study.
"Oh, are they?" Nora asked in an unbelieving tone as she held back a laugh.
"Yes." He said as he shut the door behind her and walked to his drinking cart. "Drink?"
"Please." She responded as she sat.
He handed her a glass of whiskey as she lit a cigarette. He sat in his seat across from her and looked at her, his eyes soft.
"You have news?" She asked, a small hint of annoyance in her tone.
"Yes. I do." He said as he leaned forward and intertwined his fingers on his desk. "Mosely is planning a rally to combat the allegations in the paper and that drawing. He thinks simply releasing a statement isn't enough."
"When?"
"Three weeks."
"Three weeks? I can do a lot more damage by then." Nora said as if the plan was ridiculous.
Tommy nodded, "I am waiting on plans of the building. Once I get those, we can go over them and discuss strategy."
"Can we?" Nora said, her smirk returning. "Is that really a good idea, treacle?"
He looked at her confused.
"The last time you planned to take him out at a rally, all my people ended up in prison." She mocked.
He rolled his eyes, "This time is different." She raised her eyebrows as she looked at him. "I'm not going to try to kill him at this rally. You're right."
"I know. I am…" She nodded in agreeance. "Just for curiosity's sake, right about what exactly?"
"If we outright kill him, he will be a martyr. We don't want that. We have to tear him down first. Once we rid him of his supporters then we can kill him."
"Oh, yes. Right. That. I am right." Nora nodded, taking credit for Tommy's words of her strategy. "I will send men and women to the rally."
"No, no Jews."
"I have men who don't look the part. They are some of my best men. Shaved their beards and cut their hair. They'll grow it all back once this is all over, but they made that sacrifice for our cause. They are useful men."
Tommy nodded as his look changed from business, back to soft blue eyes. "Alright."
"Good." She said looking at him, knowing the look in his eyes. "I should be off."
"you don't have to." He offered.
"Yes, I do." She said as she looked back at him. "That won't happen again, Mr. Shelby. It shouldn't have happened in the first place. It's time to get back to business." And she walked out the door, leaving Birmingham.