Cut From The Same Cloth

by Wenlock

"Polly knew that Rose would do more than survive; she would thrive. She was indeed cut from the same cloth as Tommy – and that would be both her blessing and her curse." What began as a brief imagining of a younger Shelby sister, Rose, and an encounter with Alfie Solomons, has grown into a story of life growing up in the most notorious family in Birmingham.

11. Safe

Thank you so much to those who took the time to give me some feedback last week. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story and want to stick with it. You are all lovely!

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The bannister was cool and solid against her skin. She leaned her head against it and closed her eyes, focusing on how it felt. It grounded her. She dare not move her head or she might float away. None of what was happening felt real. It was unlike anything she'd ever experienced and her brain was struggling to make sense of it all. She squeezed her knees into her chest even more, trying to make herself smaller and smaller, so as to maybe disappear. She didn't want to be here.

There was a heavy silence in the room. From her seat on the stairs, Rose could feel the uncertainty and fear rolling off everybody. If she reached out a hand, she felt sure she could touch it. What would fear feel like if you could touch it, she wondered. She decided it would burn like ice does when you touch it with bare skin.

The front door slammed, shattering the silence and she flinched violently. Her eyes flew open and she grabbed the banister with one hand to keep from floating away. She looked over to see Polly quickly stubbing out her cigarette in the kitchen and jumping to her feet. Seconds later Tommy swept around the corner.

At school they'd been learning how to write stories and the teacher had said that every story needs a hero, a man who comes in to save the day and rescue the damsel, someone who will make all the bad things good again. Rose knew they'd all been waiting in that heavy silence for their hero to come swooping in and make the bad things good again. Tommy was that hero, but Rose wasn't sure even he could fix all the bad things. And what's more, Rose was sure there were things Tommy wasn't telling them. The Irish accent floated into her head, "Tommy is working for me." She closed her eyes again, pushing her head against the bannister, trying to refocus. It didn't work. She could see his smirking face in the moonlight, hear Polly sobbing as the car drove away, taste the vomit in her mouth. She swallowed but the taste was still there.

"Polly, business first!" Tommy had raised his voice. He rarely did that. Rose knew that meant he was worried. Usually, he spoke quietly and deliberately, pausing often and taking control of the conversation. She opened her eyes and watched him as he listened to John tell him how the business had suffered. He was taking in all the new information and trying to work out a plan. She could see it in his face - the way his eyes tracked, the way he raised his head to look at the ceiling. He'd been blindsided. Clearly someone as smart as him, or maybe even smarter, had pulled together many different threads and yanked the rug from right under him. He was scrambling. Rose looked away, at the floor, at her boots, anywhere except the vexed face of her hero. There was no fixing this, she was sure.

Polly was shouting now. She was terrified for Michael. She wanted Tommy to send Esme out. "She's not blood!" Tommy raised his voice even more. "Enough!" Rose wished they'd stop. She felt like she was going to burst inside. She put her feet down a step and wrapped her arms around her waist as if she were holding herself together so as not to explode. She knew why all this was happening. She knew who was responsible for it all.

"It's men that have done the damage! It's men fighting like cockerels that have put us here in the first place." Polly was furious. Rose disagreed with her though.

"It's one man that has done the damage."

Every eye turned to her. She knew she wasn't supposed to speak, but she had been waiting and waiting to speak to Tommy and she couldn't wait any longer.

"What?" Tommy asked impatiently. He'd barely noticed she was there and now he had, he wanted her to stay out of it.

Rose pulled herself up on the banister and held onto the rail to keep from swaying. She felt dizzy and sick.

"I know who's done all this. I don't know how but I know who he is. He was there last night when they took Michael. He's called Campbell. He's a police inspector."

Tommy's mouth dropped open as he heard her say that name. He couldn't fathom how on earth she knew. She was right, of course. But the rest of the family knew nothing of him. One by one, they all looked from Rose to Tommy and back again.

Tommy cleared his throat. "How do you know any police inspectors?"

"He stopped me from going into school last week. He was mean to me. And he said horrible things about you, Tommy. He said he could hurt you or kill you. He said you weren't a good man."

A blind rage came over Tommy. He knew she was telling the truth and, not for the first time, was filled with a desire to cut Campbell's throat. That Irish accent floated into his ears also, echoing in the church where he'd just met him: "And don't think I've forgotten about your wee sister either. Rose – such a lovely name. She's a pretty wee thing, looks just like you. Except for that awful red hair of hers but what can you do? I imagine that's from her filthy Gypsy blood."

It took every fibre of Tommy's self-control not to punch him and keep punching until that smug face was unrecognisable.

"I happen to know that her only legal guardian, your father, abandoned her when she was a baby. And, of course, your poor dear mother died not long after. That means your baby sister is a sure candidate to be made a ward of the state. And I have no doubt that the state would take better care of her then you are currently. I hear the nuns who run St Gilda's Home for Girls run a tight ship. One word from me, Thomas, and social services will be knocking on your door."

John interrupted his thoughts. "Tom, who is she on about?"

Tommy didn't answer but gripped the back of the chair to steady himself. Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse.

Rose didn't mention that Campbell had said Tommy worked for him. She was astute enough to realise it wasn't a good idea to announce it in front of the family. She noticed Polly looking at her in surprise.

"You told me a policeman stopped you from going to school. That was him, the one who took Michael?"

Rose nodded. Tommy turned on Polly angrily.

"You knew? You knew he'd stopped her in the street and you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't know it was him! I didn't realise, I…I thought…"

"Tommy, it's not her fault. I wanted to tell you. I tried to speak to you so many times, but you were always busy."

Tommy closed his eyes and pulled a hand down his face. So that was what had been bothering her these last two weeks. No wonder she'd looked so worried. He clenched his fists. That devil scum had accosted his sister in the street and had poisoned her mind with his twisted words. He was going to pay for this - for Arthur, for Michael, for his threats. A plan began to formulate in his head. He looked up at Esme.

"Esme, we'll take up their offer. We need men."

Polly couldn't believe this was how he was choosing to proceed, after everything that had just happened to his family. She moved towards Tommy. "If Michael ever gets out of prison, I am taking him away from this family for good. This life is bad."

Rose watched as she walked over to Finn. She was right and Rose began to understand why Polly wanted her out of Small Heath. This life was bad. Last night had caused Rose to grow up quickly and she could see a little more beneath the surface now. Her brothers weren't just a gang of rascals who made money on the horses and avoided the police. They dealt in threats and violence and murder. Arthur might hang. Michael had left his little village to find himself looking at years in prison. Tommy was gathering an army. To say nothing of what was really going on with Campbell.

Polly was pulling Finn across the room. "This life is all bad."

Finn was confused. "Aunt Pol, what are you doing?"

"Shut up and walk."

As Polly moved past Rose she beckoned her down the stairs. Rose, accustomed to leaving with Polly, climbed down the stairs and took the hand Polly was holding out to her. They started towards the kitchen.

"No. Not Rose. Rose stays here."

Polly, Rose and Finn all stopped and looked back at Tommy. Polly was having none of it.

"Rose comes with me. She's not staying here!"

"Yes, she is, Pol. Let her go."

Rose was shocked. All the times she'd begged Tommy to allow her come home and now was the time he was letting her?

Polly was adamant. "This is no place for a child. Certainly not now. She's coming home with me like usual." She moved to turn round.

Tommy took a couple of steps towards them. Polly could see he was deadly serious.

"She stays where John or I can keep an eye on her. She's safest here in Small Heath with Peaky men around her."

Polly frowned. "Safe? Why does she need to be kept safe?"

Tommy licked his lips and slid his eyes from her gaze, and suddenly Polly understood.

"He's threatened her, hasn't he? That inspector? He's threatened your eleven year old sister. See this, Tommy, this is what I wanted to keep her from. But, oh no – you had to start a war, didn't you? And now, she's been dragged into it. Are you happy? Is this what you wanted?"

Rose's stomach dropped to her boots and her legs threatened to buckle. Campbell was after her too? Would he hurt her like he said he'd hurt Tommy? Would he kill her?

Tommy looked at Rose's white face and clenched his jaw. No, this wasn't what he'd wanted. But Campbell was shrewd and he'd underestimated him. He'd known exactly how to get to Tommy. What Campbell didn't know was that Tommy was at his best when he was backed into a corner. And if he hadn't been motivated enough to vow revenge on Campbell so far, then this threat against his family had engraved that vow into his very soul.

He held out a hand to Rose and waved her over to him with it. "Come here, Rose. You're staying here with me now."

Rose looked up at Polly anxiously, not knowing who to obey. Polly looked down at her with tears in her eyes and let go of her hand. "Go on, love. Tommy will take care of you." And with that, she turned abruptly and led an even more confused Finn out of the room.

Rose looked back at Tommy but didn't go over to him. He sighed. He knew she was scared. He'd talk to her later and smooth things over. Right now, he had more prescient things to deal with. He agreed to have Esme go to The Black Patch to ask Queen Mary Lee for men. She told John to go and bring the car round, then looked over at Rose.

"Rose, why don't you go with him? You look like you could use some air."

Now it was Rose's turn to look confused. She looked at Tommy who, realising Esme wanted to talk to him alone, nodded at Rose.

"Go with John, you'll be fine with him. Esme's right, you look like you could do with some air."

John stood up. "Come on, Rosie. Keep me company, eh?"

Rose didn't really want to go but she didn't have the energy to protest. She put her coat on, followed John out of the door and took his hand as they started off towards the garage.

Walking alongside John, she realised Esme and Tommy had been right – she was grateful for some air. She breathed deeply, letting the cold air fill her lungs. She held tight to John's hand. Although she felt safe with him, she was still expecting to see Campbell around every corner. John sensed her nervousness and squeezed her hand.

"You know we won't let anything happen to you, don't you, Rosie?"

"Yeah." She didn't sound convinced. John stopped and crouched down in front of her, taking her other hand. She looked so vulnerable in the bleak morning light – her face seemed colourless set against her loose red hair, the dark circles under her eyes looking black against her pale skin, her freckles standing out like someone had drawn them on with red ink, her brow furrowed, her cheeks looking pinched and gaunt. He wondered when she'd last eaten.

"Rosie, it doesn't matter who it is, if anyone wants to get to you, they'd have to get past a hundred Peaky men first and then me and Tommy and Aunt Pol too. And if this police inspector even thinks about hurting you, I'll…" He paused, deciding against describing in detail his plans for Campbell. "… then he'll wish he'd never come to Birmingham. We'll keep you safe. You know that, don't you?"

Rose nodded. "I know."

John stood up. "Good! Chin up then. You're a Shelby. Shelbys aren't afraid."

They are, she thought. They'd just been in a roomful of fearful Shelbys.

John continued the bravado. "Tommy will work out a plan, he always does. You should have seen him in France, Rose. He was always two steps ahead of the enemy and he always knew what to do. Nobody got out of more corners than Tommy."

Rose wondered what it would have been like for her brothers in France. They didn't talk about it much and she'd learnt not to ask. She'd seen pictures of them in uniform but she couldn't imagine them fighting in the mud with guns and bayonets.

They reached the garage and John opened the passenger door of the car then helped Rose up onto the seat. He climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine.

"Campbell said that our Tommy was working for him."

John turned his head to look at Rose. She'd pulled her knees up against her chest and had wrapped her arms around them. She looked at him nervously. He reached over and pushed her feet off the chair.

"Get your boots off the upholstery."

He took off the hand break and eased the car out of the garage.

"John"

"I heard you."

"And?"

"And what? You believe him? After everything he's just done to our family, do you really think Tommy would be working for him? He was just trying to scare you, Rose. Stop thinking about him."

Rose turned to look out of the window. She didn't think he'd been lying to her, but maybe she was wrong. Maybe John was right. She didn't see the frown settle on John's face.

It took five minutes to drive to Watery Lane. Esme was already standing outside waiting for them. She looked angry. John sighed when he saw her. What now? She'd be bending his ear all the way to The Black Patch. He pulled up and Esme opened the door to let Rose climb out, but before she did, she turned to her brother.

"Will they hang Arthur?"

John looked out of the front window. "No"

Neither of them believed him.

Esme pulled on Rose's sleeve to get her to move so she turned away from John and jumped out of the car. He called after her as she headed to the door of number six.

"Make sure you eat something, Rosie!"

Rose waved at him as she opened the door and stepped into the living room. She closed the door and pulled her coat tight around her. It was cold in the house; there were no fires lit. She went into the kitchen and stopped at the doors of the shop. Tommy was sat where she'd left him, leaning his chin on his folded hands. He sat absolutely still but she knew his mind was working furiously. He didn't acknowledge she was there. She watched him for a few minutes wondering if she should interrupt. Suddenly she shivered violently in the cold and Tommy turned at her sharp intake of breath. They looked at each other for a few seconds. Neither could think of anything to say even though there was an awful lot to say. Tommy stood up.

"I'll light the fire."

An hour later, Rose and Tommy were sat at the kitchen table having just finished a bowl of stew each from a pot which the wife of one of Tommy's men had brought round. The fire had warmed up the room considerably and Rose looked and felt a lot better. They hadn't spoken during food, they were comfortable just to be together and Rose knew that Tommy was still in his head, thinking out the next steps. By the time he'd made a pot of tea and poured a cup for each of them, he was back in the room. He noted with satisfaction how much better Rose looked. He lit a cigarette, sat back in his chair and gave Rose his full attention.

"Tell me what happened."

Rose gave him a full and unedited account of her encounter with Campbell. She watched him closely as she told him everything Campbell had said to her. His expression didn't change. He listened closely, fixing his eyes on her, only moving to take a drag of his cigarette. When she'd finished, he nodded and waited in case there was anything else she wanted to say. There was.

"Is it true? Are you working for him?"

He blew out some smoke. "Yes, it's true."

Rose felt the world shift a little.

"The job you're doing for him – is it … wrong?"

Tommy blinked. He really didn't want to be discussing this with her. He cleared his throat.

"Yes, Rose, it's wrong."

"Then why are you doing it?"

He shook his head. "I can't tell you the whole reason, but part of it is because of what he's doing to our family."

Rose chewed on her lip, trying to understand.

"He's had Arthur and Michael locked up so that you'll do what he wants. And he's threatened to hurt the rest of the family to make sure you do. Is that what you mean?"

Tommy clenched his jaw at the simple way in which she'd described Campbell's hold over him.

"Yes, that's about it."

"What's the job?"

He shook his head again. "I can't tell you that."

She didn't push him. She didn't really want to know.

"Why you? Why did he pick you?"

Tommy scoffed. "I took something he wanted."

"Can't you just give it back?"

He laughed dryly. "No, Rose, I can't."

"But you have a plan? A plan to fix everything?"

"Yes"

"Will it work?"

"Yes"

Rose regarded her older brother and marveled at his confidence in his own ability to put things right. And what's more, she knew he would too. She thought back to what John had said about what Tommy was like in France and knew that same Tommy was sat opposite her right now. She felt his confidence spreading to her and for the first time since she'd met Campbell, she relaxed a little. She put her elbows on the table and leaned forward.

"When you've done the job for him, will you kill him?"

Tommy looked away from Rose's gaze. Truth was, he didn't even know if he'd come away from all this alive, let alone be able get his hands on Campbell. He stood up abruptly.

"Cake? I know Esme left some fruit cake here yesterday."

Rose sat back in her chair and watched him as he hunted for the cake. She knew it was an unfair question and wished she hadn't asked it. An overwhelming tiredness came over her and she could barely lift her eyelids. Tommy looked over at her and gave up on the cake.

"Mouse, go on up to bed, eh? Before you fall off that chair. You can finally sleep in your own bed tonight. That'll be nice, eh?"

Rose pulled herself to her feet. "All my things are at Polly's."

"Oh, right. I'll send for them tomorrow. Maybe Ada left something you can sleep in."

Rose nodded and headed towards the stairs.

"I'll come up and tuck you in when you're ready."

Rose turned and smiled at him. It had been a long time since Tommy had tucked her into bed.

By the time Tommy came into Rose's room, she was fast asleep. Bundled up in the blankets like she always slept, red curls fallen across her face. He sat down gently on the bed, reached out and moved them gently out of her face. He stroked her hair away from her forehead and wished she hadn't become involved in all this. He wished that the only thing she worried about was getting into fights in the playground or not getting all her number problems correct. He wished he could spare her what might come. Polly would see her right though, if he didn't make it. She'd make sure Rose took those classes to become a secretary or a nurse. And she'd get over him eventually, of course she would. He sighed and leant down to place a kiss on her head.

"Sleep tight, Mouse."

Not three hours later, Tommy rolled over in his bed as the door to his room opened quietly. He knew who it was. He'd heard her bedsprings complain as she'd got out of bed and he'd heard her door open before his did. She moved quietly towards his bed and, in the moonlight which shone through the curtains, he could see the tears on her cheeks, he recognised the fear in her eyes, he could hear her rapid breathing. She looked so small, standing there in one of Ada's old nightdresses which was too big for her.

It had been a long time since Rose had come to him after a nightmare in the middle of the night. She'd had them a lot when she was very little and it was always Tommy she wanted. Polly used to get exasperated finding a tiny Rose curled up in Tommy's bed when she came to wake him up in the morning. He didn't mind. When he was in France, he wondered sometimes who she went to when she had nightmares now that he was no longer there. When he got back, he learnt it was Ada who let her into bed with her when she was scared. Tommy hadn't been home long though, before she found her way back to him for comfort. Tommy had sent her away the first few times. He knew too much about nightmares himself by then and he didn't want her there when he woke up in a cold sweat. Then he'd discovered the opium and had woken one morning to find a young Rose snuggled under his arm, fast asleep. He didn't remember her climbing into bed with him, but there she was. He was worried he might hurt her when he was under the influence but it seemed he never did. So, he eventually got used to finding his little sister asleep in his bed when he woke up in the morning. And, as it turned out, she was as much a comfort to him in his nightmares as he was to her. As she got older though, either the nightmares or just the visits tapered off. She was growing up.

But not tonight. Tonight she needed him again. He lifted up the covers and she climbed in beside him, laying her head on his shoulder and her arm on his chest. He pulled her close with his right arm and put his left hand on top of hers. He could feel her trembling and held her closer until her breathing slowed, the trembling stopped and she calmed down. Her head became heavier on his shoulder and her hand relaxed its grip on his nightshirt. She was asleep. He kissed her on the head and, feeling that familiar comfort from her presence, allowed himself to fall asleep also.

The next morning, Rose woke up in Tommy's bed. She'd slept all the way till morning, something she hadn't done in a while. He wasn't there but she could smell bacon cooking and knew he was in the kitchen. He always cooked bacon for breakfast. She got out of bed, went into her room to grab a blanket to wrap around her shoulders, then went downstairs. Tommy was sitting at the table, fully dressed, reading the newspaper. He smiled when he saw her.

"I thought the smell of bacon might wake you up."

She sat down as he brought her a plate of bacon and bread with dripping. She wrinkled her nose as he walked past her.

"You smell of horses."

"That because I was at Charlie's stables this morning."

"Why" Rose spoke through a mouthful of bread and dripping.

"It doesn't matter. Rose, I'm going to London today."

Rose's shoulders dropped. "Again? Can I come with you? I can stay with Ada."

"No, you're safer here"

"With John?"

"John will be in London too."

She frowned and put her bread back on her plate.

"Don't worry, Rose. I've asked Jeremiah and Isaiah to come and stay. You'll be safe with them and Finn."

"How do you know? You won't be here."

"Hey, less of that. Trust me, you'll be fine staying here with Jeremiah. I've already put guards on the street and in the alley."

She wasn't worried about her safety. She didn't want Tommy to go away again.

"Why are you going to London again?"

Tommy had picked up his newspaper and was reading.

"Business."

"What kind of business?"

"Just business."

"What kind of 'just business'?"

Tommy looked up from his paper and found Rose's eyes on him, clouded with annoyance.

"Rose, stop now. You know I have a lot to take care of and for that, I have to go to London."

"Will you go and see Arthur in the prison?"

"No, John's going to see Arthur."

"So, who are you going to see?"

He folded the paper and put it down on the table as he contemplated what to tell her. He wished he hadn't been so hasty in promising to tell the truth.

"An old friend."

"You have old friends in London?" Rose was incredulous.

"Yes, as it happens."

"Is it Alfie Solomons? Can I come and see him too?" She knew this would get a reaction. That's why she'd said it. She was annoyed with Tommy and wanted to annoy him back.

Tommy didn't bite though. He finished his tea, stood up and put on his jacket.

"Alfie Solomons killed a man, a friend of mine, and told the police it was Arthur. That's why your brother's in prison." He looked at Rose as she processed this. "Do you still want to visit him? You could ask him not to testify against Arthur at his murder trial."

Rose looked at him in shock. She didn't know Alfie had been involved with Arthur's arrest. She felt a bit sick.

Tommy sighed. This wasn't the way he wanted to leave things but he needed to get going.

"Finn's not up yet. There's bacon on the stove for him too. I've had all your things brought from Polly's. Jeremiah will be round soon to walk you to school and he'll be there to walk you home again at the end of the day, and you'll go to Esme's for food."

She scowled at him. "I don't need a nursemaid to walk me to school."

"No, you need someone who will protect you from bad men."

She sat back in her seat and folded her arms. Tommy gathered together the last of his patience.

"Rose, don't make this any more difficult than it has to be. I need to know you'll do as I ask whilst I'm gone. No running away or getting into fights or anything. Do you understand?"

Rose let her hands flop onto her lap and sighed dramatically.

"Yes! Fine! I'll do as you ask."

"Good" Tommy came round the table and kissed Rose on her head. "I'll be back tomorrow, I promise. Be good!"

"I'm always good!" Rose called after him as he headed towards the front door.

"Ha!" was all Tommy could exclaim as he closed the door behind him.

Rose sat in the silence left behind by Tommy's departure. She wished he'd come back. Nothing felt right when he was gone. She looked around the kitchen. She'd got what she wanted, she was home. So why did she feel so alone?