It was the next day, that Elizabeth found herself out for the first time in months on her own. She was out picking up some items Ada had requested after she'd come home last night, and she hadn't had a reason to reject. They had the money and Tommy had wanted her out and about listening for information. However, the good reason didn't stop her paranoia. She'd been near panicking the whole walk down to the baker and it escalated more when she realised, she'd have to go further from the house when the baker told her he didn't have what she was looking for. She was glad she had decided to wear John's cap again, feeling the protection of the peaked cap with sewn in blades helped slightly but missed the reassurance of a gun. Her fists were balled tightly inside her coat as she walked quickly down streets and side streets, the low life quick to get out her way at the sight of a peaked cap.
She was now in sight of the second bakers of the day and couldn't help but feel a tinge of relief. She'd been feeling more on edge than normal and was beginning to feel like she was being followed but couldn't spot anyone. She knew the bakers would be offer her some protection with the mixture of higher class and lower ladies that would be there, but she had to get there first. She was 3 houses away when someone grabbed her arm.
"Oi! Get off!" She shouted, grunting as she tried to pull her arm free, only for another person to grab her other arm, "Hey! Get off! I'm Elizabeth Shelby and if my brothers – Ooff" She was cut off by a punch to the stomach, making her hunch over, her cap falling off her head as they began to drag her off into the back of a police van.
She grunted as she was tossed on her back, biting her lip to stop her shouting out as she felt a couple heavy kicks to her right side. Quickly she tried to pull herself up, only to be kicked back down. Getting the hint, Elizabeth stopped trying to move, very quickly realising these weren't the officers on their payroll. The van was full of cheering Irish police officers, the men all sharing a couple jokes at her expense. All she could do was wait and hope they were under strict instructions to not harm her too much or do anything to her. She stayed silent, only letting out little grunts every so often when they'd decide to get another punch or kick in for good measure, all of them wanting a chance to lay a hand on a Shelby.
Thankfully for Elizabeth it wasn't too far to the police station, the driver had either taken pity on her or had been instructed to drive them straight to the station. She was picked up and thrown out the van, managing to catch herself before her face hit the floor, but cutting both her hands. She glared over her shoulder at the men, only to wince when there was a sharp slap across her face. The eldest Shelby sister took a moment trying to get back to her feet when her arms were grabbed, she started cursing them, slipping into Shelta as she got angrier. The police paid her no mind, dragging her into what looked like a storage room and dumping her there. She grunted, pushing herself up to lean against the storage rack.
She watched as the two officers left, disgust rolling through her as they patted each other on the back for a job well done. Rolling her eyes, she looked up at the ceiling, wondering if this was fates funny way of getting back at her for attending church the day before. Before she could think much further on it the door was thrown open again, her eyes widening as her eldest brother was dragged in the room, blood covering him. Elizabeth tried to get up but was quickly kicked back down by one of the men carrying Arthur, making her let out a small hiss of pain. Arthur sent her a look trying to tell her to stay down as he was placed in an interrogation chair. It quickly became more apparent to Elizabeth why she'd been taken. Her eyes moved to the two officers now standing behind her brother, a dark glare over her face as she muttered another Shelta curse. She could see a small flutter of amusement cross Arthur's face before a small flash of horror as the man on his right walked straight past him to kick Elizabeth in the side.
Elizabeth opened her mouth to repeat her curse in English, but paused when the door opened a wash of concern overcame her, hoping it wasn't Tommy, John, Ada or Finn that was dragged through the door next. Seeing a grey-haired man, she let out a slight sigh of relief Arthur relaxed as much as he could, unhappy his sister had been taken but relieved it was only the two of them.
Chief Inspector Campbell strolled into the room, eyeing the bleeding eldest Shelby with disgust before his eyes flickered to the eldest sister, her only visible wounds being the cut in her cheek and hands. Elizabeth eyed the man, noting a similar look of disgust in his gaze mixed in with many other emotions that made her uncomfortable, and guiltily grateful her brother had been taken too. She watched as the Irish man shook his head, as if to remind himself of the lowlife the young woman was, disgust clouding his face once again before his gaze moved back to Arthur.
"Arthur Shelby. Lead pack dog of the Peaky Blinders." Campbell spoke, walking around the room to stand directly in front of Arthur, his back to Elizabeth who watched the interaction with concern. Arthur's gaze remained down; his eyes fixed on the location his sister was sitting behind the detective. The Irish man glared at the older Shelby, moving his hand to lift Arthur's head up.
"Look at me." Campbell ordered. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, watching as the inspector moved his hands from her brothers' chin over the side of Arthur's face, up to push back her brother's hair. She let out a small shout and tried to get up as he quickly then pulled his hand back to punch Arthur, only let out a small grunt as she was kicked once again by one of the police thugs from Ireland. She leaned to glance around the Detective as Arthur groaned in pain, coughing from the shock.
"Arthur are you," Elizabeth started only to earn a slap from the officer making her wince. Campbell took a step back, allowing the siblings a full view of each other once more as he gestured at the other one of the officers who produced the cap Arthur had been wearing. Campbell kneels down close to Elizabeth as he wipes his hands over the cap, studying the peak, and the razor blades sewn in place.
"Your uniform, yes?" Campbell asked tilting his head to look up at the eldest Shelby, who looked on unsure of what to do or say as the blades got uneasily close to his sister, before continuing, "Terrifying, I'm sure." He set the cap on the shelf just above Elizabeth's head, the silent message to both Shelby's very clear.
"Did he have a gun?" Campbell asked, his gaze moving to the officers as the two Shelby's shared looks trying to convince the other, they were ok.
"No gun Sir. Knife in his sock. Cosh in his belt." The officer answered. Campbell took a moment then nodded, his focus back on the siblings.
"Now, Mr Shelby, I want you to see this as me introducing myself to you. Understand?" Campbell explained, coming over to stand over Elizabeth while making eye contact with Arthur. "In all the world the only thing that interests me is the truth. So, what do you know about the robbery?"
Elizabeth was quick to school her features, not flinching at the slightest at the mention of the robbery. Arthur glanced at her, his confusion clear.
"What robbery?" Arthur asks, genuinely confused as to what Campbell was referring to. Elizabeth tried to jump up again as the Inspector moved quickly, grabbing Arthur's hand in a lock and twisting his thumbs back. She let out a hiss of pain when the officer beside her pulled her hair to pull her back to him, twisting her left arm behind her back.
"I will ask you again. What do you know about the robbery?" Campbell asked calmly, his gaze flickering between the two siblings, looking for any signs of weakness.
"What robbery?" Elizabeth tried again for Arthur; her eyes closed to try and hide the pain as the officer lifted her arm higher.
"I swear to God we don't know what you're talking about. What fucking robbery!?" Arthur shouted out, his concern for his sister mixing quickly with his own pain. Elizabeth gasped as the inspector pulled Arthur's thumb back, dislocating it. Her brother groaned in pain, her unable to move for fear of the officer doing the same to her arm.
"After thirty five years of dealing with animals like you, I can tell just by sniffing the air whether or not you are lying." Campbell breathed to Arthur.
"I'm not fucking lying! Alright! I'm not fucking lying!" Arthur bit out angrily. Elizabeth watched the two of them staring off with bated breath, letting out another hiss as the officer pulled her hair slightly. Campbell glanced over, seeing the pain of woman that was well documented in the files in connection to her brothers, a clear weak link, and began to nod.
"I know." Campbell admitted, releasing Arthur and indicating for the officer to drop Elizabeth who let out a gasp of pain as she roughly hit the floor, "I see nothing of interest behind the blood in your eyes. And no blood in your veins that could carry even a trace of cunning or guile. But understand this. It is well within my power to have you and the rest of your scum family face down in the canal before the year is out." Arthur watched the man carefully as he once again knelt beside Elizabeth, reaching his hand out to squeeze her cheeks together and tilt her head back and fore. A glare settled over her face, pulling it roughly out of his hand only to wince as another slap came across her cheek.
"On the other hand, we can help each other." Campbell offered, a cold smile on his face. Elizabeth shared a look with Arthur, trying to warn him to play it cautiously. Arthur nodded.
"Help how?" Arthur asked.
"I know all about you Arthur Shelby. You and your brothers, John and Thomas. You're all brave gallantry men, battle hardened from the trenches of France. For king and county. Patriots! We all fought for the same thing." Campbell began, moving back to stand between the two Shelby siblings who kept their gazes on him. "I've been sent by Mr Churchill on a matter of National Interest, and your ability to fit in with the seedier side of Birminghams Lower class may be your ticket to freedom."
"What exactly do you want?" Elizabeth asked, her tone full of suspicion. Campbell walked over and kneeled in front of her.
"Your eyes and ears. I want to know what is going on in places officers can't go." Arthur grunted, lifting his hand to wipe off some blood.
"We'll have to have a family meeting and vote." Arthur told the man, Campbells eyes flashing with amusement of the idea.
"I see. Well Mr Shelby, I'll be awaiting your response." Detective Inspector Campbell nodded, tipping his head once to Elizabeth, "Miss Shelby."
The officers were immediately back in the room, grabbing both her and Arthur by the arms as they grunted and shouted in protest. They were carried to the door of the police station, grunting as they were thrown in another van. Elizabeth immediately shifted over to Arthur, ignoring her own bruises and cuts as she tried to help right her brother, ignoring the laughs from the officers that had accompanied them. She shot them a small glare over her shoulder, only to grunt as a punch was then aimed at her back, hitting a sore spot. Arthur looked as if he was going to get up when she shook her head, knowing it wouldn't be long before they would be dumped on the street, and they couldn't risk a fight so outnumbered and injured.
She was right, grunting as she was picked up and dumped in the road just outside the Garrison. Arthur being launched out after her. She threw one last Shelta curse over her shoulder before getting up, her ribs and arms screaming in protest as she leaned over to help up Arthur. He leaned heavily on her as they made their way slowly back towards Watery Lane.
"Arthur, you been day drinking again?" John cheered to them as he came around the corner, having spotted them from his window before a frown came over his face, "What the fuck happened?"
"Shut up and take him." Elizabeth ordered, lifting Arthurs arm off her shoulder and passing him to John, allowing her a moment to breathe, she saw John just staring at her and rolled her eyes, "Get walking, we can't exactly get fixed up in the middle of the street."
John carrying Arthur led Elizabeth home, her adrenaline slowly wearing off and making her more aware of the bruises and cuts she'd received. John barely paused at the front door, shouting for Ada as he say Arthur down at the kitchen table.
"What the fuck happened?" Ada repeated, unintentional sounding like John as she appeared in the kitchen door.
"Get the pot on for some hot water." Elizabeth ordered, not wasting time, "John, go get Aunt Pol and Tommy." Her brother nodded his head, jogging out the door. Elizabeth turned to get a clean rag when Arthur stretched his leg out and kicked the chair next to him.
"Sit the fuck down." He ordered her gruffly, knowing she wasn't as bloody as him but had obviously been hit a few times.
"Shut up Arthur." She retorted, grabbing the cloth to start clearing the blood from his face. Ada rolled her eyes at her sister as she came back over, grabbing the wipe from her and taking it back to the fire place to dip in the boiling water. John and Pol arrived moments later, their Aunt immediately jumping into action focusing on Arthur's thumb.
"John, wipe the blood out of his eye." Ada ordered, gesturing for Elizabeth to move and give her space. Elizabeth took a few steps back to stand closer to the fireplace directly opposite John and leaned against the wall, not wanting to take any focus from Arthur.
"Since when did you give orders?" John countered, earning a small chastising look from Elizabeth, which he ignored.
"I'm a trained nurse." Ada replied, earning a snigger from John and a smirk from Arthur.
"Don't make me laugh, it hurts my face." Arthur ordered, trying to stop himself from smiling.
"I bloody am!" Ada replied defensively, Elizabeth smiling slightly at her tone before frowning frown at her hands, noting them beginning to tense and shake slightly, her adrenaline wearing off quickly now her brother was out of danger.
"You two went to one first aid class in the church hall and got thrown out for giggling." John reminded the sisters.
"Not before learning how to stop somebody from choking." Ada pointed out.
"I'm not bloody choking, am I?" Arthur bantered back, keeping an eye on Elizabeth as she stared intently at her hands.
"You will be when I wrap this cloth round your neck." Ada cut back, earning a small laugh from John.
The front door slamming once again, brought Elizabeth back into the room. She lifted her head as Tommy entered with the bottle of rum in one hand and a cigarette in his mouth. She quickly threw her shaking hands behind her back and bit her lip to hold in the gasp as the action pulled at one of the many bruises that she suspected littered her back and sides. Tommy marched straight to Arthur, paying his other siblings no mind as he began to try and treat his older brother.
"Let me see him." He ordered, "Well, have this." He offered pulling out the cork out the bottle and handing it to Arthur who took as swig as Tommy rinsed out the cloth. Elizabeth watched as he grabbed back the bottle and soaked the cloth in the rum before dabbing it over some of the wounds on the side of Arthur's face.
"Your alright." Tommy comforted, as Arthur hissed in pain. Arthur seeing the whole family was close, grabbed Tommys arm, demanding his brother's full attention.
"He said Mr Churchill sent him to Birmingham. National interest, he said. Something about a robbery." Arthur explained, his eyes moving for Tommy to his twin, "Tell 'em Lil."
Four pairs of eyes suddenly snapped over to the eldest sister. Elizabeth's eyes widened slightly, unready for the attention, and her mouth opened but Tommy marched over before she could say anything. She watched as his eyes flickered over her face, fixating on each bruise from the slaps she'd received before moving to the next, spending extra time on the cut on her cheek. She could see the anger and fear in his eyes and was unsure if it was for her or his secret. He quickly reached forward and grabbed her arm, wanting to sit her down, only to earn a hiss of pain and a flinch from her causing him to quickly let go and lift his hands in surrender, as if expecting her to run. Elizabeth looked away as Tommy frowned around his cigarette, this time slowly moving to grab her arms more gently and pulling her hands froward, flipping them over to see two nasty grazes over her palms.
"He said he wants us to help him." Arthur continued to explain to Tommy, taking Elizabeth's silence as a sign she didn't want to speak. Tommy said nothing, still examining Elizabeth's hands as he puffed on his cigarette.
"We don't help coppers." John countered; his attitude more solemn as he quickly realised his older sister had been taken with Arthur. Arthur lifted a hand to silence him, looking directly at Tommy's back. Elizabeth watched Tommys eyes flickering, his demons fighting once more as he took the information in, seeing the guilt swallowing him as he stared at her hands. Gently she pulled her hand from his hold and lifted it to touch his face, gently tapping him on the cheek to remind him she was still there.
"He knew all about our war records. He said we're patriots like him." Arthur spoke, Tommy not reacting but releasing Elizabeth's hands.
"He said he wants us to be his eyes and ears." Elizabeth finally spoke, her eyes meeting Tommy's conveying to him she hadn't said a word. Relief flashed over his face before the anger returns ten-fold, guilty for feeling grateful his sister hadn't said anything.
"I said, I said we'd have a family meeting and take a vote." Arthur kept going as Polly wrapped his thumb, causing him to hiss in pain. His eyes met Elizabeth's as she silently side-stepped Tommy and sat in the chair, he'd previously told her to take. Ada soaked a cloth in hot water and held it out to Elizabeth to wrap around her hand wounds. The group remained silent as the two eldest men stared at each other. Thomas saying nothing as he leaned to the side. Arthur let's put another hiss as Ada went back in to wipe his wounds, but paid her no mind, his focus on Tommy who had yet to speak.
"Well, why not? Mmm? We have no truck with Fenians or communists." Arthur questioned, seeing Tommy almost refusing to pick a side, his anger beginning to build at the lack of call to action at their sister being attacked. Elizabeth's eyes met with Polly's, the older woman watching her carefully. She turned her head down, focusing on taking care of her own wounds, feeling frustrated at Arthur's quick surrender to the Inspectors demands. She didn't care for the Fenians or Communists, but she agreed with John, they did not help coppers "What the fuck is wrong with you? What the fuck is wrong with him lately?"
"If I knew, I'd buy the cure from Compton's Chemists." Polly bit back, upset with Thomas's decision and the consequences of his actions affecting his twin and older brother. Elizabeth let out an angry sigh, having heard enough, drawing Polly and Arthur's attention to her, knowing her opinion would sway Tommy, John and Ada easily. Elizabeth kept her eyes on the table and winced slightly as she dipped the cloth back in the bowl.
"Arthur, you're broken up pretty bad, hell so am I." She began, shaking her head in frustration as she tried push the memories of similar incidents back, "We can't let the copper bully us into it, we're the Peaky fucking Blinders." She turned to look directly at Tommy, "We're the Peaky. Fucking. Blinders. We do as we want."
Tommy eyed his twin, seeing the anger building and her demons twisting in her eyes as she promised to get back at the Detective Inspector. He nodded once to her, pulling his cigarette out his mouth and tossing it in the fire before he quickly about turned out the door. Elizabeth watched stony faced as Arthur growled, hitting his uninjured hand off the table in frustration as Polly threw her a quick glare and got up to run after Thomas.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Arthur shouted at the eldest sister, who rolled her eyes in response, standing abruptly and walking to the door.
"Our family meeting." She answered cooly over her shoulder before disappearing up to her room.
Elizabeth glanced up from her book as she heard footsteps descending the staircase. She'd taken refuge armchair located in the kitchen a few hours ago, it now being the very early hours of the morning. The fire was still burning bright enough for her to be able to read her book without clearly indicating to anyone walking by outside that someone was still awake in the Shelby household. Her mind was still going a mile a minute from the events of the day, and try as she might to get comfy to help shut her mind off, she simply couldn't due to her new scattering of bruises across her back. Instead, she'd descended the stairs, once she knew Arthur had gone to bed, and plucked a book out her bookcase to try and clear her mind, at least enough to feel slightly rested in the morning.
Her gaze met the familiar blue eyes of her twin as he appeared at the bottom of the staircase, his clothes from the day still on indicating to her he hadn't been able to sleep either. She closed her book as he walked into the kitchen, watching as he took a seat at the kitchen table and lit a cigarette. Her eyes flickered to the window as two burly shadows walked past.
"They're watching us." She hummed, not feeling as concerned as she should be. Tommy twisted to glance out the window before turning back around to face his sister.
"Yes, they do seem to be." He answered around his cigarette, matching her slightly amused tone. Her eyes glossed over for a moment before she blinked and laughed slightly, shaking her head. Tommy looked at her expectantly.
"This is what it was like Tom, every night in Germany and France, I didn't expect to feel it back home." She admitted to him, realising now why she'd not lit anything to indicate her presence.
"You were in France?" Tommy asked, unable to help himself. Silently praying his sister was nowhere near the horrors of the trench.
"Paris, Lyon." She shrugged, "Même Les alliés étaient surveillés." (Even the allies were watched) Tommy nodded, having learnt enough French during the war to understand.
The two sat in silence for a moment, both silently reliving their own experiences, wishing the other hadn't had to experience the pain of the war. Tommy felt like a fool, not having thought his sister would follow them to the war but knowing he should have known better. She'd followed them everywhere since they were children. Arthur to fights, him pick pocketing. It was only a matter of time until she joined them in the fight, he'd been surprised she'd not tried to sign up with them.
"Where were you going?" Elizabeth suddenly asked, bringing Tommy out his reminiscing. He looked over at her, her arms folded over her book, looking frighteningly like their mother dressed in her old grey dress once again.
"Charlie's yard." He answered honestly, knowing since she'd admitted the truth to him, she'd been more observant of his lies.
"Ahh." She nodded, leaning back in the chair, "the full moon has passed." Tommy nodded, silently standing and throwing what was left of his cigarette in the fire and looked at her expectantly.
"Coming?" Elizabeth looked up, admittedly surprised before a smirk broke out on her face and she nodded. It had been a long time since she'd been down at the yard, and while she knew what they would be going to look at, she couldn't help the childish thrill at being able to see some of their horses.
The two pulled on their coats, Thomas handing Elizabeth one of his old caps and he pulled one on his head. She offered him a small smile of thanks, as he opened the door, gesturing for her to go on out ahead. Tilting her head out the frame, she quickly glanced around for officers before nodding and leading the two off down the road.
It was a silent and uneventful walk down to the yard, the peaked caps acting as a warning sign to any of the lowlife that might be out looking for trouble. Elizabeth couldn't help but feel a thrill go through her, her confidence with her twin beside her not seeming to dull even as they got further and further from the family home. She was unsure if it was the reassurance of family or the revolver she knew was tucked away in Tommys holster, but whatever it was was making her feel like a Blinder again.
The twins walked in to find Curly and Charlie already beginning to move the crates, nailing them closed and hauling them onto a coal barge. It was clear they were in a hurry, making Elizabeth wondering if Polly had been down to threaten Charlie into moving the guns before Thomas could even think about changing his mind. Thomas took the lead as they approached the two men, Elizabeth hanging a step behind.
"Uncle Charlie, a word." Tommy called out, Charlie glancing up over at the two new bodies and looking slightly confused and surprised at seeing Elizabeth on Tommys flank rather than one of the brothers.
"Hi Uncle Charlie." Elizabeth offered with a devious smirk on her face, seeing the slight confusion on Charlie's face. She watched as her Uncle shook off his shock and turned back to her brother.
"They are aboard. There's no moon." He told Thomas, stepping off the coal barge and following the twins as they moved close to a burning pit, "We can take them out to the turning point beyond Gas Street and leave them on the bank. They'll be found by railway men first thing."
Tommy lit his cigarette, taking a deep drag as he looked over the pile of guns and ammunition. Elizabeth unable to help herself walked away from the two men and over to the barge, gently patting Curly on the back before she jumped aboard. She knelt down, having a look over the supplies Tommys men had found, labeled for Libya as her twin had said, and let out an impressed whistle.
"Liz come down." Charlie chastised lightly to the woman before turning back to Tommy who had still yet to speak, his eyes on his sister as she climbed back off the boat, "Is that agreement?"
"I changed my mind." Tommy answered softly, eyeing the bruises on Elizabeth's face as she came closer to the pit.
"You what?" Charlie replied, uncertain he heard his nephew right, giving him a second chance to agree in hopes Tommy would see sense.
"I have an alternative strategy." Tommy offered flatly, not looking at his uncle. "Tell Curly to take her out to the old tobacco wharf. There's a lockup mooring we used to keep cigarettes. He knows it. When the boat leaves your yard it's
no longer your concern." Tommy finished, taking another drag as his sister came closer, pulling out his cigarettes and offering her one.
"Have you two lost your fucking minds?" Charlie asked, seeing now why Elizabeth had been picked to accompany Thomas, her mind clearly on the same war path as his. "Have you not seen the streets? They've sent a fucking army to find these things."
"We're aware Charlie." Elizabeth cut in coldly, her right hand taking the offered cigarette from her brother and lighting it on the fire, before lifting it to her mouth "I've experienced them first hand." She admitted around the cigarette, her free hand gently rubbing the side of her face.
"They've shown their hand." Tommy nodded, his eyes on the fire in front of them as their uncle continued to stare at them as if they were mad.
"Their hand?" Charlie questioned incredulously, shaking his head at the pair as they stared fearlessly into the fire.
"If they want them back this bad,
they'll have to pay. That's the way of the world. Fortune drops something valuable in your lap, you don't just dump it on the bank of the cut." Tommy rationalised for Charlie, Elizabeth nodding slowly beside him, her anger at the way Arthur and her were treated burning beneath the surface, she was ready to play the game.
"Your blood Tommy. I've always
looked out for you both like a dad. You're going to bring holy hell down on your head. This copper takes no prisoners." Charlie warned, trying to change the mind of the twins. Tommy looked over with a small smirk.
"I'm told he didn't serve. Reserved occupation." Tommy explained. Elizabeth glanced over at Charlie seeing the man looking at her with a tinge of disappointment, clearly hoping she'd be the one to see sense. She took another drag of her cigarette before throwing the rest in the pit and turning to begin walking back home.
"It's another war you're looking for Tommy?" Charlie asked, his eyes flickering back to the older twin as his sister exited the gate.
"The tobacco wharf. By order of the Peaky Blinders." Tommy finished, leaving no room for argument as he placed two keys in Charlie's top pocket, turning and following his sister out before Charlie could comment further.
Elizabeth sat in Tommys office, her feet up on the table as her eyes flickered over her book from the night before, not truly reading the pages but actively trying to feign being busy to avoid a raving Arthur. She knew Arthur knew Tommy was out and so the office would be a safe space until Tom returned. Her eldest brother was still angry with her after her dismissal the day before but it was nothing compared to the anger he had towards Tommy currently. She had made the mistake of bumping into Arthur after he'd read the morning paper, and was quick to hide away once he started hurling abuse at her for being his 'bloody twin', and knew Tommy was especially in for it once he got back in.
Tommy had left to shoot Danny-Whizz-Bang, she was now trusted enough to be in-the-know and Tommy had taken to telling her about the Italian war that was on their doorstep as they walked home from Charlie's Yard. She knew he'd been slightly concerned by her lack of empathy towards Danny, having immediately offering to check in on Rosie after the event rather than argue Danny's case, but she couldn't help it. She was so used to fight or flight during her experiences of the war, and she understood with the police and guns that Tommy couldn't afford a war to distract them.
Elizabeth's head perked up when she heard movement outside door and some uneasy looks between two cousins just outside the office window. She quickly placed her feet on the floor and sat up straighter, closing her book and setting it on the table. Getting up she opened the office door, and walked over to a disheveled looking Tommy who had pulled out a book of the bets taken over the past day or two. He paid her little mind, as she drifted closer, his head falling as Arthur began shouting.
"Where are you?" Arthur called, appearing from his office, his furious gaze falling on the twins. Elizabeth held her hands up in surrender, shrugging her shoulders in an innocent manor. Arthur glared harder, slamming the days paper down on the table, "It bloody won! Monaghan Boy blood won!" Tommy nodded his head slowly, Elizabeth dropping her hands to her side as she moved to stand on the side of the table, between the two brothers.
"Yeah. It won." Tommy answered cooly, looking up at Arthur piercingly , "and word will spread. So the next time we do the powder trick, it won't be just the Garrison that'll be on the horse, it'll be the whole of Small Heath. And you know what? The horse will win again. And the third time we do it, we'll have the whole of Birmingham betting on it. A thousand quid bets on the magic horse. And that time, when we are ready, the horse will lose." Tommy explained, before he took a breath and stood up straighter, "Think about it."
Arthur said nothing as Tommy slammed the book he'd looked at closed, picking it up and walking away. He quickly cast Elizabeth a glare before swiping the nearest bottle of rum and taking a swig, grunting as he set it down and walked away. Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head as she realised there was nothing she could do. She reached over and grabbed the abandoned bottle, casting a glare to a few of their cousins that had started to smile, before marching back to Tommys office.