Small Heath, Birmingham
Finn pushed open the Garrison's front doors and a gust of smoke and beer-rot hit him in the face.
The pub held perhaps a dozen patrons with their voices subdued.
Behind the bar stood Grace, her blond hair tucked beneath a dark cap and sleeves precisely folded to her elbows.
Our cute little Spy.
She wasn't simply a barmaid. Grace Burgess worked for Inspector Campbell, placed here to observe the Shelbys and find the missing guns.
Her every movement revealed her purpose to Finn's watchful eyes; the methodical way she dried each glass, how she scanned the room with practiced casualness.
When she smiled at customers, her expression remained controlled and calculated. Nothing like the genuine warmth of Small Heath women.
She presented a particular danger.
Even Tommy, with all his perception, wouldn't recognize her true purpose until after the guns disappeared.
Affection created blind spots in even the most vigilant minds.
'Well, What should i do with you, hm?'Finn wondered.
She looked up suddenly, her eyes meeting his across the room.
He didn't smile. Didn't nod.
Finn kept his expression blank, letting his gaze pass over her without acknowledgment, just as he'd seen Tommy do countless times. Then he continued toward the back room, aware of her gaze following him.
Tommy, Arthur, and John stood around a long table cluttered with whiskey glasses, cigarette stubs and racing papers
Arthur was speaking, "Remember what Dad used to say: 'Fast women and slow horses will ruin your life'."
The brothers laughed together, then noticed Finn entering.
Tommy poured a drink and handed it to him.
"Take a seat, Finn," Tommy said quietly.
John leaned on the table. "Did you nod to the new girl? Bit old for you, mate."
Arthur added. "That's Tommy's women now,"
Finn ignored him. He quietly stepped closer and sit down while taking the drink.
Tommy looked at him directly. "We're expecting important visitors, before they walk in, you're going to the back. You'll stay close to the ledgers. If they ask questions, you answer only what you know. Nothing more."
"Yes, brother," Finn replied with a single nod.
Tommy lowered his voice. "If trouble starts—" he tapped the table twice quietly, "—leave through the kitchen. Circle around the building and find me from behind. Stay alert."
Finn nodded again. He felt the rhythm of it all, orders, tension and planning. The way the air shifted before a deal. This was how the machine moved.
Then came the sound of heavy footsteps, loud laughter, and a voice projecting authority and confidence.
Billy Kimber burst through the doors like he owned every damn brick in the place.
"Shit. It's Billy Kimber." quietly said Harry, the bartender.
Kimber stormed in with his voice booming. "Is there any man here named Shelby?"
When no one responded, he shot the ceiling with his gun and repeated again, "I said, is there any man here named Shelby?"
Tommy, Arthur, and John stepped forward from the room with Finn behind them.
Tommy waved at the barman. "Harry, get these men a drink. Everyone else, go home."
The remaining patrons hurried out immediately.
The men sat around a table, and Grace brought their drinks. "Do you need anything—"
Tommy firmly said, "I said go home."
Finn remained in position holding the ledger carefully and watching everything and everyone.
Kimber looked at Grace as she walked away. "I've never approved of women working in pubs, but when they look like that—"
Tommy interrupted with a low voice "You said you wanted men called Shelby. You've got four of them."
Kimber studied the three of them critically, then his gaze darted to finn. "Four? Right, I'd never heard of you, then I did hear of you, some little Didicoy razor gang. I thought to myself, so what? But then you fuck me over so now you have my undivided attention. By the way, which one am I talking to? Who's the boss?"
Arthur squared up. "Well, I'm the oldest."
Kimber sneered. "Ha clearly."
John bristled. "Are you laughing at my brother?"
Kimber leaned in. "Right, he's the oldest, you're the thickest. I'm told the boss is called Tommy and I'm guessing that's you cos you're looking me up and down like I'm a fucking tart."
Tommy's stare was calm. "I want to know what you want."
Robert seated beside Kimber hops in, "There were suspicious betting patterns at Kempton Park. A horse called Monaghan Boy. He won by a length twice and then finished last with £3,000 bet on him."
Tommy redirected the conversation, "Which one am I talking to? Which one of you is the boss?"
"I serve as Mr. Kimber's advisor and financial manager," Robert answered.
Kimber stood abruptly, visibly angry, "I'm the fucking boss, okay? Right, end of parley, you fixed a race without my permission. You fucking Gypsy scum, what, live off the war pensions of these poor old Garrison Lane widows! That's your level! I am Billy Kimber, I run the races and you fixed one of them so I'm going to have you shot against a post." Then he moves towards the exit planning on leaving.
Thomas take something from his pocket unnerving the men of Kimber and they bring their guns and point it at Thomas.
It was a bullet, which Tommy tossed toward Kimber. "Mr Kimber. Look at it. That is my name on it. It's from the Lee family. You are also at war with the Lees, Mr Kimber, am I right? The Lees are attacking your bookies and taking your money. Your men can't control them. You need help."
Robert hops in with his advice "Perhaps we should listen to what Mr Shelby has to say. Before we make our decisions."
Thomas continued, "Right, the Lees are doing a lot of talking at the fairs. They have a lot of kin. They're saying the racetracks are easy meat because the police are busy with strikes. Now, we have connections. We know how they operate. You have muscle. Together we can beat them. Divided, maybe not."
Robert suggested, "Mr Kimber, perhaps we should take some time for reflection. Possibly make arrangements for a second meeting."
Thomas added, "I admire you, Mr Kimber. You started with nothing and built a legitimate business. It would be an honour to work with you, Mr Kimber."
Kimber responded, "Nobody works with me. People work for me." He dropped a coin onto the floor and looked directly at Thomas. " Pick it up, pikey."
Thomas stares at him for 2 seconds unblinking, and just as he was about to bend to take it, john and finn tries to do it instead but he raises his hand and simply says "Sit. Sit down." then picks the coin himself.
Kimber appeared satisfied as he adds, "That's for your ceiling."
Thomas replied, "Thank you, Mr Kimber."
"We'll be at Cheltenham," Robert announced.
"As will I," Thomas confirmed.
After they left, Arthur asked, "So you deliberately provoked the Lees?"
Thomas ignored the question and instructed, "Get yourself a decent haircut, man. We're going to the races. you too Finn."