Another love

Thomas Shelby and Jesse Eden

"Have a seat." Jesse told Tommy "You know, when this business began, I did some research on you. It turns out I know someone who used to know you very well. Kitty Jurossi. You were in love with Kitty's best friend, Sarah Crawford. Before the war. Her parents didn't approve of a Watery Lane Gypsy, but you did try. With your charm. Sweetness."

"Very, very thorough research. Except Sarah Crawford, is still very much in my life." Tommy told her.

"Kitty told me that you stayed by her side for months when she had consumption. Every day, holding her hand. That true?"

"Yes, so?"

"And after she got better you went away to war. Kitty said that the sweet boy who left never came back."

"No one came back." Tommy said with his voice surprisingly soft.

"Here's the funniest thing. She said in those days you believed in things. In justice. Fairness, you risked you health and your business and everything to stay by Sarah's side." Tommy looked away from her as she spoke.

"That was different." He replied curtly.

"How?"

"I was in love with her, she was the love of my life. I'd do anything for her." Tommy sighed in annoyance, tired of having to constantly explain his relationship with Sarah, or a lack of one these days.

"Then you had her arrested," Jesse commented rhetorically, "Kitty also said that once you saw a man beating his horse and you fought him. He was twice your size but you beat him. And then you beat him with his own whip."

"Kitty always liked to tell tall tales." Tommy replied, thinking back to all the times he'd seen kitty and Sarah giggling stories and exchanging gossip with each other in the Garrison.

"She's a party member now. She swears before you enlisted in the army you joined the Communist party yourself. Is that also true?"

Tommy got up from his seat and put on her gramophone as he lit a cigarette and spoke to her "You know, when I was at the door, I saw you through the curtains. You were dancing alone. I've also done my research. Your sweetheart was at Passchendaele. When he came back, he was listed among the shell shocked. Blew his own fucking brains out."

"I don't know any men in the photo." Jesse replied pushing her tears away at the mention of the man she loved.

"You haven't looked," Tommy said turning back to face her "This afternoon two men came into my factory and tried to kill my brother. I believe a Stechford Communist party member let him in. I was wondering if you might be able to help me in my investigations."

"Kitty said next time I see you, before we start fighting," Jesse began as she reached into a box on her shelf "I should send you and Sarah her love from the good old days and give you this. Sarah Crawford and Tommy Shelby in Blackpool. Do you recognise the boy in the photograph?" she asked nodding to the photo, watching Tommy's face for a flicker of any emotion.

Tommy slowly walked over to the photograph and hesitantly picked it up, stuffing it inside his coat pocket.

"I'll leave that here. Apologies for interrupting your dance." He said as he quietly left.

Small Heath

"You counted wrong." Sarah said as she leant agaisnt the railings in the den, watching Lizzie count the money.

Lizzie jumped at the sound of her voice before frowning "No i didn't."

"Yes, you did. i know because i took some out the safe this morning." Sarah told her as she chucked a wad of money on the table