VI. Improved offer.

After the meeting, Maude and Ana sat in the kitchen of Maude and Tommy's old- now temporary home, drinking tea while the children sat by the table drawing pictures. Ana sipped on her tea, glancing at Maude over the rim of her cup. "I wonder how Esme is doing." She muttered softly before her gaze shot towards her son who shoved a green crayon into his mouth. "Archie, don't put the crayon in your mouth." She scolded as she reached across the table and pulled it out of his mouth.

Maude smiled softly at the little boy who gave his mother a pouted look before he continued coloring and drawing. She sighed softly as her smile slowly slipped and she glanced down at the table. "She's better off on the road than stuck here." She muttered softly, knowing Esme always hated this life.

"I miss her already," Ana said softly as a sad smile tugged at her lips, and she set her teacup down on the table. "The kids as well." She added.

Maude was silent for a second as she slowly nodded in agreement. Amelia babbled something from her seat next to her mother, and Maude smiled. "Oh, there's plenty here to keep you busy, Anna." She commented, reaching over to run a hand over Amelia's soft hair. "Four of the little troublemakers."

Ana hummed in agreement, smiling at Amelia before glancing at her two little ones who argued over a blue crayon. "Yours are a lot calmer than mine." She commented. A soft gasp slipped from her lips when Archie pushed the blue crayon into Edith's mouth. "Archie, not in your sister's mouth either." She scolded as he took the crayon while Maude chuckled softly.

"Mummy," Charles spoke as he looked up from the picture he was drawing, his bright blue eyes meeting his mother's as he shifted in his seat to sit up on his knees.

"Yes, my love?" Maude questioned as she turned to her son, reaching out to briefly place her hand underneath his chin.

"When is daddy coming home?" He asked softly as he raised his eyebrows, leaning his upper body over the table as he put his chin on his hand.

Maude smiled softly at her son as her head tilted to the side. Both her children loved their father so much, and the thought of it made her heart ache for John's little ones. "He'll be home soon." She assured softly.

An hour after Ana left with her children, Tommy arrived home. "Sweetheart?" He called out the second he stepped through the front door and into the empty living room.

Charlie gasped from where he sat at the kitchen table, watching his mother prepare dinner. He climbed off his chair and ran to the living room. "Daddy!" he called out in pure child-like excitement.

Tommy crouched down and opened his arms, a smile tugging at his lips as Charlie ran into his arms. "Hello my boy," he spoke softly, pressing a kiss to Charlie's forehead as he picked him up.

The three-year-old reached out and cupped his father's face between his tiny hands. "I missed you today." He mumbled softly as he stared at his father with big blue eyes.

"Oh, I missed you too," Tommy replied as he ran a hand through Charlie's hair before placing another kiss on the little boy's forehead. "What did you get up to today, ey?" he asked as he poked Charlie's stomach.

"Archie and Eddie play," Charlie replied as he tugged at his father's tie, playing at with it.

"Oh, you played with Archie and Edith?" Tommy replied with a nod of his head as he stared down at the little boy. "Did Aunt Anna come to visit?" he asked as he raised his eyebrows.

Charlie nodded his head as he looked up at his father, letting go of the tie. "Drank tea," he informed his father with soft mutters, his attention quickly returning to the tie.

"They drank tea, ey?" He asked and Charlie nodded again. Tommy walked into the kitchen, his smile growing when he saw Maude sitting by the table, cutting vegetables with Amelia in her high chair. "There's my sweetheart and my princess." He called out as he sat Charlie down on a chair and approached Maude, placing a kiss on her lips before he picked up Amelia, kissing the side of her head.

"How was your day, my love?" Maude asked as she glanced at Tommy, quirking an eyebrow before her gaze returned to the vegetables in front of her.

"Eventful," Tommy replied with a heavy sigh as he sat down at the table, placing Amelia on his lap. "Arthur killed two Italians in the shop today," he informed Maude.

Maude's gaze shot up to him as she put the knife down. Her gaze drifted towards Charlie for a second, the little boy far too invested in his drawing to listen to his parent's conversation. Maude's gaze returned to Tommy again. "What do you mean Arthur killed two Italians in the shop?" She asked softly as she raised her eyebrows.

"They broke in, trashed the place, was going to burn paint," Tommy replied as he stared down at the table, while Amelia played and tugged at his fingers in her tiny hand. "Ada told him we offered his job to Mr. Gold." He added as his gaze turned to Maude and she sighed softly. "He insists he still pulls the trigger." He muttered. "He is the oldest brother, he thinks it's his duty."

Maude slowly shook her head. "Tradition is going to fuck him up." She muttered before sending another quick glance at Charlie who was still too invested in his drawing. Her gaze returned to Tommy again. "This life already has." She said softly and he slowly nodded his head. They were silent for a second as Maude continued cutting vegetables. But then she placed the knife back down and looked at Tommy with furrowed eyebrows. "How did the Italians get into the shop?"

"Through the back fucking door that was supposed to be locked and bolted," Tommy replied as his jaw clenched tightly. The only thing calming him in that moment was feeling his daughter's tiny hands wrap around his fingers. It brought him back down to earth and grounded him.

Maude silently stared at Tommy for a second as her lips parted. "Someone from the inside opened for them." She concluded and Tommy nodded in confirmation. "Who?" She questioned as her head tilted to the side.

"Mr. Devlin," he replied as his gaze turned back to the table, his jaw clenching even tighter. "I'm sure of it." He muttered in a low voice.

Maude's eyebrows furrowed again. "The manager?" She questioned in confusion and Tommy simply nodded his head in response. Maude sat back in her chair, her lips parting again as her gaze darted around. She didn't take the timid man as someone who'd betray Tommy. He always looked so scared around any Shelby. He even treaded lightly around her.

When Tommy went to see Mr. Devlin later that night, Maude accompanied him, leaving their children with Ana while Daniel came with them to see the traitor.

Maude followed Tommy into the betting shop. Isiah, Daniel, and two other Peaky Blinder men were already there with Mr. Devlin inside one of the offices. Mr. Devlin sat at the desk, only looking up at Tommy for a quick second.

Tommy grabbed a chair, pulled it close to the desk, and motioned for Maude to sit while he sat down behind the desk. He sat back in his seat, letting out a sigh as he looked at the man in front of him. "Was it fear or hatred?" he questioned.

"Was what fear or hatred?" Mr. Devlin questioned as he finally lifted his head and stared at Tommy.

Tommy didn't answer. "Isiah..." he spoke as he looked towards the young Peaky Blinder who stepped forward, handing Tommy a ticket. Tommy overlooked it before handing it off to Maude. She raised her eyebrows as she inspected the one-way train ticket. "You had a one-way ticket to Glasgow in your pocket," Tommy muttered as he looked at Mr. Devlin. "Your wife and kids left three days ago," he added and Mr. Devlin's eyes widened. "Now, I'm gonna ask you again. Was it fear of the Italians or hatred of us that made you unlock the door and give up my brother?"

"I didn't unlock any door." Mr. Devlin replied firmly, not breaking eye contact with Tommy.

Tommy stared at the man for a second before reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out his flask. "Here, have a drink. You're gonna need it," he instructed as he reached out and put the flask in front of Mr. Devlin. The man shook his head. "Thirty-five Drumcree Street, Parkhead, Glasgow..." Tommy began to recite.

Again Mr. Devlin's eyes widened as he looked at Tommy. "Please, please, please, please..." He began begging as he shook his head.

"We have allegiances with Catholic gangs in that city. Your family are safe only at my discretion." Tommy informed Mr. Devlin. "Now, explain to me why you were catching the midnight train to Glasgow," he demanded in a low voice.

Mr. Devlin scoffed. "You mean you don't know?" he questioned. "I run a factory full of black leg non-union labour. I live in a street full of men laid off or on strike." He spoke.

Tommy looked at Maude and gave her a nod. She reached into her purse and pulled out the photograph of the Changretta wedding. She stood up and placed it in front of Mr. Devlin. "Look at the photograph, Mr. Devlin, and tell us who are the men that contacted you." She instructed him in a soft voice.

"No." Mr. Devlin refused as his eyes shot to Tommy. "No, you listen to me," he demanded and Maude raised her eyebrows at the way he so bravely spoke with Tommy. "I get spat at, windows smashed, petrol on the curtains. But for fear of you, I clock in every fucking morning. And today, two men are shot and burnt on my shift. And you ask me why I'm getting on the midnight train to Glasgow?" he ranted on.

Tommy silently stared at Mr. Devlin for a long moment. Maude pursed her lips as she quietly sat back down, crossing one leg over the other as she carefully watched her husband. The longer Tommy stared, the quicker Mr. Devlin realized his mistake. A streak of fear crossed his face and he looked away.

"Who else has the keys to that door?" Tommy questioned.

"They hang on a hook inside my office." Mr. Devlin explained. "Today I left the office unlocked," he added.

"Why?" Tommy asked in a low voice.

"Because I forgot. Because I left in a hurry." Mr. Devlin snapped as he looked at Tommy. "Because there were men trying to set fire to the factory," he added sharply before going silent for a second. "Mr. Shelby, may I tell you something?" he questioned and Tommy gave a curt nod. "You have a lot of enemies. Communists. Italians. Before the factory came out on strike, I heard word that two Italians attended a communist party meeting in Stechford. They hardly spoke English. Now, if they got a party man into the factory, it might have been him that unlocked the door for them." he told Tommy. "Mr. Shelby, my train leaves at 12:00. It's just gone 11:00. I can still make it. Please. For my kids." he begged.

Tommy was silent for a while as he thought over the matter. After a second his gruff voice spoke up again. "I need you here," he informed Mr. Devlin, who let out a despairing sigh. "Isiah, get three of our men with police badges to watch Mr. Devlin's house," he instructed Isiah as he stood up and Maude followed.

"Mr. Shelby, please..." Mr. Devlin begged desperately.

"Our friends in Glasgow will take care of your family," Tommy assured before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a few pounds more than necessary. "For the curtains," he said as he dropped the money onto the table.

Mr. Devlin looked up at Tommy with a bitter frown. "Before you, I was an ordinary working man," he muttered.

"Yeah, and now you're one of us," Tommy informed him before placing a hand on the small of Maude's back as he led her out of the room. "I want you to go see Jessie Eden about something," he informed her as he led her down a flight of stairs.

Maude's eyebrows furrowed as she glanced at Tommy over her shoulder. "Why do you want me to deal with her?" She asked in confusion.

"Because I might just kill someone if I go see her," Tommy muttered in a low voice as he exhaled sharply while leading Maude out of the building and towards the car.

Half an hour later Maude was knocking at Jessie Eden's flat door. "Who is it?" Jessie called out from the other side of the door.

"Maude Shelby," Maude called out from the other side as she let out an impatient sigh, fiddling with her black leather clutch in her hands, her lips pursed tightly.

The door opened but Jessie didn't let Maude step inside, blocking the path into her small flat. "Is this union business?" She asked as she raised her eyebrows at Maude.

"Yes," Maude replied curtly as her head tilted to the side.

"So conduct it in the proper place at the proper time." Jessie insisted in an unwelcoming tone and she tried to close the door on Maude.

Maude pushed her hand against the door, stopping Jessie from closing it. She flashed a forced smile. "I've come to make an improved offer." She informed the woman, keeping her hand firmly placed against the door.

Jessie opened the door and stepped to the side, intrigued by what Maude had to offer. She let Maude enter the flat and closed the door, turning to Maude with her arms crossed over her chest. "What's your improved offer?" She questioned curiously as she raised her eyebrows.

Maude pulled the photograph from her purse, the Changretta wedding picture. Two of them in the picture were the ones Arthur killed. "Have you ever seen any of the men in this photograph before?" She asked.

Jessie's eyebrows furrowed, her gaze remaining on Maude. "What?" She asked in confusion as her head tilted to the side.

"You're a member of the Stechford Communist party. I'm told two Italian men attended a meeting recently." Maude explained as she held the picture up. "Can you see either of the men in this picture?" She questioned.

Jessie inhaled sharply as she slowly shook her head. "As the Small Heath coordinator of the Organization for the Maintenance of Supplies, I have also been sworn in as a Special..."

Maude cut Jessie off with a shake of her head. " We have reason to believe that outside agitators from overseas are attempting to foment trouble in our factories in advance of a General Strike which could take place at any moment." She explained as she placed the picture down on the small table next to her. "This is a matter of national security." She insisted.

Jessie's eyebrows furrowed and her eyes squinted. "Why are you here and not your husband?" She asked curiously, as she only ever had dealt with Tommy on this matter.

"He's busy," Maude replied simply as she shrugged her shoulders.

Jessie nodded her head before a forced smile tugged at her lips. "You know, I think you're probably the only woman that man trusts." She insisted as she waved a finger in Maude's direction.

Maude nodded her head in agreement before shrugging her shoulders again. "It's why he married me, why he sent me here." She replied before taking a step closer to Jessie. "He trusts me, so if you help me, I could always help you, get what you want." She said softly as she quirked an eyebrow.

Jessie silently stared at Maude, taking in her words before inhaling sharply. "Do you want a drink?" She questioned as she walked towards her fridge.

"You don't by any chance have Stout?" Maude questioned as she sat down at the small table, pulling off her black gloves and placing them with her clutch on the table.

"I have beer," Jessie replied as she opened her fridge and pulled out two beer bottles, showing them to Maude.

Maude smiled lightly as she nodded her head. "Beer will do." She replied as she crossed one leg over the other, accepting the beer Jessie handed to her.

"I remember you from one of my strikes a long time ago," Jessie commented as she sat down opposite Maude, looking at her with squinted eyes as she asses her, trying to pinpoint exactly where she saw the familiar face.

"You're a woman with a good memory, then," Maude replied as she reached over for the photograph and slid it over to Jessie.

Jessie stared at Maude as she slowly shook her head. "I don't know any men in the photo." She replied simply as she took a swig of her beer.

Maude's head tilted to the side as she quirked an eyebrow. "You haven't looked." She noted and Jessie's gaze stubbornly diverted. Maude breathed deeply. "Look, this afternoon two men came into my factory and tried to kill my brother-in-law." She gritted out as her gaze towards Jessie Eden turned cold. "I believe a Stechford Communist party member let him in. I was wondering if you might be able to help me in my investigations." She said.

"No, sorry," Jessie replied with a shake of her head. "Your husband's not helped me or the people of this city, so I won't help him." She refused.

Maude stared at the woman before briefly closing her eyes and sighing. She grabbed her clutch, her gloves, , leaving the photograph with Jessie Eden. She turned on her heels, her jaw clenched and her gaze harsh.