On a Saturday morning in the middle of March 1919, the betting shop on Watery Lane was very busy and noisy.
Finn was in the back room sorting blue betting slips. He felt good because of his recent win. His plan had really helped the shop.
Then, Thomas Shelby pushed the door open. His cap was pulled low, and a cigarette hung from his mouth. "Finn, come with me," he said. His voice was low cutting through the noise.
Finn followed him to the Shelby house next door. Finn felt nervous but stood firm. The kitchen was not bright, with the gas light making shadows.
Polly sat at the table with the betting book open with smoke rising from her cigarette.
Thomas pointed to a chair with his chin. "Sit down."
Finn sat down with his hands relaxed.
Thomas flicked ash from his cigarette and looked hard at Finn. "Your cans, Finn; very smart. The shop is busy again with people betting a lot. How much more money do we have, Pol?"
"Fifteen shillings," Polly said, tapping her pen and speaking quietly. "The boy is good at this." She leaned back and looked at Finn with a sharp look in her eyes.
Thomas smiled slightly and leaned closer. "That's pretty good, right? You're finished with small jobs. You're the boss now; you'll manage the workers and watch the hidden money, and make sure the customers are handled. You'll get a wage, the same amount Polly gets. But it won't be easy. The workers will argue and the customers will get angry. Can you do it?"
Finn looked straight at Thomas, standing firm. "I'm doing it, Tommy. The cans worked because I understood why the customers didn't trust us, and I can handle the noise and trouble."
Thomas raised his eyebrow and slowly blew out smoke. "Those are big words. Customers will get very angry if they lose a bet, and the workers will try to challenge you. Are you brave enough for it?"
Finn leaned forward with his hands flat on the table. "I stood strong against a customer yesterday. I showed him where the money was hidden but not the can, then he paid two shillings and stopped complaining, so everything is and will be under control."
Polly put out her cigarette and let out a low laugh. "Listen to him, Thomas. That sounds just like you." She looked at Finn with a proud look. "He has your strong spirit."
Thomas tilted his head, smiling a little. "You think you can make the workers follow orders? Handle the customers when they get difficult?"
Finn didn't move or show fear. "I've already got them doing the tapping signal correctly. And if they don't behave, I'll make them. I know what is important here."
Polly nodded, showing she approved.
Thomas stood up, pressing his cigarette into the table. "You're the young boss now. You run the shop, and you report to me and Polly. Don't mess it up." He hit Finn's shoulder hard, a sign of trust.
Finn stood up, his chair scraping. The thought of a the highest wage in the shop made him feel strong as it could solve a lot of his expansion problems, and Thomas trusting him felt important.
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Back in the shop.
Not much light came through the dirty windows.
People pushed each other at the counter, shouting out their bets while money clinked.
The workers wrote quickly in their books, their fingers shaking because they were trying to keep up.
Thomas Shelby walked into the noise.
His cap was pulled down low, and smoke came from his cigarette.
He walked to the middle of the shop with his boots hitting the floor with purpose and held up his hand. "Oi! Listen up!" His voice cut through all the noise and everyone stopped talking at once.
People who were shouting bets stopped, and the workers stopped writing and everyone looked at him.
Finn stood nearby holding blue betting slips and he kept his jaw firm even though his heart was beating fast.
John and Arthur leaned against the wall with their arms crossed, watching Tommy and their youngest brother.
Polly sat at her table towards the back with her betting book open.
Thomas let the quiet last for a moment, looking around the room with his intense stare. "Alright, listen," he said, his voice calm but powerful.
"Starting today, Finn is your boss. The workers, the customers and the hidden money - he's in charge of everything. You do what he says, just like you do what I or Polly say. No arguing and no talking back." He stopped and breathed out smoke, letting his words sink in.
"He's the one who made this place better. We made more money yesterday because of his ideas. So, when he talks, you listen carefully. Understand?"
A wave of reaction went through the shop.
The workers looked at each other quickly looking unsure with their pens not touching the paper.
The customers shifted their feet and grumbled quietly.
Finn felt the weight of everyone looking at him, but he stood taller and straighter.
He knew he had earned this, he thought about the hidden tin cans, the fake betting slips, the tapping signals; it was all his work.
John broke the quiet with a half-smile. He stepped forward and hit Finn gently on the shoulder. "Well, look at that - little Finn's a real man now, huh?" He sounded rough but kind, like a proud brother.
Arthur grunted next to him and nodded once. His face, which had scars, looked a little softer for a second. "Just don't mess it up, kid," he said in a deep voice with a small smile on his lips.
Polly kept looking at Finn and her lips curved into a small knowing smile. She tapped her pen once against the betting book. It was a quiet sign that she approved.
Thomas turned to Finn and stepped closer. His voice was low, just for the family to hear. "It's yours now, Finn. Don't let them see you hesitate." He put his hand on Finn's shoulder. It was a firm and strong hold, then he let go and stepped back with a slight smile on his face.
Finn's heart was beating fast but he spoke steadily and with determination. "I'll keep everything under control." He looked Thomas in the eyes without looking away.
"Good," Thomas said. He flicked his cigarette onto the floor and stepped on it. "Now, get to work."
The shop became noisy again with shouting, coins falling and boots hitting the floor but Finn stayed where he was with his chin up ready to handle everything.
The workers looked at him carefully, some whispering to each other.
The customers looked him up and down, not sure what to think but interested.
John and Arthur looked at each other, agreeing without speaking to support him.
Polly's pen started writing in the book again, but she kept watching Finn with a quiet trust in her eyes.