pulling the pin

There's an element of edginess to this, the first time they meet one another after Tommy's bluff about the young anarchist from the nice family. Alfie isn't surprised that it makes the most sense for the meeting to be in public down at the docks.

In his greatcoat, hat on head, leaning on a cane, he waits for the Birmingham boys to disembark from their river float, and drums ringed fingers and wonders what exactly he is going to do about Mister Thomas Shelby.