Rod came by this morning. My heart lurched when I saw him. I still can't work out who it is. I don't think it's the computer geek. I know nothing about him, and I feel certain if it was him he would have made himself better known to me over the last few weeks. str8guy's pride would insist on it, I'm sure. So that means it's either Rod or McCabe.

Sometimes I think it's McCabe for sure. Usually after I've spoken to him. But then I think - no, it can't be. Why would he? And then I think - yes he would. He likes screwing people. Metaphorically more than physically; and mostly in business. Remember what he said about meeting Miles Chase when he met him during his honeymoon? 'Mrs McCabe wasn't the only one I shafted that week...' He likes to beat people. He likes playing games.

But then I think, Geoff McCabe??? Get real...

So then there's Rod, and I think, like, the man hasn't got the wit to do all this. He's practically gormless, trotting up every day with his silly joke. But some of those jokes seem awfully apt - too apt. S. Like yesterday's effort: What's the difference between a hooker and a drug dealer? A hooker can't clean her crack and re-sell it 3; Ho ho... So is it him? Is he playing the gormless act to put me off the scent?

Fucked if I know.

Anyway, Rod came by this morning with a filthy joke: Why did Tony Blair cross the road? Because his dick was stuck in the chicken.

Tess was still laughing as I went through to see McCabe.

"Morning Molly. Rested after the weekend, I hope? Didn't do anything to taxing, I trust? Got some sleep, recharged the molly batteries.."

"Something like that."

"How's Sure Start?" "Starting. Not so surely, though."

"Oh? Not what I like to hear, Molly. Tell all."

"They're a bunch of clueless bastards - pardon me..."

"Troop away, Molly. The English language is built on filth and vulgarity. I should know, I've been fucking and bastarding all my life."

"Can't say I've noticed that."

"Try not to when you're around, Molly. You're too sharp. Keep me on my toes. A sharp bint, that's what you are."

"You say the nicest things."

"Don't I just? Now, Sure Start?"

"Clueless. Ask them what they want and all they'll tell you is how many staff they need. Like I care about their fucking staff."

"I always care about staff, Molly."

"That's your own staff, Geoff. That's different."

"First time you've ever called me Geoff, Molly."

"Is it?"

"It certainly is. I'm a rhinoceros. I remember these things."

"Elephant."

"What?"

"Elephants remember."

"No, elephants vanish."

"Now, that would take some amount of smoke and mirrors."

"The world revolves around smoke and mirrors, Molly. Someone's always hiding something, somewhere."

"Don't I know it."

"But where there's smoke, there's fire. Always look for the fire, Molly. That's where the trouble is. And you need to find trouble to fix it."

Now, call me a silly old Molly, but what did all of that mean? He's telling me something, but what? Jesus, Geoff, why can't you just call a spade a shovel sometimes?

Later, at home

I've had my call-girl phone switched off again, so str8 can't text me when he wants me online. I was so busy at work today it never dawned on me that he hadn't been in touch. I expect he's fuming mad by now because I've been ignoring him all day. Bugger, and it was an accident, too, but he won't believe it...

[str8guy] Ah, Molly, thought you'd never arrive.

[molly] sorry, my phone was switched off all day, and i've been really busy.

[str8guy] Oh yes. Too busy for me, clearly. Nice to know where I stand in your priorities. If I had £75 to pay you I'd probably get better treatment, would you say?

[molly] no, really, i've been rushed off my feet. had a session with mccabe this morning. he sent me off to do all sorts of stuff.

[str8guy] Yes, I saw you in with McCabe. Anything illuminating?

[molly] conversation with mccabe?

[molly] illuminating?

[molly] like a candle in a draughty corridor.

[str8guy] Yes, that's a fair description...

[molly] yup

[molly] and of course if u are mccabe you'll be sitting there chortling like mad, wont u?

[str8guy] I will, if I am he

[str8guy] So, last night...

[molly] yes, did my bit.

[molly] done yours yet?

[str8guy] Not exactly.

[molly] not exactly? my, that comes as a surprise. who'd have guessed. what does that mean, then#

[str8guy] Well,I hven't distributed any more myself.

[molly] but

[str8guy] But I hven't collected the old ones in yet.

[str8guy] Or got them back from Francis.

[molly] what?

[str8guy] Well, Francis was so enamoured of your sweet ministrations that he wanted to take some cards, to help you with your new career.

[str8guy] he felt he owed that to you

[str8guy] And I haven't had a chance to get them back yet.

[molly] uh huh. but you will, yes?

[str8guy] Possibly.

[molly] possibly?

[str8guy] Do you think I could see your big vibrator, Molly?

[str8guy] Yes, that's the one.

[str8guy] In action, preferably

[str8guy] As I think you knew.

[str8guy] Nice striptease, Molly...

[str8guy] Very pretty

[str8guy] Now lie back and play

[str8guy] good girl

[str8guy] It's like this Molly

[molly] uh huh

[str8guy] I'm very pleased with the way you've taken to your challenges.

[str8guy] Really risen to them

[str8guy] You've done splendidly.

[molly] thank you for patronising me

[str8guy] No, not patronisinga tall. Saying what I mean.

[str8guy] I doubted we'd ever get this far, at times.

[str8guy] But you've stuck with it brilliantly.

[str8guy] Gone with your instincts.

[str8guy] Gone against them some times too

[str8guy] and found your instincts were wrong, I fancy

[str8guy] And it's all worked out

[molly] this is it worked out?

[molly] i'd hate to see what would happen if it had gone tits up

[str8guy] Could you just slide it in, now Molly. You must be damp by now.

[str8guy] Oh, there we go. Perfect.

[str8guy] Yes, Molly. You've discovered things about yourself. You've experimented. Stretched boundaries.

[str8guy] Gone out of your comfort zone. Gvery brave. Very hard to do.

[str8guy] And you've done it brilliantly.

[str8guy] But I'm not sure where we are now is where you should be

[molly] what, with a vibrator up my cunt?

[str8guy] Don't be coarse, Molly...

[str8guy] That's not what I mean, as you well know.

[str8guy] What I mean is this...

[str8guy] Deeper, please, and in and out

[str8guy] You're better than a common whore, Molly.

[str8guy] A thousand times better.

[str8guy] A million times better

[str8guy] So if i agree to the deal we struck last night you're left there, too low. Lower than you're worth.

[molly] go on

[str8guy] We both know you're better than that.

[str8guy] And I'd feel I'd done you a disservice. Not done my best for you.

[str8guy] So what I'm proposing is that you do another little task for me.

[str8guy] More in keeping with your status, and beauty, and skills

[molly] go on

[str8guy] An escort, Molly. That's wshat I'm suggesting. You're too good to be a prostitute. But a high class escort - my God Molly you're made for it.

[str8guy] Beautiful, witty, intelligent, discreet, sexy, what more could you ask for?

[str8guy] I'm not talking any old eescort here, Molly. Real high class stuff.

[str8guy] You could earn thousands.

[str8guy] Could you put the dildo back in please?

[molly] is that what this is all about? turning me into a high class hooker?

[molly] is that what the last two months have been about?

[molly] fucks sake. if youd wanted that u should have just asked back in april. saved all this time

[str8guy] Oh I don't think so, Molly. You weren't ready then.

[str8guy] You didn't know yourself well enough then.

[str8guy] Not like you do now.

[str8guy] Could you please put your dildo back in?

[molly] i'll shove it up your arse first m8

[molly] so let me get this right. because i'm too good to be a whore like i was last night, you want me to prostitute myself again. how does that work, exactly?

[str8guy] It's not prostituion, my dear. It's escort work.

[molly] and no fucking involved, huh?

[str8guy] Should both parties agree to a little extra activity, that could prove mutually rewarding.

[str8guy] Now, about that dildo...

[molly] i tell you what m8. here's my arse.

[molly] now kiss it

[molly] and that's all your getting tonite

God! Fuck! It's driving me mad. Rod or McCabe or geek, whichever you are, look after your bollocks. You won't have them this time next week.

Silver, my old dear. Come to mummy, my precious. You've been so neglected. Let me kiss it better...