I'm either really unlucky, or str8guy is really lucky, or possibly McCabe and Rod are in on this together. Every day I try to ensure I see one, but not the other, so I can challenge str8guy later about whether he's seen me or not. I thought today was it. I'd got to past four and hadn't seen hide nor hair of McCabe. That meant if I could go online tonight and speak to Rod, and he said he'd seen me, I'd have him. (Assuming it's not computer geek, of course, who's still not technically out of the running.)

But then the old bastard bounded in and plonked a pile of papers on my desk. "Get your ferret ears on, Molly. I'm setting you off in search of the hare again. Government Office have money to spend. Useless bastards have just discovered it. There's a million going begging. Some of it needs to find its way into our bowl, Molly. Please sir, we want some more. I'm sure you can tie a lead around its neck and bring it home to water. Something useful for the homeless or the feckless, I'd suggest. Build that social capital, Molly, sustain those vital communities. You know the bollocks. Give them a tickle and let them drop. I'll leave it with you."

So much for the holiday he told me to take. Bloody old hypocrite.

Someone at the door. BRB

Later

Okay, it's all gone far enough now. It's getting dangerous. I'm out of this.

That was Madame Juliette at the door. My spanking Mistress, you may remember. I sure as hell do.

"Hello," she said as I opened the door.

"Hello."

"Sorry to come unannounced. But you're not answering your phone. I've been trying to get you for a few days."

"Oh? It's not charged at the moment. How d'you know my number."

"Ah, that's what I'm here about. Can I come in? It's fucking cold out here."

I stood aside and let her through. "Drink?" I asked.

"Gin, please. And orange."

"Orange?"

"Don't knock it till you've tried it."

She looked quite different out of uniform. Very attractive, in fact. The basque and stocking made her look fatter, but dressed in a knee-length skirt and cream jumper she looked distinctly svelte. Her eyes were green and seemed much more vibrant than before - as though she had come to life. Her blond hair hung round her neck casually.

"Okay," she said, sipping her gin, "I'm not going to mess about. I don't know what the fuck you're playing at, but stop it."

"Pardon?"

"You know what I mean."

"Actually, I really don't."

She felt for her jacket and pulled out a card and handed it to me. It was mine, my business card. I blushed. "Now listen, I don't know what you're into, and I don't want to. My punters' private lives are no concern of mine. I'm not a fucking social worker. And I don't give a fuck either, really." She wore a hard expression, and I had no doubt she meant it. "But you're involved in some weird shit, I know that. And I can't work out whether you want to be or not."

"Bit of both."

"Bit of both, huh? That why you greeted me like I was the fucking devil himself the other week? That why you were crying your fucking eyes out when I left?"

"It's complicated."

"Too complicated for a hooker to understand, you mean?"

"No. Too complicated for me to understand."

"Listen, I'm not fucking stupid. I know you're involved with some guy who's making you do this stuff. I've seen it before. It turns him on. I don't know if it turns you on or not, and I don't give a fuck about that either. Sorry. If you're stupid enough to let some guy make you do kinky stuff you don't like, that's your problem, sweetie. But I'm telling you this, you're getting into dangerous stuff here." Her voice was getting louder and she was perched on the edge of the seat. Her hand was gripped around the stem of the glass.

"What d'you mean?"

"Look, you can't just put cards like this around the place. Are you fucking crazy? Number one, it's got your face on it, and your phone number? Which d'you want to arrive first? The police or the deviants? It's a toss-up which is worst, by the way. Number two, you can't just muscle into the scene like this. It's a professional set-up, for fuck's sake. There's some heavy people out there." She must have seen the surprise in my eyes. "Don't fucking laugh. Just 'cos this is a half-arsed town in the middle of nowhere doesn't mean there's no-one managing stuff. You won't be fucking laughing if your doorbell rings in the middle of the night and you get one of Mr Lomax's no-brained thugs onto you, wanting his cut from your earnings."

"I'm sorry..."

"No, just shut up. I don't care. Don't fucking whine at me, I'm not your friend. I'm just telling you - keep out of stuff you don't understand. If you wanna play kinky games with some guy then go ahead, but do it alone. Keep off the streets, honey. You'll get yourself hurt."

She left soon after, and immediately I texted str8.

Online now ps

[str8guy has entered]

[str8guy] Hello Molly. Not often I'm summonsed by you?

[str8guy] Feeling randy?

[str8guy] Feeling the urge to share polly and botty with me?

[molly] get those fucking cards out of circulation now.

[molly] dont fuck me about here

[molly] i mean it im serious im scared

[str8guy] Molly, what is it?

I explained to him what had just happened. He wasn't exactly what you'd call concerned, but at least he appeared to take it seriously. Not that it stopped him from blackmailing me again.

[str8guy] Well, I understand your predicament, Molly, my dear.

[str8guy] However, I did offer a way out last night, if you remember?

[str8guy] That would solve your problem entirely

[str8guy] And I did say you were above all that common prostitution lark anyway. Doesn't this just prove it?

[molly] this isnt anotehr of your fucking tricks is it

[molly] did u set this up

[str8guy] Hmm, I can see why you might think that.

[str8guy] But no, honestly I swear to you, I knew nothing about this.

[molly] hmmm

[str8guy] Yes, I understand why you find it difficult to believe me.

[molly] ill reserve judgement on that for now

[str8guy] Very well.

[str8guy] My offer remains.

[str8guy] And it is the one way to get you out of this predicament.

[molly] Okay, so what?

[str8guy] So this. Tomorrow, you'll get a call. With an address. It'll be one of the hotels. The Royal or The Oak, usually.

[str8guy] You'll go to the room. Walk nonchalantly. Appear confident. The staff won't question you. If you look nervous they will. Okay?

[molly] yes

[str8guy] A client will be in the room. He will be respectable, clean, decent, reasonable. He'll entertain you for the evening. A meal somewhere, probably. It'll be up to him. Sometimes they prefer to stay in the room

[str8guy] Whatever he wants, really

[molly] whatever?

[str8guy] Whatever

[molly] and does that include a fuck

[str8guy] If that's what he wishes

[molly] okay. if i do this no more cards?

[molly] and please don't fuck me around with this

[molly] i know i can't trust you, but just do this for me.

[molly] pleaes

[str8guy] Molly, you have my word on that. Absolutely honestly. Trust me this once. You can, my dear.

[molly] ok

[str8guy] And Molly, look nice. Make a big effort. You look so scrumptious when you're made up.

[str8guy] Silk underwear, I think...

[str8guy] Now I must get on, I need to contact Francis urgently.

[str8guy] Good night my sweet.

[molly] night

[str8guy has quit]

Okay, can I believe him? Somehow, this time I think I can. But then, what the fuck do I know? I'm just an escort girl...