confused. “You mean you don’t know?”
“If we did we wouldn’t be here talking to a wanker like you. Now if you don’t want me to practice my right hook on you I suggest you answer the fucking question.”
“It’s a sort of gentleman’s club,” Strang began awkwardly.
“I’m guessing it’s not all whisky and cigars?” said Jez.
“Upstairs it is. If the police walked in they wouldn’t think anything was suspicious. It’s full of antique furniture and old books. Downstairs is the real business.”
“And what’s that?” said Mikey, struggling to contain his impatience. He’d been greatly disturbed by Alex keeping this from him, he felt it proved how little he respected or even cared about him.
“There are women downstairs. They’ll do anything you want.”
“You mean it’s no holds barred?” said Jez.
“Yes, they’ll fulfil any fantasy, no matter what it is.”
“Even if it’s violent?”
“Yes,” he replied, shame-faced. “But I never hurt any of them, I’m always gentle. There’s one in particular, Laila, she’s beautiful. I always ask for her. I want to elevate her out of that life. She’s special to me. I was thinking of asking Alex if he’d sell her to me.”
Mikey was disgusted. “Sell her?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not after a personal slave or anything. I just thought the only way he would let her go was if he was recompensed for the money he’d lose out on. But I haven’t asked her if she wants me yet.”
“Very touching,” said Jez sarcastically. “What a story to tell your grandkids. Let me guess, all these women are east European?”
“Yes.”
“And do any of them ever look ill or a bit vacant?”
Stephen was confused. He was answering all their questions but Jez was growing increasingly angry. “Yes.”
Jez slammed both fists down on the desk, making Stephen jump. “Strang you stupid stupid bastard.”
“I beg your pardon?” he blustered.
“Do you think those girls are there willingly? It’s a human trafficking operation you idiot.”
All the blood drained from Strang’s face. “No, I’m quite sure you’re wrong about that.”
“Shut the fuck up and listen,” snarled Mikey.
Strang did as he was told.
“They bring the girls over here promising them a career as models or au pairs, that’s the standard lie,” continued Jez. “They get them hooked on heroin and work them until they’re all used up. Then they’ll be moved on somewhere a lot less high class and bring in fresh girls to replace them, innocent women just wanting a better life.”
“You’ve got a cheek, I know what sort of business you’re involved in,” said Strang disdainfully.
“Don’t you even fucking compare the two. My girls are there voluntarily, they earn a good wage, they’re treated well, they work when they choose and if they touch drugs they’re sacked. They even have the option of taking a bodyguard with them if they think a client’s going to get too heavy. Neither are they forced to do all the depraved things those girls are no doubt subjected to at Alex’s place, they are not sex slaves. Do you think Alex’s girls survive such a harsh life and move onto bigger and better things? No. Eventually that life will kill them, whether it’s the drugs or some brutal bastard beating them to death.”
“No, don’t say that,” said Strang, hating the thought of Laila enduring such a life.
“Have you any idea of the jail time you’d get if you were caught in that place?” said Mikey. “Human trafficking is extremely illegal and carries a heavy sentence.”
“Woah,” said Strang, holding up his hands. “I’m just there to use a service, I’m not trafficking anyone.”
“Supply and demand Strang,” said Mikey. “You create the demand so Alex makes sure there’s a supply. You’re just as guilty as he is. You can’t honestly expect us to believe you didn’t know what was going on in there? Surely your precious Laila told
“If we did we wouldn’t be here talking to a wanker like you. Now if you don’t want me to practice my right hook on you I suggest you answer the fucking question.”
“It’s a sort of gentleman’s club,” Strang began awkwardly.
“I’m guessing it’s not all whisky and cigars?” said Jez.
“Upstairs it is. If the police walked in they wouldn’t think anything was suspicious. It’s full of antique furniture and old books. Downstairs is the real business.”
“And what’s that?” said Mikey, struggling to contain his impatience. He’d been greatly disturbed by Alex keeping this from him, he felt it proved how little he respected or even cared about him.
“There are women downstairs. They’ll do anything you want.”
“You mean it’s no holds barred?” said Jez.
“Yes, they’ll fulfil any fantasy, no matter what it is.”
“Even if it’s violent?”
“Yes,” he replied, shame-faced. “But I never hurt any of them, I’m always gentle. There’s one in particular, Laila, she’s beautiful. I always ask for her. I want to elevate her out of that life. She’s special to me. I was thinking of asking Alex if he’d sell her to me.”
Mikey was disgusted. “Sell her?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not after a personal slave or anything. I just thought the only way he would let her go was if he was recompensed for the money he’d lose out on. But I haven’t asked her if she wants me yet.”
“Very touching,” said Jez sarcastically. “What a story to tell your grandkids. Let me guess, all these women are east European?”
“Yes.”
“And do any of them ever look ill or a bit vacant?”
Stephen was confused. He was answering all their questions but Jez was growing increasingly angry. “Yes.”
Jez slammed both fists down on the desk, making Stephen jump. “Strang you stupid stupid bastard.”
“I beg your pardon?” he blustered.
“Do you think those girls are there willingly? It’s a human trafficking operation you idiot.”
All the blood drained from Strang’s face. “No, I’m quite sure you’re wrong about that.”
“Shut the fuck up and listen,” snarled Mikey.
Strang did as he was told.
“They bring the girls over here promising them a career as models or au pairs, that’s the standard lie,” continued Jez. “They get them hooked on heroin and work them until they’re all used up. Then they’ll be moved on somewhere a lot less high class and bring in fresh girls to replace them, innocent women just wanting a better life.”
“You’ve got a cheek, I know what sort of business you’re involved in,” said Strang disdainfully.
“Don’t you even fucking compare the two. My girls are there voluntarily, they earn a good wage, they’re treated well, they work when they choose and if they touch drugs they’re sacked. They even have the option of taking a bodyguard with them if they think a client’s going to get too heavy. Neither are they forced to do all the depraved things those girls are no doubt subjected to at Alex’s place, they are not sex slaves. Do you think Alex’s girls survive such a harsh life and move onto bigger and better things? No. Eventually that life will kill them, whether it’s the drugs or some brutal bastard beating them to death.”
“No, don’t say that,” said Strang, hating the thought of Laila enduring such a life.
“Have you any idea of the jail time you’d get if you were caught in that place?” said Mikey. “Human trafficking is extremely illegal and carries a heavy sentence.”
“Woah,” said Strang, holding up his hands. “I’m just there to use a service, I’m not trafficking anyone.”
“Supply and demand Strang,” said Mikey. “You create the demand so Alex makes sure there’s a supply. You’re just as guilty as he is. You can’t honestly expect us to believe you didn’t know what was going on in there? Surely your precious Laila told
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