you?”
“She doesn’t speak any English,” he replied, face taut. “Alright, I admit I thought there was something a bit weird about the place. I’ve heard the girls crying and screaming, the men shouting at them but I told myself it was just a game, that they were role-playing.”
“Don’t give me that shit. You were as thick as thieves with Alex, you know exactly what goes on in there and you don’t give a shit. I wonder what the newspapers would do if they found out what you get up to?”
“Please don’t do that,” said Strang, starting to panic. “I’ll give you whatever you want. Name your price.”
“We don’t want or need your fucking money. We want to hear everything you know about that club.”
Strang sighed resignedly and sank back in his seat. “If I tell you will you go away?”
“Yes,” said Mikey, retaking his seat and waiting for him to begin.
Without Mikey Maguire looming over him Strang could breathe a little easier.
“Everything takes place below stairs. There’s a hidden door in one of the wooden panels in the wall of the upstairs club. Below is a series of rooms where the girls are. You pay for how long you want and you can choose the girl and the fantasy.”
“Is there only the one entrance to these rooms?” said Mikey.
“No. There’s a rear door leading into an alley but I’ve never used it. We always go through the front.”
They nodded for him to continue, his information tallying with what they already knew.
“Who meets you at the front door?” said Jez.
“Katia. She’s the most beautiful woman in there, tall and blond. But no one’s allowed to touch her, no matter how much you offer.”
“Tried have you?” said Mikey.
“Actually I did get some alone time with her once. She used to be one of the girls but when she became manager she stopped sleeping with the customers.”
Mikey thought that sounded just like Alex. No one was allowed to touch his stuff.
“Katia runs the place,” continued Strang. “She has her own office downstairs. She greets you at the door, takes you downstairs to the girls and disciplines them if they get out of line. She can be pretty ruthless too.”
“You mean she’s the Madam?” said Jez.
Strang nodded. “When you’re finished she escorts you back out again.”
“So you’re not allowed to wander around the building on your own?”
“That’s right.”
“Who are the clientele?”
“All wealthy and connected people, women as well as men. It’s a very exclusive club.”
“Do the girls stay on the premises?”
“From what I can gather, yes. They don’t speak English, except for the few dirty words they’re taught.”
“Any security?”
“Yes, a couple of gorillas downstairs but they’re there to keep the girls in line rather than the guests.”
“Any cameras? Alarms?” said Mikey.
“Not that I’ve noticed.”
“How long has it been operating?”
“About eighteen months. I’m sorry that’s all I know.”
“Thank you for being so candid Mr Strang,” said Mikey with a predatory smile. He picked up a yellow post-it note and a pen off Strang’s desk and scribbled down a phone number. “I want you to continue going to the club. If you see anything of interest I want you to let me know immediately. Just so you know, it’s an untraceable number.”
“Anything of interest? Like what?”
“I’m sure you’ll know it when you see it, an intelligent man like you,” he said sarcastically. He grabbed Strang’s hand and squeezed it hard, feeling the bones grate against each other. “You’d be wise to keep our little chat to yourself.”
“I’m hardly likely to tell Alex am I? I dread to think what would happen to me if he found out. Can you please let go of my hand now?” he winced. Mikey released him and he exhaled shakily, cradling his tender hand. He was relieved when they both got to their feet but miserable at being conscripted by them.
“Don’t look so upset Mr Strang, it’s
“She doesn’t speak any English,” he replied, face taut. “Alright, I admit I thought there was something a bit weird about the place. I’ve heard the girls crying and screaming, the men shouting at them but I told myself it was just a game, that they were role-playing.”
“Don’t give me that shit. You were as thick as thieves with Alex, you know exactly what goes on in there and you don’t give a shit. I wonder what the newspapers would do if they found out what you get up to?”
“Please don’t do that,” said Strang, starting to panic. “I’ll give you whatever you want. Name your price.”
“We don’t want or need your fucking money. We want to hear everything you know about that club.”
Strang sighed resignedly and sank back in his seat. “If I tell you will you go away?”
“Yes,” said Mikey, retaking his seat and waiting for him to begin.
Without Mikey Maguire looming over him Strang could breathe a little easier.
“Everything takes place below stairs. There’s a hidden door in one of the wooden panels in the wall of the upstairs club. Below is a series of rooms where the girls are. You pay for how long you want and you can choose the girl and the fantasy.”
“Is there only the one entrance to these rooms?” said Mikey.
“No. There’s a rear door leading into an alley but I’ve never used it. We always go through the front.”
They nodded for him to continue, his information tallying with what they already knew.
“Who meets you at the front door?” said Jez.
“Katia. She’s the most beautiful woman in there, tall and blond. But no one’s allowed to touch her, no matter how much you offer.”
“Tried have you?” said Mikey.
“Actually I did get some alone time with her once. She used to be one of the girls but when she became manager she stopped sleeping with the customers.”
Mikey thought that sounded just like Alex. No one was allowed to touch his stuff.
“Katia runs the place,” continued Strang. “She has her own office downstairs. She greets you at the door, takes you downstairs to the girls and disciplines them if they get out of line. She can be pretty ruthless too.”
“You mean she’s the Madam?” said Jez.
Strang nodded. “When you’re finished she escorts you back out again.”
“So you’re not allowed to wander around the building on your own?”
“That’s right.”
“Who are the clientele?”
“All wealthy and connected people, women as well as men. It’s a very exclusive club.”
“Do the girls stay on the premises?”
“From what I can gather, yes. They don’t speak English, except for the few dirty words they’re taught.”
“Any security?”
“Yes, a couple of gorillas downstairs but they’re there to keep the girls in line rather than the guests.”
“Any cameras? Alarms?” said Mikey.
“Not that I’ve noticed.”
“How long has it been operating?”
“About eighteen months. I’m sorry that’s all I know.”
“Thank you for being so candid Mr Strang,” said Mikey with a predatory smile. He picked up a yellow post-it note and a pen off Strang’s desk and scribbled down a phone number. “I want you to continue going to the club. If you see anything of interest I want you to let me know immediately. Just so you know, it’s an untraceable number.”
“Anything of interest? Like what?”
“I’m sure you’ll know it when you see it, an intelligent man like you,” he said sarcastically. He grabbed Strang’s hand and squeezed it hard, feeling the bones grate against each other. “You’d be wise to keep our little chat to yourself.”
“I’m hardly likely to tell Alex am I? I dread to think what would happen to me if he found out. Can you please let go of my hand now?” he winced. Mikey released him and he exhaled shakily, cradling his tender hand. He was relieved when they both got to their feet but miserable at being conscripted by them.
“Don’t look so upset Mr Strang, it’s