A taxi hooted outside and Elaine rushed from the room, leaving a scent of Estée Lauder and face powder.

‘’Bye, George.’

He listened to the thud of her feet on the stairs and the satisfying slam of the front door as it crashed behind her.

She was gone.

He was alone.

Hallelujah!

George lay with bated breath until he heard the taxi turn at the end of the street, then jumped from the bed.

‘Look, Mr Kelly, it’s New Year’s Eve. We always get lots of punters in on New Year’s Eve. She’s a good kid . . .’

Kelly stared hard at the woman in front of him. Violet Mapping had been running this massage parlour for five years. She was one of the hardest Toms he had ever met in his life, and he had met a few, but she had one vice: she was a dyke and liked the young girls. But this young girl was not working in his massage parlour until she was qualified.

‘Listen, Vi, get the girl a certificate and she can work here till the cows come home. Till then, no way.’

‘Oh, Mr Kelly, you know and I know that that piece of paper is a bloody con.’

‘I don’t care what you know, Violet. Once she’s done a course in massage and has her certificate she can work here. Until then, no.’

Violet saw the man’s face harden and decided it was better to give way on this occasion. Everyone knew about Mandy, it was common knowledge on the streets. It was best not to annoy him now.

She sighed.

‘If you say so, Mr Kelly.’

‘Good girl, Vi, you know it makes sense. Now then, if you get any weird ones in I want you to cop the names and addresses - the lot. Then I want you to pass them on to me.’

Violet snorted with laughter.

‘They’re all fucking weird, that’s why they come here!’ Kelly shook his head in annoyance.

‘You know what I mean. If one wants something a bit outlandish like, or gets violent with the girls, I want to know. OK? You’re one of the best “lifters” in the game, Vi. You can lift a wallet better than anyone I’ve ever known. Only after you’ve lifted it, Violet, you put it back, comprenez?’

She narrowed her hard blue eyes.

‘I give up lifting years ago, Mr Kelly, you should know that.’

The two eyed each other for a few seconds.

‘Just make sure the wallet goes back into the pocket, Vi, or there’ll be hell to pay. Now get back on reception. By the way, before I forget, how old is that little black bird out there?’

Violet pulled her mouth down at the corners and shrugged her skinny shoulders.

‘I dunno.’

Patrick Kelly stood up.

‘You don’t know? Well, judging by the looks of her I’d put her at about fifteen, Vi, so get rid of her. Fuck me, I pay you to run this gaff. I might as well run the bastard place meself!’