Bishop in the Massage Parlour (3)
Life in the Parlour could be fairly relaxed. I sometimes compared it to a convent and us working girls to nuns. It is true that on the whole we are supportive of each other. The men believe that if they have been with one of us, then next time they pick someone else we go into a sulk. I think it says more about their vanity than our feelings for them. They are customers, not dates! Sadly every now and then an antagonism sprouts between two of us, and that can spread like a virus. I have witnessed girls coming to blows about trivialities.
I am not quarrelsome by nature, and being something of a coward, I pretend not to hear barbs addressed to me obliquely. I pride myself that I have no enemies, and was quite popular with my colleagues. This changed when Elaine started working here. She took one look at me, and decided that I was her enemy. At first I thought that if I ignored her hostility she would change her attitude to me. We reached a point where we got on superficially, but I have caught her change her conversation with other girls at my appearance. Though I never asked, I was told that she had been bitchy towards me. However, since we were going to work in this confined space together, I never did or said anything to make matters worse.
Like me, Elaine had done serious secondary schooling, and she read books and newspapers, unlike most of the other girls. If anybody was to pierce the mystery of John McNab, I didn’t need to look too far away. And she did.
One morning last week, two or three girls were seated in the lounge when she walked in. She served herself a coffee and came and sat next to me.
I’ve got something to show you, she said to me in a kind sweet voice, opening her handbag. And she produced a cutting from The Evening News. I did not have to look at it, I knew it was half a column about the Bishop of X visiting the Cornerstone Bookshop in the company of the Rektor of St John’s, with a photograph of my regular. Elaine must have taken a good look at him to discover his identity. Doesn’t he look like Jodie’s regular, John? I said she should go to SpecSavers, and none of the other girls saw any likeness either. She said sorry, and let the matter drop.
I mentioned this to Magda who reassured me that Elaine had a sensible head on her shoulders, and even if she did not believe my denial, she was not going to endanger her position at the Blue Eden by doing anything rash. I did not let all this trouble my sleep.
Then two things happened. Sophie mentioned that Elaine had suggested they took a place together the two of them and offer services there. There was much more money going freelance. And we’ll get a good start by asking our clientele here to come to our flat instead, she had said. On its own, that did not worry me, but Sophie also mentioned that one of Elaine’s regulars was a journo from the Evening News.
Next time John booked, I was sitting in the lounge waiting when he buzzed
and came in. He was paying Magda when there was another buzz, and this time, two men burst in, one with his cameras at the ready.
