To her surprise, when she stepped into the office, Patterson was sat behind his desk, smoking a cigarette, a languid smile spreading over his face when he saw her. "Hello Tina darling," he greeted her. "How are you getting on then?"

"Oh, fine," she replied, her gaze flitting to the pegs in the far corner where all the girls, herself included, hung their coats and bags at the start of the evening. If she was meant to get a look inside for any identification, she was going to have a hard time doing it whilst he was sat there. "I've got a bit of a headache and Ryan said I should take a break."

"He's a very nice bloke is Ryan," Patterson said, nodding to where the man in question was standing at her back. "Very caring towards all the girls. But…I was hoping that you would, in fact, do me a little favour Tina."

"A favour?"

"Mmmm…" he sat forwards and stubbed out his cigarette into the ashtray. "There's a bloke out there who's taken quite a shine to you."

"Really?"

"You mean you haven't noticed? He was here last night, here again tonight, buying bottles of champagne and asking for two glasses…" he shook his head. "Come on sweetheart, you can't be as naïve as all that."

"Oh, him," she said, nodding. "Yeah, I know who you mean. He seems a nice guy."

"I knew you'd agree. Good judge of character this one, Ryan." She heard Ryan snicker slightly behind her and, for the first time, felt a chill start to creep through her. "You see darling, we want to encourage nice men to come here, men who are nice to our girls, treat them properly. You understand what I mean, right?"

"Well…"

"What I mean is, I'm not in the business of allowing my customers to get rough with my girls. It's much better for business, and for everyone all round, if it's all mutually convenient, agreeable and pleasant, wouldn't you say?"

"I suppose so, yes."

"Good. Now, I know I hired you as a barmaid but, well, when a customer, especially one as nice as the man I'm referring to, shows an interest in one of my girls…I'm hardly likely to turn him away now am I? I mean, that wouldn't be good for business or my reputation now, would it?" The chill started to creep further up her back, and, in a horrible moment, she suddenly realised where he was taking the conversation. "I mean, I wouldn't want him to go elsewhere and talk trash about my place now, would I?"

"I…"

"I'm glad you see it from my point of view, Tina," he grinned at her. "As soon as Ryan came and told me what the customer had asked for, I knew that you wouldn't let me down. Ryan would never have suggested you for the job if he hadn't known you to be the willing type."

Turning, she met Ryan's gaze in the dim light and felt her heart start to pound in her chest. He was supposed to be one of her own, a copper, undercover like her trying to bring Patterson down but, instead, he was going as far as suggesting that she prostitute herself.

"I'm not a prostitute," she said, turning back to look at Patterson.

"What a word!" he exclaimed. "I prefer to refer to my girls as facilitators. Men come here in need of something, and my girls facilitate that. I find it's a more palatable way of looking at it."

"I'm not a facilitator either," she said, her tone sharper than she had intended. His brow furrowed and she found herself trying to back pedal. "What I mean is, I'm not really comfortable with…that sort of thing."

"Not a virgin, are you?" Patterson sneered, and he and Ryan started to laugh. "I have to say, I would doubt it. I would doubt it very much."

"Look, I…" she paused, her brain whirring as she tried to think of the best thing to say, anything that could get her out of the predicament she could quickly see herself falling into. It was no longer about trying to find some identification and everything about preventing herself ending up on her back. "I'm not feeling well, like I said and, well, I doubt I could give him the experience that he truly deserves."

Patterson shrugged. "I've found that the best girls are the ones that can make a man feel like he's the only thing on her mind, even if she's sick as a dog. I'm pretty sure you're up there with the best of them Tina. I'm sure you'll give our man an experience to remember."

"No, but…" she gasped suddenly as Ryan took hold of her upper arm and squeezed it painfully. "What are you doing? You're hurting me!"

"I'll do a damn sight more to you if you don't do as you're told," he replied menacingly. "I doubt your man out there really cares whether you suck him off through a split lip or not and when you're on your back, it won't be your face he'll be interested in." Before she could say anything more, he dragged her across to the back of the office and out through the other door that led to the backstair to the second floor.

"Stop it! Stop!" she said, struggling against him as he pushed her against the iron bannister and leaned his face closely into hers. His eyes were dark, his breath smelled of alcohol and smoke and, for a moment, she thought he was going to hit her. Instead, he pressed his lips hard against hers, trying to force her mouth open to accept his tongue. Twisting her head, she pushed him away from her, only for him to come back and press his whole body against hers.

"Maybe once he's had you, I'll have a go," he said menacingly. "I bet that would make Stewart really mad, wouldn't it?"

"Stewart…" her husband's name brought her up short. "I don't…what are you talking about?"

He started laughing, his face inches from her own. "Let's just say, it's payback time."

"Payback for what?" He grabbed hold of her arm again and started pulling her up the stairs. "No, let go of me!"

"Oh, I see, maybe you'd prefer a little warm up before the main act, is that it?" He pressed against her again, one hand gripping her arm painfully whilst the other found its way under her skirt and up to the juncture of her thighs. "Maybe I should get my end in first!" he pulled roughly at the flimsy material of her knickers as she thrashed wildly against him. "You know, this will probably go a lot better if you just let it happen!"

"Get off me!" With as much strength as she could muster, she pushed against him, creating enough distance between them to allow her knee to rise up and strike him, hard, in the groin. He yelped in pain and loosened his grip, allowing her to twist away from him and start back down the stairs. Fear coursed through her as she ran as fast as she could, terrified that she would trip over her heels and fall to the ground. Retreating the way they had come, she threw open the door that led back into Patterson's office, clearly startling him in the process, and made a run for the opposite door, only to feel someone grab her hair from behind and pull her roughly backwards.

"You little bitch!" Ryan shouted at her, throwing her against the far wall.

"What the hell's going on?!" Patterson demanded.

She righted herself and turned to face them, no longer caring what undercover rule she might break or how she could end up throwing the whole operation into chaos. "I'm a police officer!" she exclaimed, "and so is he!"

If she expected Patterson to be surprised at either revelation, she was left wanting. Instead, he merely raised his eyebrows at her. "You think I don't know that darling?"

XXXX

Frank drained his glass and put it back down, glancing over at the man who had bought the champagne and who was now standing, leaning against the bar, a small smile on his face. He looked like a slimy, oily git, just the sort of person who would frequent a place like this. "You look pleased with yourself."

"I suppose I am," the man replied, "I reckon I'll be her first go."

"First go?"

The man smiled and stepped forward, holding out his hand. "I'm John."

"Frank, this is Ted."

"Nice to meet you both. You been to one of those clubs before?"

"No," Frank replied. "You?"

"Oh yeah. I've been to all Mr Patterson's establishments. I guess you could call me a frequent flyer." He laughed at his own joke. "He runs good places. Clean, safe, welcoming, know what I mean?"

Frank exchanged glances with Ted, "I think we do, don't we Ted?"

"Oh definitely. But what did you mean by being 'her first go?'"

"Come on lads," John laughed. "Nothing beats being the first one to break the seal of a new girl, especially one that looks like her. I've got a bit of a thing for redheads if I'm honest. I like finding out if the collars and cuffs match, if you follow my drift."

"Oh, I see," Frank said. "So, there's entertainment provided, if you want that sort of thing?"

"On tap, my son, on tap. Nice variety of girls too, depending on where you go. Young, old, fat, thin…you name it, Mr Patterson can provide it."

"How young?" Ted asked.

"How young do you like them?"

"How young do you like them?"

"Well…" John glanced around. "Let's just say that I like ankle socks and bunches. Long as they've got an idea what they're doing, I'm happy. And I like to think I teach them a few things, make them better for the next punter."

"How very generous of you," Frank said, feeling bile rise in his throat. "The redhead, Tina."

"What about her?"

"Well, she seems a bit old for you, given your tastes."

"Well, every so often I am partial to someone with a little bit more experience. I had a good look at her, and I reckon she'll be a real goer once she gets into it. I have been told that I have magic hands." He wriggled them for emphasis. "I doubt she'll be disappointed."

"If I wanted a bit of tail," Frank said, "how would I go about getting it?"

"Bloke that was here a minute ago, he's your man," John replied. "He facilitates things. Pairs you up with whoever he reckons would best cater for your needs. I tell you what, once I've had this one, I'll come back out and give you boys a report, how about that?"

XXXX

Christina glanced between the two men in front of her, wondering why the revelation of Patterson's knowledge should come as any kind of surprise to her.

"You think I didn't know who you were the moment you walked through that door?" he said. "What would be the point on having a man on the inside if it didn't give me an advantage."

She looked at Ryan, at the hardness of his expression and the darkness of his eyes. "So, this was a set-up?"

"Clever girl."

"Why?"

"Why?" he looked at her as though she was simple. "Why do you think? Do you really think that we were going to let your husband get away with doing what he did? Do you really think we were just going to take it lying down?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about! What does my husband have to do with any of this?"

"I don't think she knows, Ryan," Patterson sighed, sitting down behind his desk.

"She doesn't have to know about any of that." He tutted. "All you had to do was get on your back, sweetheart. All you had to do was show us what a good little copper you are, someone who doesn't want to ruin such a big operation, someone who would be willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good."

She swallowed hard, "So, this was all about getting me to…to have sex with some random bloke? You thought I would do that rather than jeopardise DI Driscoll's operation?"

"Wouldn't you? Don't say that it never crossed your mind." He moved closer to her again. "What a thrill for everyone. The punter, you, me…the thought of telling your husband that his wife was so dedicated to her job that she let another man put his dick inside her…" he laughed. "I suppose it's a shame that can't happen now." Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a knife, the blade glinting in the dim light.

"Not in here!" Patterson said. "Take her out the back."

Ryan smiled at her again. "With pleasure."

"Wait!" she said, as he moved towards her. "Wait, I'll do it."

He frowned, "What?"

"I'll do it. I'll…have sex with someone if that's what you want. DI Driscoll doesn't need to know, and he can carry on with his operation or…whatever…but I don't want to do it with him, the bloke with the champagne. The other blokes that were at the bar."

"Moustache and his mate?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "the clean shaven one. I'll do it with him." She watched as the men exchanged glances. "Come on, if I'm going to do this then I should least get to pick who I'm doing it with, right? I mean, you want to humiliate Stewart, not me, right?" She looked at Ryan again, trying to push from her mind how, mere moments earlier, he would have taken her by force himself. "Right?"

Patterson shrugged, "I really don't care who she does it with, Ryan, just get it done."

"So, let me get this straight," Ryan moved in closer to her. "You'll actually have sex with someone and then let me tell you husband about it?"

"Yes," she replied, unsure as to how it would all play out but knowing it was the only way to potentially save herself, "if that's what you want."

He smiled and stepped back. "Right then. I'll fetch him, shall I?"

"Yeah," she swallowed hard. "You do that."

XXXX

He wanted to nick him and yet he wasn't sure what for. John had been waxing on for what seemed like hours about his likes and dislikes, his fantasies and experiences and he was fast becoming someone that Frank no longer wanted to be acquainted with. But he also knew that the longer they talked, the more chance he had of keeping him away from Christina.

"I'm quite discerning to be fair," John said, "I mean I don't just go with any old slag…oh, I reckon that might be my cue!" He smiled and straightened up and, turning, Frank saw Ryan making his way back towards them. "Is she ready for me then?"

"Sorry," he said, "she's turned you down. Women' prerogative."

"You what?" John looked at him. "But she's a slag, she can't do that!"

"In here, she can." He turned to Frank. "Apparently, you've taken the lady's fancy."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Oh yeah, she's practically dripping for you. You interested?"

"Hang on a minute!" John protested. "She's mine! I said I wanted her!"

Frank looked at him again, at how pathetic and disgusting he really was, and then glanced at Ted. An unspoken exchange passed between them and he knew the other man understood. "I guess you're out of luck, pal," he replied, clapping John on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll find another one to take your fancy. As for me, I'm not one to turn a lady down. Ted, maybe you could ring my missus, let her know I'll be a bit later home than intended."

"Right you are," Ted said cheerfully. "Enjoy yourself."

"Oh, I will, old son, don't worry." Turning, he followed Ryan across the club towards the rear, pausing only to allow him to open the office door. Behind the desk, a man he assumed to be Patterson was pouring himself a large scotch.

"So, you're the lucky one," he remarked.

"So it would appear."

"It's not often we let our girls choose their punters. I mean, it's bad for business allowing them to be picky, but Tina's a bit special, isn't she Ryan?"

"Yeah, very special," Ryan replied. "Top notch, in fact."

"I see," Frank reached into his pocket. "What's the damage going to be then?"

"Two-fifty."

"Well, it's lucky I went to the cashpoint on the way here," he pulled out a bundle of notes and tossed them onto the desk.

"Thank you very much," Patterson scooped it up. "Everything else you need you'll find in the room. Ryan will show you the way."

They let the office by the back door and Frank found himself climbing a spiral wrought iron staircase up to the second floor. Upon reaching the landing, he could see there were a number of different doors leading off, with Ryan turning to the first one. "I'll let you into a secret," he said, pausing with his hand on the doorknob. "It's our Tina's first time. I'd say to break her in gently, but I reckon she's ripe for a pounding, know what I mean?"

"Oh definitely. Thanks for the tip." The door swung open, and he stepped inside, momentarily distracted by the décor within. The room was lit dimly by a couple of lamps in the corner, illuminating the red walls and matching bedspread. On the table at the far end was a box of condoms and a tube of lubricant, Christina hovering beside it.

"Enjoy yourself," Ryan grinned before turning and leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

"Well," Frank said once they were alone. "Apparently, you're ripe for a pounding."

"Yeah…" she let out a shaky breath, "and apparently he wants to tell Stewart all about it."