Free Bar Girl by David Thompson Page A

that.’
    It sounded as though she had finished. She was just looking at him to make sure he had understood everything she had said.
    ‘And how much are you willing to pay?’ the sergeant asked, testing her. He’d already worked it all out. She was asking for everything. Even some of the really busy bars didn’t get a five minute response. He was interested though. Not so much with the deal, more interested in her. He looked at her properly. Not a bar girl. Definitely. Maybe a five minutes response would be okay. How much, though? That was the important bit. He knew that level of protection would be ten thousand a month. Nothing less.
    ‘Twenty thousand a month,’ she said.
    He looked at her. About to laugh. That was twice what the other bars were paying. In the end he didn’t laugh. He just listened as she spoke again.
    ‘That’s twice what the other bars are paying. We want twice the service. You send a man down here every two hours. No uniform. He just glances through the door. Makes sure everything is all right and leaves. He doesn’t come in unless there’s a problem.’
    He nodded. What else could he do? This woman was no bar girl, he thought, again. She was clever. Beautiful, and clever.
    ‘For that money we’ll take good care of you,’ he told her. ‘What is your name please?’
    ‘Siswan,’ she told him.
    ‘Well, Siswan, my name is Mirak. I think we’ll get along just fine,’ he smiled. A genuine smile.
    ‘Thank you, Mirak,’ she smiled back. ‘There is a favour I need to ask you.’
    ‘No problem. Ask away.’
    He was hooked. Captivated. He knew it, so did she. Siswan handed him the piece of paper Apple had given her. A name. An address.
    ‘One of our girls is very upset,’ she told him.
    Nothing more needed to be said. A visit would be arranged. A talk. Perhaps more if the words weren’t enough.
    ‘Very well. It will be taken care of,’ Mirak said, slipping the paper into his pocket. ‘Now, a question of money?’
    When all the agreements had been signed, when all the paperwork was in place, Siswan handed over nineteen thousand and some change.
    ‘We agreed twenty?’ Mirak said, counting the money.
    ‘Yes. Of course,’ she smiled at him. ‘But you have to pay for your beers, gentlemen. We aren’t a charity, you know.’
    ‘But your cashier gave them to us. We didn’t ask,’ Mirak was smiling.
    ‘But you accepted them, Mirak. Nothing in this life is for free,’ Siswan said in reply.
    Mirak looked into her face. He laughed. He’d never met anyone like her before. Standing straight he made a formal wai to her. As an equal. His colleague joined him. This woman deserved respect.
    ‘Thank you, Mirak,’ she said.
    He smiled, turned and left the bar. As he walked he shook his head as though to clear it.
    Siswan told Mike everything that had happened with the police. He just listened and nodded as she explained what she had arranged. When she told him how much it cost he was shocked to say the least.
    ‘How much!’ It wasn’t a question.
    ‘Mike, twenty thousand is nothing. We’ll be making that much in just a few hours. Trust me,’ she told him.
    It worked out really well. Every now and then they would spot the plainclothes police officer taking a quick look to ensure everything was well. He did as he was told and never entered the bar unless needed. The police never bothered them, helped them out when they needed it and gave them the very best service. Apple never heard from her ex-boyfriend again and the bar stayed open until four every morning. Siswan knew she had done the right thing. The bar was gaining respect. She was gaining respect. That was what mattered.
    It was making money as well. Big money. More money than Mike had ever earned before. Every night the place heaved with customers. The girls were working hard, had their pick of the farangs, and never looked happier. Apple was the first of them to hit twenty five thousand in a month. Tak wasn’t too far