An Unexpected Offer

He gives me an appraising look. "So you're a woman of integrity and discretion, are you? Then perhaps I can make use of you after all, though not as a copyist. Before you refuse: no, it won't involve sitting in my lap. But it will be challenging, and it could be dangerous."

I wonder whether his offering money for me to keep quiet could have been in the nature of a test. If so, then I must credit him with very quick thinking. "Go on," I say.

"A gang is running a major protection racket in this city, and naturally we would like to shut it down. We are fairly sure that we know who the gang's leaders are, but we don't have any proof. We do know which drinking club they mostly use - it's a members only place rather than an inn - and it occurs to me that a barmaid would be well placed to hear any careless talk on their part - which of course alcohol would make more likely. Would you be willing to take a job there, to keep your ears open, and to pass on anything you learn that could be useful? With your good looks, I'm sure that they would be willing to hire you. You would receive two wages: a retainer from us and your wage from the club."

So I would be working as a barmaid after all. Not what I wanted. But it could be a good job for me. It sounds as though it should pay well enough that I could afford to take a longish break from working around the time of the birth. With any luck I might learn enough to get these men arrested before my pregnancy becomes too obvious. That could cut both ways, though. "Supposing I get enough evidence by the time I've been there only a week or two? I wouldn't be needed any more. That doesn't offer me much job security."

"You could safely assume that if you do well we will find you another, more permanent, job. Of course, you could always continue to work at the club if you'd rather, though if it emerges in court that you provided evidence against some of their best customers I suppose they might not want to keep you on."

1. I accept.
2. I refuse. Apart from anything else, I'm worried by the thought that I might have to testify in court and thereby possibly become a target of revenge by any uncaptured gang members.
3. I ask for more information. In particular, would my job at the club be restricted to serving drinks, or would I be required to act more as a hostess?

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