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"April's a piece of work, but I wasn't born yesterday. I've known girls like April before -- do you think every -- uh -- girl in your situation is like you?" He's as careful about avoiding certain words as I am. "Anyway, it looks like she'll be in California for a long time."

"You're not upset with me?"

"Don't be ridiculous. But I'm glad she's finished with New York -- I don't need a third divorce! Enough about April," he announced, magnanimously. "Are you going to the Hamptons with your boyfriend this weekend? Now there's a lucky guy."

I don't tell all my clients about my love life but Milt's one of those guys who likes knowing that the girl he pays is a regular person with boyfriends, relatives and pets.

"Actually, he's on a business trip," I coyly replied, "so I might amuse myself with a new friend."

Milt was putting on his socks. "Aha. The plot thickens -- younger guy?"

"How did you know?"

"Well," he said, standing up in his shoes. "I told you I wasn't born yesterday."

Nancy Chan: Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl appears in Health & Body every Monday and Thursday. + About Nancy Chan: Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl -- with links to all episodes to date. + Read the Diary from the start.

I was tempted to ask Milt for advice about the guy who snooped on me at the gym -- but I decided against it. My situation is worse than dangerous -- it's downright sleazy to have some strange creep following you around! And whatever misfortune I'd brought Milt through April, I wanted Milt's wholesome impression of me intact.

Friday, 7 p.m.

I just called Allison's cell phone -- was about to hang up when she answered, breathless. "I can't talk long," she said, "I'm almost home."

"Home? You mean, Janelle's apartment?" Allison is still sleeping on the couch of her Prostitutes Anonymous sponsor, who forbids her to turn tricks or talk to girls who do. "Why do you sound so out of breath?"

"She lives on the sixth floor."

"Of a walk-up?"

Virtue is its own punishment I guess. I could just picture Allie climbing toward Janelle's sexless sanctuary.

"As a matter of fact, yes. It's very good for the legs."

"Listen, I've been thinking -- we told April way too much about your client list. She's an informant, and she's being very friendly to the prosecution. What if she talks about you? I think you should consult a lawyer."

"I don't want to talk about this here," Allie moaned. "Besides, she's in California and we're in New York. Why should I be worried?"

"Allie, there are federal charges -- don't you read the newspapers?" Doesn't Allison understand anything?

"I have to go -- I'm going to a meeting, and I need to shower and change. I'm not supposed to tell you ... Anonymity is one of the foundations of the program and we're supposed to place principles before personalities. "

"Tell me what?" I demanded.

She exhaled and whispered. I could hear her struggling with a number of deadbolts. "Jasmine's decided to join me. I'm so proud of her and well -- I'm proud of myself, too! Who'd have thought I could convince Jasmine of anything? Gotta go!"

The dial tone hummed. I stood, with phone in hand, staring at the receiver. Jasmine? At a meeting for "recovering" hookers? That's weirder than me falling for Randy! Just the other day she was advising me to get back in the saddle after my mid-week hiatus. Why would she do something so -- so naive? Then I felt a twinge of jealousy ... As long as I've known Jasmine and Allison, I've had to run interference between them -- and I've protested more than once. But I found it comforting, too. I always knew they could depend on me more than each other.
salon.com | Sept. 27, 1999

Episode 24 Great Expectations

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