- Jan 12, 2017
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I have a pet theory that the restaurant is Quinn's little operation only and doesn't have anything to do directly with Burke's scholarship program. Quinn uses it to pay for her personal recreational drugs and other expenses by taking a cut from the business she sets up for Sarah, Mel, Riona, Camilla, etc. That's why she ran short, either she was using too much or bought some expensive exotics (like the syringe she shares with Tommy) and blames Riona for smoking for free when confronted about it. Her addiction is getting more expensive and that's why she needs to expand.If the narrator hides every clue then it is not the fault of the reader who does not understand.... A restaurant where the prostitution was so extreme, we're talking about girls pampering middle-aged men, would be decidedly extreme for a tale that treads the themes of american pie and not requiem for a dream
The scholarships are a side deal for Quinn as she's just in procurement for Burke and gets a commission when one of her recommendations signs on. The scholarship girls already don't have a problem putting out for tuition, so picking up some extra money working for Quinn when their major benefactors aren't in town would be an easy next step. Burke probably knows about the restaurant (is likely a customer from time to time) and may even approve of it since that's another lever he can use to control the girls in the scholarship program who don't want their local prostitution activities coming to light.