Shimmers of Pearl (The Pearl Trilogy, Part 3) by Arianne Richmonde Page A

from?”
    Alexandre replied quietly, “That would be telling. Now start the car and drive.”
    “Where are we going?”
    Alexandre’s gloved hand pushed the weapon harder into the man’s back making a dent in his cashmere overcoat. “Somewhere nice and quiet. Don’t try anything smart, remember. This baby is still nuzzled right on your spinal cord.
    Jim squeaked, “I swear I won’t try a thing.”
    “So you live here just on weekends?”
    “Weekends, holidays. I work in Manhattan.”
    “Yes, I know. You do well?”
    “I’m proud of my capabilities, yes.”
    “Capabilities…hum, that could be disputed. How much money do you earn a month, Jim?” Alexandre already knew the answer to his question.
    The man’s breath hitched. “It depends. You know, on bonuses and stuff, but I make a good fifty grand a month.”
    “That’s a lot of money.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    “It’s how much I make every thirty minutes, more or less.”
    The man sniggered uneasily as if he thought Alexandre was joking. He wasn’t.
    Alexandre went on in a low voice, “I don’t like people telling others how much money they earn; I think it’s tacky. But I thought you might be interested so you understand who you’re dealing with. So you understand that, not only could I have you killed at any moment, but right now, I have an alibi. I have three people who can testify I am not here now… with you. That is, should you get any smart ideas. Should you want to call the cops at a later date or tattle-tell on me. You see, I am way, way richer than you are. And you know what money buys, don’t you, Jim?”
    Jim nodded.
    “It buys power,” Alexandre whispered.
    “What do you want from me?” the guy asked edgily.
    “I want you to make a donation. Not much at all. I’m going to be really fair. All I ask is that you donate two month’s salary.”
    Jim squealed, “I can’t give you a hundred thousand dollars just like that! I don’t even know who you are!”
    Alexandre replied calmly “Oh, I think you can, Jim. Here’s the thing. I’ll make you a deal. You give me the names and phone numbers of all your rapist friends who were there that night – when was it, yes, about eighteen years ago. All those assholes who violated a beautiful young woman called Jane Doe, and I will give you a ten percent discount.”
    “You’re nuts. Completely nuts.”
    Alexandre poked the gun into the man’s back even harder. “You’re absolutely right. I’m so nuts, I’m capable of killing you.”
    “I can’t even remember who was there.”
    “So you admit what you did?”
    Jim wailed, “She wanted it, man. We were all drunk. She was asking for it. I can’t even remember that far back.”
    “So all these years have gone by and you’ve never felt a drop of shame or remorse?”
    “What would you have done? A naked chick with her legs splayed open…ouch, that hurts!”
    Alexandre released the pressure of his middle knuckle just under the man’s ear lobe and spat “Okay, your choice. A hundred and fifty thousand, then. Or you die here tonight.”
    “Okay, okay, I’ll give you names and take the ninety grand discount option. How do I know you won’t kill me anyway?”
    “Because I’m a man of my word. And right now that’s all you’ve got. I want the payment wired tomorrow.”
    “Tomorrow’s Sunday,” Jim squeaked, his voice like a terrified boy.
    “I’ll give you until Wednesday. If it doesn’t arrive I will hunt you down, Jim, do you understand? You can hire bodyguards but I am a very patient man. I will wait quietly. Silently. You will never know when I might strike. It could be years from now, it could be days. Do you want to live that way? Constantly in fear?”
    The man’s breathy response was weak. “No.”
    “Do you want your wife and kids to know who you are, what you did?”
    He shook his head pitifully. “Where am I to send the money?”
    “To young girls who have been abused by men like you – I’ll give you the