White Collar Blackmail: White Collar Crime Financial Suspense Thriller by Peter Ralph

the stock. No, I’m not doing it. If I get caught, they’ll lock me up and throw the key away.”
    “It’s a victimless crime. We’re not going to buy or sell the stock. We’ll buy derivatives offshore, and the SEC will be none the wiser. We’ll make a couple of small killings, and then you’re off the hook. Your debt’s extinguished and no one need ever know. What could be fairer than that?” 
    “Victimless? When there are information leaks, it brings the whole integrity of the financial markets into question. That’s why the penalties are so severe,” Todd shouted.
    “You’re the last person who should be delivering a sermon about integrity. Let’s face it. You’re a two-bit gambler who lost half a million of someone else’s money. How much integrity do you think you have?”
    “It makes no difference. I can’t help you. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. We audit maybe fifty listed companies in North America but only thirty out of New York. There are five other audit managers besides me. I can’t access their files.”
    “Yeah, I know that and a little more. Montgomery Hastings & Pierce’s New York office audits thirty-two listed companies, and I can tell you who they are and which manager audits them. We employ former big four accountants and know exactly what you can access. We’ll settle for the information on two companies. Virtex Software and Philco Laboratories. It should be easy. Your colleague, Vanessa Hodge, audits both of them.”
    Todd grimaced. Elliot had done his homework. The two stocks were incredibly volatile and sensitive to financial information. Anyone who had pre-release financial information on these companies could make some serious money. “I won’t do it, and you can’t force me to! You must think I’m stupid. If I did it, you’d have a hold over me for the rest on my life.”
    “Two companies, Todd. That’s all we’re asking. My boss is a man of his word. Do it and you’ll never hear from us again. I promise.”
    “Who is this boss? When can I meet him? I want to hear him say that if I do it, you pricks will never trouble me again.”
    “Forget it. You aren’t meeting him. Not ever. You deal with me.”
    “Then there’s nothing to think about. I’m not doing it.”
    There was a knock on the door and a room service waiter entered wheeling a trolley. Elliot tipped him generously and removed the silver cloche covering the plate. The smell of steak and vegetables wafted around the room. Todd felt sick with hunger. “You’re hungry,” Elliot said. “I’m happy to share.”
    “I told you I’m not hungry.”
    “Have it your way,” Elliot said, picking up the T-bone in his hands and taking a huge bite.
    “I will.”
    With his mouth half-full and his fingers dripping with oil, Elliot said, “So you’re happy for me to front up to your father. I’ll tell him that his little weasel of a son lost half a mil gambling and can’t pay. Or would you prefer it if I went to your mother? You know there’s an old wives tale about redheads being fiery and courageous. You sure destroy that tale.”
    “Stay away from my family. Stay away from them.”
    “The mouse that roared.” Elliot grinned. “What are you going to do to me if I approach your family?”
    Todd leaped to his feet and opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of mineral water. He gulped it down, wiping the drops from his chin. “You’re a real bastard, aren’t you?”
    “You still don’t get it, do you? I’m good cop. Ronny Conroy’s bad cop. If I hadn’t bought your debt, you’d already be in a hospital with your legs and arms broken. Not to say anything about how your head would look. I rescued you. All I’m asking in return is a little favor.”
    “Liar! You saw an opportunity where for a small outlay you could reap millions. You couldn’t care less about me.”
    “You call half a mil a small outlay? And don’t forget, it’s increasing at ten percent a month. How are you ever gonna