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31_days2012-02-16 02:03 am
insaneladybug.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2012-02-16 02:03 am
[February 16th] [Perry Mason] Candles and the Snow, 16
Title: Candles and the Snow, scene 16
Day/Theme: February 16th - Thou art all ice -- thy kindness freezes
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Mignon Germaine, Arthur West, Agnes Fanchon
Rating: G
Time Period: Present day
Referenced: Season 1, episode 21, The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister. Arthur West is a slimy P.I. from that episode. Hopefully, since his antics came out in court, he did indeed lose his license.
By Lucky_Ladybug
Mignon was used to meeting all kinds of people in her career as a dancer. She was polite yet reserved with most. Yet there were some she simply could not bring herself to feel genteel towards.
“You’re Mignon Germaine, aren’t you?”
She looked up as she walked off the stage. A man whom she had never before seen was sitting just to the side of the aisle, studying her with an expression she could not place. She took an immediate dislike to him.
“Yes,” she said guardedly.
The man nodded, taking a sip from his drink. “I thought so,” he said. “Do you know the district attorney, Hamilton Burger?”
Mignon was further displeased. “I know him,” she said. “Why does that concern you?”
“Sit down.” He gestured at the empty chair across from him. “I’d like to talk to you for a moment.”
“I will stand.” Mignon remained at the side of the table, one hand on top of the other. “Please tell me what it is you want. I don’t have time to be idle.”
“Alright.” He leaned back, taking his wallet out of his inside jacket pocket. “I’m Arthur West, private investigator. I’ve been hired to . . . shall we say, find out exactly what goes on in the D.A.’s office. You see, my client believes that no completely honest person could stay in office as long as Mr. Burger has. He wants to know who’s being paid off to keep him there. And I could make it well worth your while to help me find out.” He opened his billfold, revealing the large quantity of green inside.
Mignon was only five feet four inches, but she seemed to tower over West as her eyes shot icicles at him. “Mr. West,” she said coldly, “I remember you. You lost your license because of your illegal blackmailing activities. I would doubt that it has been restored to you. I wonder whether anyone has hired you at all. Perhaps instead you’re seeking to get back at Mr. Burger, whom you know very well is above reproach.”
“Alright, so what if I am?” West snapped. “I still have the money. You can see that for yourself.”
“Do you think everyone can be bought, Mr. West?” Mignon retorted. “Are you so shallow that you believe you can turn me against a dear friend with the promise of money?”
“Okay, maybe not.” Impatient, West shoved the wallet back in his pocket. “But something I’ve learned is that everyone has their price. And I happen to know how precious your son’s well-being is to you. What if I could blow a scandal about him wide open?”
“There is no scandal, so you would have to invent one,” Mignon said. “And I’m sure you would do it.” She narrowed her eyes. “But any scandal about Mr. Burger’s office would involve Larry by default. Even if that were not true, however, I would still not betray Mr. Burger. I would go to him and tell him everything you told me.”
“It would be my word against yours, Mrs. Germaine,” West said. “It’d never stick.”
“No, but it might instigate the beginning of a new investigation into your practices,” Mignon said.
West stood up, standing over her now. “You know, I’d heard that you were called The Ice Queen in New Orleans,” he said. “I never realized just how true the moniker is.”
“Did you expect me to be warm?” Mignon nodded towards the door. “Please leave, Mr. West. If you do not, I will see that you are forcibly removed. Your propositions sicken and repulse me.”
“Very well, Mrs. Germaine,” West said, glowering into the frozen eyes. “I’ll leave. But there’s others who’ve asked the same questions I have. Some are still asking.”
“If they truly believe Mr. Burger is a hypocrite and a criminal, that is their misfortune,” Mignon said. “But they are better by far than someone such as you, who knows he is honest but doesn’t care if his reputation is tarnished, just as long as an unjust revenge is enacted.”
West grabbed his hat. “Goodnight, Mrs. Germaine,” he snapped, storming past.
Mignon watched his departure, her hand clenching at her side.
“Who was that?”
She did not turn at Agnes’s voice. “A wicked man,” she said. “And if anyone deserves to be struck by black magic, it is him.” She spun around, heading for the dressing rooms.
Agnes crossed her arms, frowning in concern. There was a great deal of fire under Mignon’s aloof exterior. And she poor pitied anyone who got her furious enough to reveal it.
Day/Theme: February 16th - Thou art all ice -- thy kindness freezes
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Mignon Germaine, Arthur West, Agnes Fanchon
Rating: G
Time Period: Present day
Referenced: Season 1, episode 21, The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister. Arthur West is a slimy P.I. from that episode. Hopefully, since his antics came out in court, he did indeed lose his license.
Mignon was used to meeting all kinds of people in her career as a dancer. She was polite yet reserved with most. Yet there were some she simply could not bring herself to feel genteel towards.
“You’re Mignon Germaine, aren’t you?”
She looked up as she walked off the stage. A man whom she had never before seen was sitting just to the side of the aisle, studying her with an expression she could not place. She took an immediate dislike to him.
“Yes,” she said guardedly.
The man nodded, taking a sip from his drink. “I thought so,” he said. “Do you know the district attorney, Hamilton Burger?”
Mignon was further displeased. “I know him,” she said. “Why does that concern you?”
“Sit down.” He gestured at the empty chair across from him. “I’d like to talk to you for a moment.”
“I will stand.” Mignon remained at the side of the table, one hand on top of the other. “Please tell me what it is you want. I don’t have time to be idle.”
“Alright.” He leaned back, taking his wallet out of his inside jacket pocket. “I’m Arthur West, private investigator. I’ve been hired to . . . shall we say, find out exactly what goes on in the D.A.’s office. You see, my client believes that no completely honest person could stay in office as long as Mr. Burger has. He wants to know who’s being paid off to keep him there. And I could make it well worth your while to help me find out.” He opened his billfold, revealing the large quantity of green inside.
Mignon was only five feet four inches, but she seemed to tower over West as her eyes shot icicles at him. “Mr. West,” she said coldly, “I remember you. You lost your license because of your illegal blackmailing activities. I would doubt that it has been restored to you. I wonder whether anyone has hired you at all. Perhaps instead you’re seeking to get back at Mr. Burger, whom you know very well is above reproach.”
“Alright, so what if I am?” West snapped. “I still have the money. You can see that for yourself.”
“Do you think everyone can be bought, Mr. West?” Mignon retorted. “Are you so shallow that you believe you can turn me against a dear friend with the promise of money?”
“Okay, maybe not.” Impatient, West shoved the wallet back in his pocket. “But something I’ve learned is that everyone has their price. And I happen to know how precious your son’s well-being is to you. What if I could blow a scandal about him wide open?”
“There is no scandal, so you would have to invent one,” Mignon said. “And I’m sure you would do it.” She narrowed her eyes. “But any scandal about Mr. Burger’s office would involve Larry by default. Even if that were not true, however, I would still not betray Mr. Burger. I would go to him and tell him everything you told me.”
“It would be my word against yours, Mrs. Germaine,” West said. “It’d never stick.”
“No, but it might instigate the beginning of a new investigation into your practices,” Mignon said.
West stood up, standing over her now. “You know, I’d heard that you were called The Ice Queen in New Orleans,” he said. “I never realized just how true the moniker is.”
“Did you expect me to be warm?” Mignon nodded towards the door. “Please leave, Mr. West. If you do not, I will see that you are forcibly removed. Your propositions sicken and repulse me.”
“Very well, Mrs. Germaine,” West said, glowering into the frozen eyes. “I’ll leave. But there’s others who’ve asked the same questions I have. Some are still asking.”
“If they truly believe Mr. Burger is a hypocrite and a criminal, that is their misfortune,” Mignon said. “But they are better by far than someone such as you, who knows he is honest but doesn’t care if his reputation is tarnished, just as long as an unjust revenge is enacted.”
West grabbed his hat. “Goodnight, Mrs. Germaine,” he snapped, storming past.
Mignon watched his departure, her hand clenching at her side.
“Who was that?”
She did not turn at Agnes’s voice. “A wicked man,” she said. “And if anyone deserves to be struck by black magic, it is him.” She spun around, heading for the dressing rooms.
Agnes crossed her arms, frowning in concern. There was a great deal of fire under Mignon’s aloof exterior. And she poor pitied anyone who got her furious enough to reveal it.