The five rubles for a phone call mentioned in the text now look more like five kopecks, if not less — that is, nothing at all. And that was precisely the point of the racketeers’ core method.
Stage one. The racketeer, talking with the businessman, mentions that the matter can be settled amicably and nobody will have to pay anybody — but he needs to call his boss to check whether that’s alright. Trouble is — no change for the call.
Stage two. A seasoned businessman would just shrug: we’ll talk later, then. A newcomer would offer to help, sharing some change with the gangster just to get rid of him. In that case, the next stage begins.
Stage three. The next day a delegation from the racketeers arrives at the businessman’s office, offering to discuss the format of their future cooperation. Because the first installment has already come in, and the details need discussing.
– What installment? What details? — the businessman is baffled. All he did yesterday was chip in some change for a phone call.
– No! — say the grim men. — Yesterday you made the first contribution to our fund. Voluntarily, with no pressure. What we spent that contribution on — that’s our business. As is the size of that first contribution. The second and all following contributions will cost you ten percent of profit, monthly!
This cunning setup exists so that, when law enforcement comes asking questions, they can act all innocent and surprised: – Me? I didn’t do anything! He offered to pay himself. And he paid, himself. Nobody made him. And whatever happened after that — I don’t remember.