The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 264: Who is the Mastermind?]

East Hollywood, Silver Lake community.

It was almost ten at night when Erica finally got home.

Hawke had prepared dinner for her. "Go wash your hands first."

Erica handed her bag to Hawke, washed her hands in the bathroom, and then sat down at the table. She cut a steaming piece of steak and took a hearty bite.

Hawke poured her a glass of soda.

After finishing her steak and half of her soda, Erica exaggerated, "I feel like I'm alive again."

Hawke asked, "Didn't you eat dinner?"

"Brooklynn Private School is the best... no, the most expensive private school in Beverly Hills and Sherman Oaks." Erica put down her glass. "The school board holds significant power, and they directly contacted the committee. We need to get the transcripts done quickly so that Brooklynn School can bail the students out -- no one should spend the night at the police station."

Hawke quipped, "A school that takes its students so seriously, huh?"

"Tuition is sky-high -- middle-class families can't afford it. As long as they're registered there, the school provides them shelter. Any expulsion or other actions can wait until after they're bailed out," she explained.

Then she recalled something. "Paris Hilton's tape has been recovered. We interviewed the girls separately, and they didn't copy or distribute the tape; they just kept it for themselves. You should notify Paris tomorrow and tell her to pick it up from the precinct."

Hawke understood immediately. "The precinct wants to wrap this case up quickly?"

Erica popped a tangerine slice into her mouth. "They're all minors -- proving anything in court will be difficult. It will probably just result in fines, apologies, and community service."

Hawke inquired, "What about that girl Rachel from before? Is she the mastermind?"

Erica replied, "That boy Nicholas, along with three girls, identified her as the mastermind. They said she found Paris's address using Google Maps and gossip magazines and figured out her routine. They realized that these celebrities don't lock their doors when they leave. Then one of them would wait outside while the others went in through the front door to steal."

Hawke couldn't help but interject, "That's ridiculous."

"What's even more ridiculous is that Paris was robbed five times, and it was only after the tape went missing that she noticed the theft," Erica continued.

She switched back to the previous topic. "But Rachel believes Nicholas is the real mastermind because she claims she was manipulated into stealing by him. Nicholas told her she could be just like Paris, accepted in high society, as long as she was perfect and stylish, and he would help bring all of them into the inner circle."

Hawke was more concerned about Carroll than Rachel. "Are those people her parents?"

Erica elaborated, "The woman, named Veronica, is Rachel's biological mother. She runs a medical equipment company, and the man is her fiance -- they just got engaged not long ago."

Hawke realized he hadn't shown Erica the files and videos concerning Carroll. She didn't know who Carroll was.

After the last Venice Beach club fire, the FBI's investigation didn't delve deeply. The opposing sides reached an agreement that placed the blame on Guerrero and Broderick, putting an end to the matter.

Hawke wouldn't put his faith in the LAPD or the FBI.

...

While Erica went to take a shower, he called Raul and asked, "Any updates?"

Raul replied, "They left the precinct and went to a house on Burton Road. Later, one target came out alone and went up to a private area of Norrin Cafe near Melrose. It looks like he's meeting someone, but he went up to an area we can't access, so we couldn't see who he met."

He paused and added, "But we did confirm where he's staying."

Hawke jotted down the address Raul provided and instructed, "Someone will come over to take your place soon."

"Understood." Raul hung up.

...

Hawke called Campos next. When the line connected, he stated, "There's an important task."

Campos got right to the point. "Boss, I'm listening."

Hawke gave him the address. "Put the other matters on hold for now. Send capable personnel over and deploy multiple vehicles. The owner here is one of our previous targets, Andy Carroll. This guy is extremely alert, so be careful."

Campos responded, "Carlos and Garcia just returned from vacation. I'll send them and Juan over."

"Sounds good." Hawke thought for a moment and added Veronica's address. "Send Betty and Fiona there too."

He stressed, "Better to lose the target than to alert them."

Campos acknowledged and hung up.

...

Hawke sat on the couch in the bedroom, contemplating the situation.

He hadn't expected to collide with Andy Carroll, who now had a fiancee, a Korean woman with a round face and a daughter.

From Hawke's perspective, it didn't seem worth it for a guy like Carroll, who earned well, to marry a woman like that and take on her daughter.

And it wasn't like that woman was extraordinarily attractive. Even if it was Nicole Kidman or Charlize Theron -- Hollywood stars known for their beauty -- having a kid makes it a casual fling but marriage? That was foolish.

Hawke thought about his loyal brother Edward; he was the kind of guy who would date single mothers but never considered marrying one.

But savior could rescue such women from despair without ever contemplating long-term relationships.

Was Carroll in love like his friends Broderick and Sarah Parker?

Hawke couldn't be sure and decided to investigate further.

As for the Ackerman Charity Foundation, attempting to get to them would require more than just strength; it would be best to leverage societal trends.

Like the last time with the Venice Beach club, Super Star Training School, and Ackerman Films, he had used the California political rivalry to his advantage.

But passively waiting wasn't Hawke's style.

How could he reignite the California political struggle?

Next year was election year.

Before then, he needed to gather as much damaging information on the Ackerman family as possible.

...

Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Erica emerged in a bathrobe. Seeing Hawke deep in thought, she quietly approached, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind and leaning in for a kiss.

Hawke gave her a warm kiss.

Erica turned to sit on the couch beside him and asked, "What are you lost in thought about?"

He replied, "Trying to think of new positions for tonight."

"Don't. Not happening tonight." Erica rarely backed down but quickly added, "I spent way too much energy dealing with the lawyers and board members from Brooklynn School today. I need to get some sleep."

Hawke helped her up and placed her in front of the mirror while picking up the hairdryer. "Let me dry your hair."

Erica smiled sweetly. "Okay."

Once her hair was dried, they both lay down in bed chatting about inconsequential things.

As they talked, Erica drifted off to sleep, clutching Hawke tightly and finding a comfortable spot in his embrace.

...

The next morning, Edward drove over to pick up Hawke, who stopped by the office first to attend the weekly meeting.

Afterward, he called Paris Hilton to discuss the tape incident.

Soon, Paris still made a stop by Twitter.

She told Hawke, "Hearing that the tape hasn't leaked has put my mind at ease. On my way over, I called my accountant..."

Hawke was known for being principled when it came to money matters. He stated plainly, "The case was broken by the precinct. I basically didn't contribute, so you don't need to pay me. Just make sure to say good things about Erica during your interviews."

After a moment, Paris replied, "If I don't give you something, I won't feel right."

Hawke assured her, "There will be more opportunities to collaborate."

Upon hearing this, Paris recalled something. "My friend, the one you met at my house, Britney, has been having some trouble lately. Can you help her out?"

From the gossip he had seen, Hawke knew Britney's troubles were related to either a breakup or her notorious family drama.

Family issues were always tricky. He replied, "If you request my help, I can agree, but Britney needs to address this herself. It involves legal and contract issues that require her to sign personally."

"That fool will just end up in a mess eventually." Despite the media mocking Paris for being ditzy, she often played the role of the naive girl as part of her persona.

In contrast, Britney genuinely seemed to have issues.

Paris had developed a close friendship with Britney over the past two years. "I'll talk to her; otherwise, she might get hurt."

Hawke reminded her, "You need to be cautious too. Make sure to destroy that tape once you retrieve it. We can't let it get stolen again."

Paris sometimes ignored others' advice, but she seemed to listen to Hawke. "I'll call my lawyer and head to the precinct now; once I have it, I'll burn it."

Hawke didn't say more and escorted her out of the meeting room.

Paris headed directly to the precinct, where she met up with her lawyer, completed the necessary procedures, and retrieved the tape.

...

After finishing his work at Twitter, Hawke instructed Edward, "Let Campos know to meet at the safe house in Santa Monica."

Edward made the call and drove with Hawke to the safe house.

Upon arriving at the house, Campos was already waiting.

When he saw Hawke, he stated, "All personnel are in place; there's nothing out of the ordinary for now."

"For now, just follow discreetly and don't rush," Hawke replied, handing Campos yesterday's photos. "These are Veronica and Rachel. Look into them... focus on Veronica; she runs a medical company. Investigate how that company has been doing this year, particularly regarding its relationship with Ackerman's subsidiaries."

He turned to Edward and Campos. "If you both had a net worth of a million, would you propose to someone at the same wealth level like Veronica?"

Edward shook his head. "I've never thought about marriage."

Campos added, "My family stays in Mexico."

Their responses seemed off-topic, so Hawke decided not to press further. "Just take a closer look."

*****

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