The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 270: Target: Melissa Ackerman]

What seemed like a simple theft evolved into much more than Hawke had initially anticipated. Updates gradually made their way to him.

Veronica had released news that she was seeking to transfer ownership of Hallasan Compnay, getting ready to close her operations in Los Angeles. Additionally, her single-family home on Burton Road had been listed with a real estate agent.

"It's clear that Veronica plans to leave Los Angeles with her daughter, Rachel," Campos said, relying on recent intel, as they sat in his home in Santa Monica. "Once the company transfer and sale of the property are finalized, they'll be out of here."

These developments further confirmed Hawke's suspicions. "Once those two leave the networking hub that is Los Angeles and move to some unfamiliar place, especially somewhere far from here, if they just vanished without a trace, no one would care."

Edward walked in with a business newspaper. "Boss, you asked me to keep an eye on the Ackerman Charity Foundation. Check this out."

Hawke took the paper and skimmed it quickly. "The Ackerman Charity Foundation is planning to build a medical center and a bio-laboratory in Baltimore?"

Campos responded, "Baltimore is on the East Coast, thousands of miles away from Los Angeles."

Edward, who had been with Hawke for a long time, chimed in, "Since Veronica's Hallasan company is primarily doing business with the Ackerman Charity Foundation, is she also moving to Baltimore?"

"There's a strong possibility," Campos said, looking at Hawke. "Should we send someone there ahead of time?"

Hawke replied, "If Veronica is really moving to Baltimore and sets up shop there, dealing with more people and factors, making someone disappear would become complicated."

Campos understood. "The rare blood type of this mother and daughter could be useful to certain people?"

Hawke nodded. "Perhaps members of the Ackerman family."

With the Butterfly Company operating as it had, Campos was completely onboard with Hawke's plans.

Hawke shared some insight. "From what we've gathered, some members of the Ackerman family, including Buddy Ackerman, might have some very rare blood type running through their veins."

Campos had suspected as much. "Andy Carroll's goal is their blood and organs?"

This was an area where the Butterfly Company had long operated from the shadows and had some understanding. Hawke had previously discussed this with them.

"Keep an eye on Veronica and Rachel; make sure we know their movements," Hawke instructed, pausing for a moment before asking, "Last time I asked you to look into where the Ackerman Charity Foundation has set up medical facilities, especially abroad."

Campos had thoroughly checked and recalled, "There's a medical center in Rosario, Baja California."

Edward added, "I've collected some information on it."

Hawke remembered the Rosario center and asked, "Is there anything hidden there?"

"Nothing has been found so far," Campos thought for a moment and said, "These large medical centers require substantial land and investment, and they tend to involve extensive connections, making it difficult to establish them secretly."

Hawke nodded. "Is the easiest way to get to Rosario from Los Angeles by flight?"

Campos, familiar with Mexico, confirmed, "Yes, Los Angeles International Airport has a direct flight to Rosario every day. Should I arrange for someone to watch that route?"

Hawke agreed.

The trio then discussed various plans and assigned teams to head to Baltimore and Rosario. Fiona and Hierro were sent ahead to Rosario while Betty went to Baltimore. Campos took the lead and left first, followed by Hawke and Edward as they returned to Twitter.

...

The Butterfly Company operatives remained hidden, monitoring Veronica and Rachel closely. Some disguised as prospective home buyers, they infiltrated the Burton Road residence.

Intel continued to flow to Hawke swiftly. Not long after, Veronica's low-priced sale of the house was completed. The buyer -- a recent immigrant from Mexico -- had made the purchase.

Days later, the Hallasan Company was dissolved, with current employees receiving severance pay. All the office equipment, from desks to computers, was sold off in the second-hand market.

Veronica informed her acquaintances and former coworkers in Los Angeles that she was leaving for Baltimore to start anew. This announcement served to sever her existing social ties.

Hawke received the news quickly, and the developments aligned closely with his predictions. More personnel were dispatched to Los Angeles International Airport immediately. Several individuals were also monitoring the Four Seasons hotel where Veronica and Rachel had checked in.

...

One ordinary Thursday morning, Andy Carroll accompanied Veronica and Rachel into the terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.

Near the check-in counter, a disguised Garcia sat on a bench, reading a newspaper, his sunglasses concealing watchful eyes.

Shortly after, he spotted his targets together at one of the counters. Garcia spoke into a hidden radio, "Target sighted, window 3, three people together."

Just then, Betty, dressed as a hair-flipping cool girl, entered the terminal and placed a similar call.

Juan, likewise, was there to check in and proceeded to handle baggage claims, carrying a bag and blending into the crowd as he followed Carroll's group not too far behind.

...

At the security checkpoint, Carlos stood in line.

Since 9/11, security at American airports had tightened significantly, and the process had become notoriously slow.

Veronica ran into minor trouble; her daughter Rachel had brought along a butterfly knife, which security confiscated. This girl had truly become a problem for her mother.

Without Carroll making a few calls -- considering Rachel was a minor -- they could have faced serious trouble. After some back-and-forth, they finally passed security and made their way to the VIP lounge near the boarding area.

...

Once Juan saw which VIP room they entered, he immediately radioed, "They've gone into VIP room 17, about to board the flight to Rosario."

Garcia waited outside the security checkpoint. Carlos located a blind spot in the monitoring area, fixating on the entrance of VIP room 17.

He had already called Garcia with that information.

As Hawke previously speculated on whether Carroll's trio might head to Rosario or Baltimore, Garcia dispatched two separate teams to Mexico and Maryland to prepare ground transportation.

Campos swiftly alerted the Rosario team.

...

When boarding time arrived at the airport, Carroll and Veronica, with rebellious Rachel, stepped into business class.

Carlos confirmed through the glass door that the VIP room was now empty and communicated via radio. "Target has boarded."

Garcia responded, "Understood."

Before long, the flight took off, leaving Los Angeles behind.

Subsequently, Juan flew on a different flight to San Bel Air and then drove from there to Rosario.

...

The news was relayed back to the Butterfly Company, reaching Hawke's desk swiftly. In the Twitter office, he picked up the phone to Campos. "Monitor them closely."

Campos acknowledged.

At this moment, Hawke further validated his suspicions -- Carroll's true aim was undoubtedly tied to the rare blood type of Veronica and Rachel. But these wouldn't be used by him -- those ultimate beneficiaries would certainly be the Ackerman family.

...

That evening, intelligence operatives tracking the Ackerman Charity Foundation reported that Chairman Barrack Bernanke, along with special monitor Melissa Ackerman, had boarded a private plane to Baltimore.

This was public information from the charity foundation.

Upon hearing the news, Hawke felt puzzled. Would Carroll be solely managing operations in Rosario?

He remembered that after he had been matched on set, Barrack had personally visited to handle a series of matters concerning him.

Then came the risky jump scene, followed by pursuit and escape sequences.

This time, two blood bags and an organ bank were ofund but only one security supervisor was managing all this?

Moreover, did Andy Carroll and Melissa Ackerman leave Los Angeles simultaneously by coincidence?

Hawke pondered, deciding to keep a close watch on Rosario Airport.

...

In Mexico, infrastructure could leave much to be desired, and Rosario hardly qualified as a major metropolis. The airport was built thanks to James Cameron's re-shooting of Titanic. This great director turned a small artificial lake into a huge water studio. Later, many Hollywood crews filmed here, and Rosario became one of Hollywood's famous filming locations.

Some media reported that Disney Studios is currently filming the naval battle scenes for Pirates of the Caribbean there.

Hollywood brought not only film crews but also tourists. Thus, Rosario managed to build a small airport.

The airport had a single entrance, and the terminal was so small that takeoffs and landings were easily visible from a distance.

Hierro and Juan had already tracked down the addresses of Carroll's group. After receiving a call, Juan, more familiar with the looks of the Ackerman Charity Foundation's high-ranking officials, drove to the airport entrance.

Disguising himself as a woman, he had spent the previous night without success.

But the following morning, a business jet touched down, capturing Juan's attention and boosting his energy.

...

Unaccustomed to the common travel habits typified by strangers -- even in first class -- the privileged Melissa Ackerman opted to rent a private plane instead.

The plane landed on the tarmac, and a welcome car pulled up.

Outside the small airport, Juan, equipped with binoculars, spotted three women descending from the aircraft -- one clearly an assistant and a larger figure resembling a bodyguard.

The woman in the middle, from the photo he had seen, was undoubtedly Melissa Ackerman.

*****

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