The Wolf of Los Angeles.

Chapter 147: Hanging to Death (asking for monthly ticket)

In the morning, Hawke sat at the dining table, eating the simple breakfast made by Caroline and reading the newspaper bought by Edward.

Edward was sitting by the window, keeping watch, holding an AR15 rifle.

Caroline poured a few glasses of milk and brought them to the dining table.

There is a security team sent by Brian to guard this place. The three of them stayed in the villa last night.

The front-page headlines of almost all newspapers were about the rape scandal involving Van Wageren and Robert Redford.

Caroline also picked up a few copies and read them for a while. She said, "The reporting style is different, the article format is different, but the theme and content are surprisingly consistent. They severely punish Wagner and Redford."

Hawke said: "It's very simple. Both sides are fighting, but neither side wants the film and entertainment industry to completely collapse."

"That's right." Brian came downstairs with his phone in hand and said, "The focus of this matter is pop, not Hollywood."

He sat at the dining table and said, "I just got the news. Half an hour ago, the FBI intervened in the case on the pretext of receiving a report from the victim. They stopped Wagren's car on the coastal highway, and a gunfight broke out between the two sides. Wagren was shot dead on the spot."

Hawke was really not surprised at all. Campos got the things and searched Wagner, but Wagner didn't have a gun on him.

But he won't say it, and there is no need to say it.

The moment the video was played on Ace News, the contract between Hawke and Bryan was complete.

Caroline truly witnessed the cruel side of things. She put down the newspaper in her hand and subconsciously asked, "Was he really shot dead because he resisted with a gun?"

Brian said: "Given the professionalism of the FBI, it must be."

Caroline swallowed and asked, "Will I be killed?"

Hawke pointed at Brian and said, "Do you see him? He's the biggest shield in front of us. If he's okay, then we're okay. If he's in trouble, run away."

Brian was surprised: "You're not going to run away?"

"Erica will definitely help you get revenge." Hawke said seriously: "I will also help you get revenge."

Brian said, "I didn't expect you to be so loyal."

Edward interrupted and asked, "What about the other Redford?"

Brian said simply, "As soon as the news came out last night, the bastard boarded a plane from Los Angeles International Airport and took the nearest flight to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. He will probably transfer to France."

Hawke remembered something: "The United States and France do not have an extradition treaty. Is he planning to be the next Roman Polanski?"

"Who knows if he can make it to France." Brian shrugged: "Polanski's problem is personal, and Redford is involved in many people and things."

He thought for a moment and then said, "The other side obviously wants to shut people up. They even used their power in the FBI. It's impossible to get rid of Wagner and let Redford live."

Hawke said casually: "Committed suicide? Or overseas, that's possible."

Caroline interjected: “Is this politics?”

Brian's phone rang at this time. He answered it and said a few words before hanging up quickly. "I'm going to the law firm. Several more victims came to me and asked me to represent them in suing Wagren."

Hawke asked: "Since Wagren is dead, can the lawsuit for compensation continue?"

Brian nodded: "Of course, although criminal liability cannot be pursued, civil compensation is still possible. This guy has no wife, no children, and left behind tens of millions of dollars in property. Instead of letting those pigs take it all, why not let us get a piece of it."

He said: "Wait a few days, the PR fee I promised will definitely arrive."

Hawke knew very well that if the other party wanted to get this matter out of the media and public view as soon as possible, they would definitely deal with the victims quickly and use Wagner and Redford's property as compensation, which would be the simplest and most convenient way.

…………

Nassau, Bahamas.

At the Hilton Hotel near the airport, several police cars suddenly arrived at the door, and a middle-aged bald policeman quickly entered the hotel with several subordinates.

The lobby manager hurried over to receive him.

The middle-aged policeman showed his ID and said directly: "Someone in the building opposite found a person hanging in one of the guest rooms of your hotel, and he called the police."

The lobby manager's expression changed and he asked, "Sheriff Cowell, are you sure?"

This is an American-owned hotel, so Cowell had to be cautious: "I sent someone to check across the street, please wait."

Not long after, the witness entered the hotel lobby along with two police officers.

One of the policemen said to Cowell: "There is indeed a person on the fifth floor."

Cowell said to the lobby manager: "We need to go to the fifth floor to check the situation."

The hotel manager rushed over at this time, and after understanding the situation, he took over the negotiation with Cowell from the lobby manager.

Afterwards, he led a group of people to the fifth floor, found the corresponding room, knocked on the door but received no response, so he asked someone to come and open the door.

The door opened, and two policemen, guns drawn, entered the suite first.

Others came in one after another.

The curtains on the suite's bedroom window were open. A long leather shoelace hung from a ceiling fan with colorful lights. Hanging on the shoelace was a man in his 60s who looked dead.

"Seal off the scene." Sheriff Cowell took out his gloves and put them on, then ordered: "Inspect the scene."

Everyone, including the hotel manager, was invited to the door of the room.

The two policemen put the man down first.

A policeman found the deceased's bag, which contained documents including his passport. He took a look and said in surprise: "Boss, this guy is Robert Redford, a Hollywood star and a big director!"

Cowell went over to look at the face of the corpse, then looked at the ID photo: "I've seen the old movie The Great Gatsby, it's definitely him."

Another person said, "Boss, there is a piece of paper here. It looks like a suicide note."

Cowell went to see.

The handwriting on it was rather sloppy, with only a few lines.

Cowell examined it carefully and it looked very much like a suicide note. The general meaning of the note was that he regretted what he had done and the harm he had caused to those minors. He dreamed of God last night and that God was going to send him to hell. In order to apologize and atone for his sins, he chose to end his life.

Finally, he left a will, expressing his willingness to use his property to compensate the victims.

Cowell didn't want to get into trouble, so he had someone put the suicide note, ID and other items into an evidence bag.

He took out his cell phone and called his boss, and at the same time suggested that his boss notify the foreign affairs department and let them negotiate with the US Embassy.

If the US Embassy agrees with the suicide claim, the case can be closed quickly.

Not long after, his immediate superior came over with American personnel.

After inspecting the scene and holding secret talks, both sides basically reached an agreement, and Hollywood star, director and producer Robert Redford committed suicide out of fear of crime.

The results will not be announced immediately, but both parties have confirmed the direction of the investigation and subsequent work will proceed very quickly.

…………

Granite Bay, Sacramento.

Lawrence Pope carried the heavy suitcase and put it on a station wagon.

Lawyer Donnie and his ex-wife Linda each brought their bags to the garage and put them in the trunk.

A cell phone rang, and Donnie answered the call and said to Pope: "The divorce agreement has been approved, the division of property has been fair, and everything is going well."

Pope came over and shook his hand: "Thank you, old friend."

Donnie looked solid and reliable, "Although some bastards gave up on you, I won't give up on you. I will always argue for you. I can't guarantee your innocence, but I will do my best to get a short sentence."

Linda responded: "He deserves it."

Pope looked bitter and said nothing.

Before the legal proceedings were initiated, he did everything he could and left everything he could to his wife and daughter.

When footsteps were heard, the three of them tacitly stopped talking, and it turned out to be Catherine who came over with her suitcase.

Catherine didn't sleep well last night. She kept yawning and complaining, "Why are you traveling to New York all of a sudden? I'm not prepared."

Pop comforted him: "My uncle has prepared a big party for you, go."

Catherine got straight into the car.

Pop patted Donny's arm and said, "Please take them to the airport."

Donnie nodded and got into the driving seat.

Linda went to the passenger seat and closed the door.

The garage door rose and the station wagon drove out.

After the car drove away, Pop closed the door, walked into the hallway, and looked at the road in front of the house.

In just over ten minutes, several black SUVs with FBI logos drove over and stopped on the side of the road.

Pop was prepared, he opened the door and walked straight towards them.

The leading FBI director showed Pope the documents, had him handcuffed, and put him directly in the car.

The station wagon drove to the airport and turned into the parking lot. When the car parked, Linda looked back.

My daughter Catherine was lying in the back seat, fast asleep.

Linda gently warned: "Turn him into a serious criminal and keep him in there forever."

"Of course." Donnie reached out and put his arm around Linda's shoulders. "I won't be his attorney for this case. The law firm will hand it over to a newcomer."

Linda put her hands around his neck and they kissed passionately for a long time before they separated.

Donnie said, "When this case is over, come back and we'll get married."

These two people have been hooking up together for a long time.

Linda was furious, but it was not the right time and place, so she could only say, "Put Catherine in place, I will come back quietly."

"Early." Donnie looked at his watch and said, "Hurry up and don't miss the flight."

Linda woke up Catherine, and Donnie helped drag the suitcase, and they walked towards the terminal entrance together.

The mother and daughter walked in front, and the lawyer following behind kept looking at Catherine.

White girls develop early.

Donnie was in a very good mood. Pop's property, as well as the mother and daughter, were all his.

As for Pope, can he come out again after going in?
…………

Beverly Boulevard, in Brian's villa.

Hawke hung up the phone and said to Caroline and Edward, "We just got confirmed news that Robert Redford hanged himself in a hotel near Nassau International Airport this morning. He also left a suicide note, claiming that he committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

Caroline was numb: "He deserves to die, such a scum deserves to die!"

Edward asked, "What about Lawrence Pope?"

"The FBI asked him to assist in the investigation." Hawke also got the news from Brian's phone call: "He may not die. It's hard to tell who is wearing a mask. Wagner and Redford are both dead. I guess Pope will take all the blame."

Caroline gradually understood the rules of the game: "And her wife, daughter and family will be well taken care of?"

Hawke thought of the many so-called suicide cases in his previous life and said, "It is also possible that after the incident cools down, Pop will commit suicide."

Edward remembered what Hawke had said: "The kind where he got shot eight times in the back?"

Hawke replied casually: "It is also possible that he hanged himself on the bed in prison."

Caroline found herself on a pirate ship and asked quietly, "In the future, shall we..."

Edward suddenly smiled, revealing two rows of big white teeth.

Hawke asked her, "You don't want a high-paying job anymore?"

Caroline immediately straightened her attitude, baring her white canine teeth on her small face: "Tell me, who do you want me to kill?"

Suddenly, Edward stood up with an AR rifle and warned, "Boss, someone is coming."

The security guard near the door called on the intercom: "Mr. Osmond, there is a woman who wants to see you. Her name is Rooney Chasen, and she claims to be the director of Full Speed ​​​​PR Company."

Caroline frowned: "What is she doing here?"

Hawke hesitated for a moment and said, "Let her in."

A middle-aged woman dressed fashionably and wearing high heels entered the courtyard through the gate and soon arrived at the door.

Caroline went to open the door.

Rooney looked at this beautiful woman who had tricked her and boasted, "She is worthy of being taught by me."

Caroline let the person in with a blank expression.

Rooney looked at Lao Hei first because he was holding an AR, but she was not panicked at all and turned to look at Hawke.

There was nothing unusual about the man's appearance; he looked just like the kind you'd see on the street.

Hawke pointed to the sofa and said, "Sit down."

Rooney nodded slightly and sat down opposite Hawke.

She asked directly, "Using Caroline to bury the nails, you did it?"

Hawke shook his head, "Caroline suggested it."

Rooney turned her head and stared at Caroline with slight surprise.

Although it was Hawke who proposed it, how could Caroline possibly object in this situation?

She raised her little chin and looked very proud.

Rooney nodded again to confirm: "I taught very well."

Hawke let her in, not to listen to her boasting, and asked, "What do you want to see me about?"

"I wanted to see the person who had defeated me so badly," Rooney said. "Even yesterday afternoon, I thought I was going to win, but I ended up losing miserably."

Hawke was sitting right here: "See it now?"

Rooney took out her business card and pushed it across the low table to Hawke: "Shall we exchange business cards?"

Hawke pulled out a business card and gave it to her as well.

Rooney said: "There is no personal conflict between us, and there may be opportunities for cooperation in the future."

In her opinion, there is no good or evil on both sides, they just serve different employers.

Hawke smiled and said nothing more.

Rooney put away Hawke's business card and stood up to say goodbye.

Caroline offered to take her there.

When the two of them went out, the conflicts between the women were even more acute than those between them and the men.

It is no exaggeration to say that they are like a tit-for-tat clash.

Rooney whispered as they walked away, "You bitch, you're betraying Full Throttle now, and one day you'll betray West Coast. Do you think Hawke Osment will trust you? Now, the whole industry knows that you've set up your original company. I'm waiting to see you abandoned by West Coast."

"Do you think I'm worried about my job?" Caroline restrained herself in front of Hawke, revealing her sharp horns. "You came here and said so much to Hawke, and even took the initiative to exchange business cards and talk about future cooperation. It's just that you arrogantly think that you have defeated Hawke on the front battlefield."

Rooney didn't bother to say more to her.

Caroline had followed her for several years and understood this woman's personality. She knew how to attack her. She said half truthfully and half falsely, "Not counting the three original victims, Judy, Amanda, and Rachel, there are now seven more people who have volunteered to join the lawsuit against Wagner and Redford. Do you know why?"

She didn't need Rooney to give an answer: "We just told them the conditions you offered Rachel, and they all decided to stand up."

Rooney paused, still without saying anything, and slowly walked outside.

Caroline walked her to the door and turned back.

Rooney got into the car, shook her head and smiled, she was really a complete loser.

Even the students I taught myself can come and laugh at me.

In the coming days of 2003, the whole United States was attracted by the scandal exposed in Hollywood. Fox TV and Channel 11's "Ace News" program continued to release new video evidence, keeping the related news hot.

The identities of other masked men have also become the focus of public attention.

Both the LAPD and the FBI received reports from the parties involved, and the two sides had to work together to investigate the case.

When the two sides are mixed together, things naturally become more and more confusing.

As for what the truth is, no one cares.

The core of this matter lies in party struggle. The elephants who planned this case took the opportunity to launch an offensive against the donkeys, targeting the state government authorities in Sacramento, the capital of California.

At this stage, it was no longer something Hawke and Brian could participate in.

Amidst all the chaos, Deep Blue used its super-killer weapon of public relations.

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen suddenly held a press conference, accusing Leonardo DiCaprio of cheating on her repeatedly, saying that she could no longer tolerate it and decided to break up with him!
Leonardo Dicaprio's destructive power was too strong. From the media to the public to opinion, everyone immediately abandoned the masked man and the victim and turned their attention to the breakup of this golden boy and girl.

In order to grab the headlines continuously and completely shift the direction of public opinion, the blue media followed and reported the breakup incident almost 24 hours a day.

As the famous Deep Blue, Leonardo also turned the breakups and reunions into a TV series with explosive ratings.

On the day after Gisele announced the breakup, the public was still digging into Leonardo's love history and the people he cheated with. But on the third day, Leonardo stopped Gisele while she was taking photos outdoors and won back her love with a super big pigeon egg.

On the first day of 2003, Leonardo and Gisele appeared in front of the media together. The former announced that he had successfully proposed to Gisele and the two would officially get engaged.

In too many countries and regions, the entertainment industry is a toilet. As long as something stinks, they can just throw it into the entertainment industry at will. The stench that is aroused can quickly divert the attention of public opinion and the crowd.

News and topics in the entertainment industry always easily grab headlines.

This engaged couple stole all the attention.

On the other hand, the elephants are a bit weak in the media.

But the confrontation in the dark is always there.

After the New Year holiday in 2003, just as Brian expected, the Los Angeles District Court settled the victim compensation issue at the fastest speed.

When the people in power want efficiency, the speed can always be incredibly fast.

According to the contract, Bryan paid Hawke $120 million in public relations fees.

He also paid for all the expenses incurred during the period.

And the bulletproof Mercedes, which Brian gave to Hawke.

(I have updated 30 words a day for 11 consecutive days. I didn’t break my promise! It’s the last day of November. Please give me a monthly ticket! Please give me a monthly ticket!)

(End of this chapter)