The Wolf of Los Angeles.

Chapter 79 White and Black

In the temporary office suite, Hawke opened the modified briefcase he had just retrieved, carefully checked the camera inside, and installed a miniature external microphone.

Edward brought the power cord over and connected it to charge the battery.

Hawke said, "I just went down to check. The rest area in the medical building is connected to the coffee shop. It's relatively quiet inside. That's where the candid photos were taken."

Edward rubbed his hands together and said, "Don't worry, Boss. I've been practicing for so long, there will be no problem."

Hawke waved his hand and said, "Relax. If we fail once, we can always try again."

Edward thought about it and realized that it was indeed the case, and he suddenly felt bored.

This candid photo shoot is neither tense nor exciting.

Hawke checked the time and said, "I'm going to go out for a while. Please help Miss Mee and prevent Steve and Wilson from fighting."

There was the sound of Caroline knocking on the door.

Hawke opened the door.

Caroline wrote the copy and asked him to take a look.

Hawke reviewed it carefully and pointed out two places for revision. After Caroline finished the revisions, he asked Steve and Wilson to memorize the manuscript.

Both of them are public figures and have spoken in front of cameras many times, so it is not difficult for them.

Hawke put on his coat, picked up his bag and left.

Caroline followed him out the door: "What are you doing?"

Hawke simply said: "IVF still lacks an institution to endorse it. I will find a professional institution to fill this gap."

He went downstairs and got in the car, and found the Irvine Medical Center according to the information provided by the nurse.

After just one look, Hawke turned and left.

This is a huge comprehensive commercial medical group, with six buildings of more than ten floors.

Steve Turner isn't important enough.

Hawke then found the Agatha Fertility Center.

This one is more like a large clinic.

Hawke observed for a moment and found that no one was coming in or out. After entering, it was rather quiet inside.

The enthusiastic nurse had specifically asked around for him and found out that there were less than 50,000 test-tube babies performed in the United States each year. Compared to the large and powerful Irvine Medical Center, the professional Agatha Fertility Center was doing average.

Hawke came to the front desk and pulled out a business card. "I am the agent of Steve and Daisy Nutt. I have important matters to discuss with your person in charge."

The front desk asked tentatively, "Dodgers star Steve Nutter?"

Hawke said, "That's them."

The front desk reported the situation to their superior, who called again. After waiting for five or six minutes, the front desk received a reply and led Hawke to the second floor.

Hawke met the founder and head, Dr. Agatha, in a large office.

The latter, wearing a women's suit and black-rimmed glasses, shook hands with Hawke and said, "I saw the news today. The Nutts are waiting for the birth of their baby at St. Joseph's Hospital."

"The child is already born." Hawke replied, took out Steve's authorization letter and his business card from his briefcase, and placed them in front of Agatha: "Doctor, you can check it at any time."

Agatha remained calm: "What do you want to do?"

Hawke said: "Steve Nutt and his wife asked me to express my gratitude to you for helping their angel come through in vitro fertilization."

Agatha frowned, not remembering that the other party had done in vitro fertilization here.

Hawke continued, "There are currently many fans and media reporters blocking the entrance of St. Joseph's Hospital. Steve and Daisy cannot come in person. After they have dealt with these matters, they will come to thank you in person. There will be many media outlets at that time, so please be prepared."

He smiled politely: "Steve also wants to use this method to let couples in California and even the United States who want children but cannot achieve them know that the Agatha Clinic can help them fulfill their wishes."

At this point, Agatha understood what was said, looked Hawke up and down, and asked her assistant to make a phone call to verify.

Hawke relaxed a little, no longer having to look for the next one.

The assistant quickly gave a positive answer.

Agatha said directly: "There must be no less than 20 media outlets coming here, and at least five mainstream media outlets."

Hawke was not afraid of the other party making requests, but was afraid that the other party would not make any requests, so he said, "Okay."

He also made a request: "I will inform you in advance and ask the doctor to come and receive us in person."

"I will wait for Mr. and Mrs. Nutt to arrive." Agatha strived for more benefits: "When Steve comes to thank me, I will take a photo with him and his wife, and the photo will be hung in a prominent place in the clinic lobby."

Hawke said: "That's fine, but you can't use the photo directly for media publicity, that would infringe on Steve's portrait rights."

Agatha frowned.

To get people to take risks and support you, you must give them benefits, and Hawke doesn't have to give them any benefits. He gave an idea: "Media reporters secretly take photos of you on the wall and post them to the media, and you can't control it."

Agatha smiled, took out her business card and handed it to Hawke: "Please confirm the time and call me anytime."

Hawke put away the business card, packed up the authorization letter, stood up and shook hands with Agatha again: "It's a pleasure to work with you."

Agatha escorted him out of the office.

After this was finalized, Hawke immediately returned to St. Joseph's Hospital and met Caroline at the door of the ward.

Miss Mee was surprised: "Leaving less than half an hour ago, and it's done?"

"The Agatha Fertility Center will cooperate with us and look at Daisy's recovery condition and media opinion. We will set a time for the Nats to go there." Hawke handed the follow-up communication of the matter to Caroline, asking her to communicate with the Nats after the secret filming was over.

In the temporary office, Steve and Wilson began rehearsing according to the script.

The first part was fine, but the second half of the copy, which dealt with anti-racial discrimination, made the two of them laugh frequently.

"Gentlemen, be serious, this is a very serious topic." Although Hawke never took this seriously, he couldn't say that.

He picked up the sports magazine Edward had found, turned to last year's Boston incident, and said, "Have you forgotten how those guys insulted you in last year's game against the Boston Red Sox?"

Wilson glanced at the photos in the magazine and saw the fried chicken, watermelon and bananas, and his smile disappeared instantly.

A strong team must have a sense of collective honor. Steve, the core star of the Dodgers, said: "I will always remember this scene."

The two men began to rehearse seriously.

Hawke listened for a while and felt something was wrong, so he asked, "Are there a lot of vulgar or abusive words in the private conversations between your teammates?"

Steve suddenly realized: "No wonder I feel awkward talking to Wilson."

Edward at the door muttered to himself, "It's awkward because he slept with your wife and gave you a black boy."

On the other side, Steve and Wilson's conversation was mixed with their daily slang and profanity, and the two found the state they should be in.

After rehearsing a few more times, Hawke asked Edward to get the briefcase camera and called Byers who was waiting in the cafe, saying, "Gentlemen, let's take action now."

He first said to Wilson: "Go to the cafe in the medical building and wait in a place with few people."

Wilson left first, followed by agent Cobb.

Hawke glanced at his watch and said, "Steve, you'll be leaving in two minutes. Savior, take your bag and go downstairs now. Start following Steve from outside the building. Be smart and don't get caught by the hospital security."

Edward picked up the bag: "No one can catch the Savior, not even T1000."

When everyone left, Hawke walked at the end.

Caroline wanted to catch up, but Hawke kept her back: "Guard the ward well and don't let anyone get in. If someone takes a picture of you now, your commission will be gone."

"Who dares!" Caroline's face was full of ferocity when it came to taking a cut. She directly took out an electric baton from her bag and said, "If there is really someone who is blind and wants to come over, I will make him open his eyes from behind!"

A few minutes later, Hawke went downstairs to the cafe on the side of the medical building. He stood outside the glass door, observed for a moment, and found Steve and Wilson.

At a table behind them, Edward ordered coffee and dessert, as if he was enjoying afternoon tea.

The briefcase was placed at an angle on the table, with the camera side facing Steve and Wilson's table.

Hawke ordered a glass of lemonade, quietly walked over and sat behind the two of them.

"Brother, when I came back from Boston last year, you said that your genetic material was too weak and you insisted on using mine to help Daisy with IVF." Wilson said vulgarly, "Okay, for the sake of brotherhood, I fucking agreed, but how did you do it?"

He questioned: "Now that the baby is born, you bastard won't let me even take a look at it!"

Steve said, "I didn't say I wouldn't let you see the baby. The doctor said it's not convenient for the baby to see anyone for now. Newborns will have varying degrees of hyperbilirubinemia, and the baby's indicators are a little high. You should wait a little longer."

Wilson shook his head: "I don't understand these messed up terms." He then asked: "What's the child's skin color? Like you, a bastard, or like me?"

Steve said, "Same skin color as you."

Wilson whistled: "My friend, you will have troubles in the future." His words suddenly became heavy: "You and Daisy won't dislike him, right?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Steve was a little forgetful of his words. He was silent for a moment before he said, "You understand nothing and know nothing."

Wilson raised his head: “Don’t underestimate me!”

Steve recalled the gist of the line and said, "I have so many friends, why did I choose you? You have no idea!"

Wilson has a talent for black rap: "How would I know if you don't tell me?"

Steve said: "Remember when we played against the Red Sox in Boston last year? Those extremists attacked us wantonly, insulting you and other black brothers in the team in the most vicious and crazy way. They didn't insult you, but everyone on the Dodgers!"

His voice became excited: "This has happened again and again. Similar things have happened in Arlington and Seattle before. And what can I do as the captain? I can only be like a loser and comfort you that this is the behavior of a minority of people and everything will be fine. But what is the reality? I can't do anything!"

Wilson said, "Steve, you've done a lot..."

Steve was afraid of forgetting the words again, so he took advantage of the moment to speak up: "Last year, when I came back from Boston, I was thinking about how I could support you and how I could make my voice heard to attract more attention. Then Daisy reminded me. After careful consideration, I thought that if a pure white family like Daisy and I could raise a black child and set an example, it might help you!"

(End of this chapter)