Kapitel 202: Chapter 202: Resignation, Arnold Takes the Helm
[Chapter 203: Resignation, Arnold Takes the Helm]
In the early hours, at a seaside apartment building in Santa Monica.
Guerrero felt a surge of anxiety as he looked at his secret girlfriend, Irene. He said, "You need to leave immediately. Don't stick around here."
Irene, her red hair tousled and still half-asleep, was less than pleased about being woken up in the middle of the night: "What are you talking about?"
Guerrero grabbed a packed backpack and handed it to Irene. "You've got to remember what I'm about to say!"
Seeing the seriousness in his tone, Irene quickly grabbed a wipe from the table and dabbed her face, trying to wake up.
Guerrero continued, "Do you remember the house in the canyon? Don't tell anyone. I've got some things stored in the basement, in the tool cabinet on the southwest side."
Since he hadn't been able to reach Meriel, a bad feeling had settled in his gut. "There's cash, some designer watches, and jewelry. It's enough for you to get through college and find a good job after."
Irene looked bewildered. "What's going on?"
"You don't need to know. It won't do you any good." Guerrero pressed on, "If -- let's say if -- something happens to me or I end up dead, you need to take what's in that tool cabinet, find a media outlet... no, don't just go with traditional media. Go for an online outlet that's willing to break the story, and mail it to them from a remote area."
Irene sensed something terrible had transpired. "Let's leave together!"
Guerrero shook his head. "I'm a local; my parents and siblings live here in Los Angeles. I can't put them in danger."
"Just go!" he urged. "You need to hurry!"
With her bag slung over her shoulder, Irene hurried out of the apartment building.
...
Minutes later, there was a knock on Guerrero's door.
He opened it to find his colleague and friend, Carl, along with several others.
Guerrero could see the situation unfolding. "Do we really have to do this?"
Carl stated flatly, "The money you've earned over the years will be shifted into your parents' accounts. They'll also receive additional benefits. Each of your siblings will, too."
It was both a promise of money and a threat.
Guerrero had steeled himself. "What do you want me to do?"
"Write a suicide note," Carl replied gravely. "Take the blame for everything."
...
In the early morning, just as dawn broke, strange shouts erupted from the seaside apartment building.
Then came a sharp crack, sounding as if something had shattered.
An early riser shouted, "Someone jumped! Someone jumped!"
Another person called the police.
The LAPD responded quickly, sealing off the area.
With backup on the scene, they investigated and discovered a suicide note in the pocket of the deceased.
FBI agents arrived shortly afterward and took over the case.
Just hours before, Lena had woken up and, grasping the situation, officially reported it to the FBI.
But Jennifer Huey waited until daylight to get authorization from her supervisor before heading out to apprehend Guerrero.
At that crucial moment, the elephant and donkey found an unspoken understanding.
...
In Sacramento, across from Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign office, stood the California State Capitol.
In a private club beside the Capitol, Arnold's campaign manager, Daniel Kessler, met with the governor's aide, Foster.
Daniel handed Foster a re-edited document. "Take a look at this."
Foster took the document, and as he read, he didn't appear fazed. Los Angeles had reported the situation overnight; while it was messy, someone had already taken responsibility for the specific charges.
He tossed the document onto the table and denied it. "It's all rumors and a setup."
Daniel didn't counter. "Resign and save what little dignity you have left."
Foster knew very well that the resignation didn't refer to his position as governor's aide.
Daniel added, "What we're fighting over here is the position, not a person. Once the position is gone, everything else becomes irrelevant."
With the situation deteriorating, it directly involved Governor Gray Davis. Foster didn't know what else to say.
He paused, then remarked, "Wait for my news."
Daniel replied, "Don't keep us waiting too long."
...
By mid-June 2003, as California's gubernatorial recall election began, the sitting governor Gray Davis announced his resignation, representing the blue faction's retreat.
Hollywood superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger, supported by the elephants, emerged victorious, becoming the 38th Governor of California without a fight.
Both sides had quietly reached several agreements.
On that same day, Schwarzenegger delivered a victory speech via Fox News, praising his predecessor Gray Davis for his contributions to California's development.
Since the red-blue battle had turned into chaos, there was a brief period of breathing room.
However, Schwarzenegger's victory did not imply the elephants had an absolute advantage, as the donkeys still held the majority in the state legislature.
...
Later, the FBI's Los Angeles division held a press conference announcing the details of the disappearance case exposed by Fox News.
Jennifer Huey made a statement about the case.
Over the past two years, seven girls had gone missing from the Super Star Training School, with the culprits being former head Broderick and assistant Guerrero.
The two men used the promise of movie roles to lure specifically chosen recruits to secluded places, where they would then be abused and murdered, with their bodies disposed of at sea.
Before the incident, Broderick had committed suicide in prison due to depression.
Guerrero, fearing repercussions, took his own life and left a note detailing the crimes.
Additionally, the Super Star Training School's major shareholder, Ackerman Films, bore significant administrative responsibility.
The executive vice president of Ackerman Films voluntarily surrendered, accepting their share of the blame.
Yet, the most severe punishment would probably just be probation.
...
Since Ackerman Films acted quickly, they managed to contact the families of the seven missing girls and offered substantial compensation, successfully securing a settlement.
...
After receiving compensation, Lena, whom Harley saved, joyfully left Los Angeles.
...
As for the results of the case's release, it didn't matter whether the public believed it or not; what mattered was that the officials had provided an answer, and whether people chose to believe it was on them.
The red and blue factions had decided to maintain peace, and the mainstream media largely kept silent.
It was just like how the squids were running wild, with the Western media choosing to selectively ignore the situation.
...
Meanwhile, Melissa Ackerman, after undergoing routine questioning by the FBI, announced her resignation as CEO of Ackerman Films.
But that was far from the end. Ackerman Films sold off several movie rights to raise tens of millions in compensation and soon declared bankruptcy, unable to cover their debts.
The Ackerman family launched a crisis PR campaign, claiming they would now focus on philanthropy and contribute more to social development across the nation.
...
At the Ackerman Foundation in Santa Monica, Melissa paced back and forth in her office and asked Barack Bernanke, "Did you find out about what I asked you to investigate?"
Barack responded, "I looked into it. That day, the Fox News anchor was Harley Wayne, an investigative reporter whose former boss was the famous Fox host Gretchen. I reached out through various connections and quietly mobilized several Jewish staff members inside Fox to uncover a few leads."
Melissa settled onto the couch. "Go on."
Barack continued, "Months ago, Gretchen received a package. That day she sent Harley to get some tasks done, but the specifics are unknown. However, after that, Harley hardly appeared at the Fox TV Center. From that point on, she must have been investigating the Super Star Training School."
Melissa asked the crucial question, "Where was the package sent from?"
Barack replied, "We checked FedEx and USPS records of Gretchen's deliveries over the past few months and found one that matched the timing. It was sent from Las Vegas, but the location is a very remote mailbox, making it impossible to pursue."
Not being able to track it wasn't surprising to Melissa. She thought for a moment and asked, "Who stands to benefit the most from this incident?"
Barack answered without a second thought, "Arnold Schwarzenegger."
Without the unexpected turn of events, the outcome of the recall election could have been uncertain, especially since California had always leaned deep blue.
Barack quickly cautioned, "We can't go after a sitting governor."
"Let things cool down a bit," Melissa remarked. "Teach Gretchen and Harley a lesson."
She felt a tight knot in her chest.
With Ackerman Films declaring bankruptcy, offloading their film rights at fire-sale prices, compensating the victims, and covering the costs of the burned-down beach club and closed Super Star Training School, this incident had directly cost the Ackerman family over $80 million.
Melissa hadn't lost her sense of reason. Considering Fox, she specifically warned, "Make it look like an accident, understand? No physical harm, but let it be unforgettable for them."
Barack noted this down.
...
Meanwhile, at the Twitter building on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica.
Hawke scanned the various announcements in the newspaper. With the new governor elected, events were gradually settling down, and some unresolved cases were beginning to yield official results.
The red and blue factions had finally struck a quiet deal to preserve their respective appearances.
Hawke had mentally prepared for this and felt no disappointment.
The Ackerman family had paid a significant commercial price for it.
One of the key perpetrators, Broderick, was dead.
While his opponents had been weakened, he was steadily growing stronger.
There would come a time when the balance of power shifted completely.
Hawke had been quietly working hard for a year and a half and didn't mind continuing on this path.
Moreover, the Ackerman family had revealed their vulnerabilities.
Recalling a certain island from his past life, Hawke could be certain that incidents like those at the Super Star School wouldn't stop; they would only continue to fulfill the twisted desires of some.
With Schwarzenegger in the governor's seat, circumstances were far more favorable than before.
Hawke recalled that it seemed Schwarzenegger had served one term before being forced out of office in 2010.
At that moment, the phone rang; it was Brian calling.
Hawke answered.
Brian said, "You in the office? Great. I'll be there in half an hour with some excellent news."
*****
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