Chương 113: Chapter 113: Lightning Strike
[Chapter 114: Lightning Strike]
The sun had slipped to the western sky as Hawke drove his Mondeo through the streets of West Los Angeles.
In the rearview mirror, he noticed a Honda Accord tailing him. He immediately stepped on the gas, forcing the Accord to speed up as well.
As the Mondeo turned onto 20th Street, the Accord followed right behind. Daniel Richards accelerated, trying not to lose sight of his target. He had worked for a few years as a freelance journalist in Los Angeles, and he still had a sensitive nose for news, sensing something big was about to happen. Whenever he found himself at a major news scene, his heart raced. Right now, he had that feeling.
Daniel focused his gaze ahead but suddenly noticed an oncoming SUV that had veered into his lane while attempting to overtake. As a seasoned driver, Daniel quickly swerved to the outer lane. But that lane already had a delivery truck speeding along, which suddenly hit the brakes. Daniel slammed on his own brakes.
He had been going too fast to track the Mondeo, and the sudden incident meant that even though his vehicle stopped, he still bumped into the delivery truck ahead.
With a dull thud, the collision wasn't serious, but Daniel quickly pulled the handbrake and grabbed his bag, stepping out to assess the situation. The SUV that had caused the chaos was nowhere to be seen.
A burly man with a fierce expression got out from the passenger side of the delivery truck, glaring at Daniel. Not one to back down, Daniel shouted, "Why did you drive like that?"
Just to be safe, he decided to pull out his camera from the bag and film the incident. However, this motion caught the burly man's attention.
Before Daniel could fully reach into the bag, the back door of the delivery truck swung open. Two men in black masks and bulletproof vests emerged, brandishing AR-15s and shotguns, shouting, "LAPD! Show us your hands!"
Daniel was taken aback, his hands going limp and his bag dropping to the ground. He thought to himself, "What kind of trouble did I get myself into?"
Having heard of the LAPD's brutal ways, he hastily raised his hands above his head, yelling, "I'm not attacking you! I don't have any weapons! I'm cooperating!"
A business van pulled up behind him, and two armed plainclothes officers stepped out, taking control of Daniel.
Inside the business van, Erika reported into her transmitter, "K1 team has been hit by an unidentified vehicle. It's currently unclear if it's related to the operation. The individual is to be detained by the West Bureau."
The reply came through, "Agreed."
The plainclothes officers searched Daniel's car, checking for any potential video or audio that shouldn't exist. If it weren't for the numbers, they might have planted a gun or something else on him. LAPD's tactics in setting people up weren't any worse than the FBI's.
As Erika wrapped up her report, her former partner Milner arrived in a patrol car, according to Erika's direction. He took over Daniel's custody and led him back to the West Bureau for questioning.
A person could be held for 24 hours; if he didn't talk, they could always throw a few old black guys in the same holding room with him. Within just a few minutes, the chaos around them had settled.
The two vehicles sped away from 20th Street, heading straight toward their destination. A number of disguised civilian vehicles arrived near Venice Beach.
...
Hawke called out to Edward and Campos, grabbing two cameras as they made their way to a media signal van disguised as a delivery truck, tapping on the back door.
The door swung open from the inside, and the three of them climbed into the van together.
Hawke asked, "Did you get what I needed?"
Suzy moved a box from the interior, saying, "It's all here."
Hawke directed Edward and Campos, "Put all this gear on."
Inside the box were two sets of police-issued bulletproof vests and helmets.
Edward and Campos prepared to follow the two teams of LAPD as they rushed into the dealers' villa. These were all necessary safety measures.
In such a dangerous filming operation, Hawke made sure his crew was in the back. Once the two were suited up and wearing the composite helmets, Hawke patted them on the arm, reminding them, "Stay in the back of the group. Don't act independently. Safety first."
Edward grinned and said, "Boss, don't worry. Compared to the Compton riots, this is just small potatoes."
The Savior had personally witnessed the LA riots back in the day. Campos was no less seasoned, having fought his way out from the attacks of dealers and former colleagues.
The two checked their cameras to ensure nothing would delay the shooting.
Suzy sent someone to take them to another vehicle, to follow the two teams.
Hawke sat in front of the monitor, asking, "Did everyone get their recorders on?"
"All communications are set," Suzy replied, taking off her hat to smooth down her chin-length hair as she took a seat in another chair. "Each team has three people wearing recorders; they will turn them on when they get out."
Hawke thought about some of the things he had done in his previous life, saying, "Preventing them from having explosives is crucial."
Suzy assured him, "Everything has been prepared. They are the most professional action teams in LA. They've obtained building blueprints and deployed surveillance vehicles. The operation will go down during their dinner time, leaving no chance for them to retaliate."
"Let's wait then," Hawke stated, not wanting to say more.
...
Before long, the radio crackled with conversation, as the commanding detective issued orders. Several vehicles gradually approached the villa area, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The van that Hawke and Suzy were in stopped in front of a convenience store near the community.
After a moment, the reconnaissance personnel reported that the target house had ordered dinner.
With a command from the commander, action began.
On Hawke's multiple screens, images flickered, divided into two groups.
One was the first team of LAPD ahead, while the second team followed behind. One SWAT team drove a utility truck, targeting the front door for the main assault.
The second team, led by Erika, rode in a delivery van painted with furniture advertisements, preparing to block the back door.
Edward and Campos followed both teams to film, though they didn't have live signal transmissions.
...
The utility truck sped toward the villa, suddenly revving its engine and turning the wheel sharply. It jumped onto the sidewalk, crashing through wooden fences between two palm trees, sending splinters flying right into the front of the house.
As soon as the truck stopped, its doors opened. With two powerful thuds, windows shattered on the ground floor, and flashbangs crashed into the dining room and living room.
The entries turned into a shooting showdown that didn't happen.
In the ensuing commotion, every window in the house broke.
Moments later, tear gas canisters flew inside.
The fully armed SWAT team disembarked, with one person leading the charge while carrying a ballistic shield, while other team members secured the perimeter. Campos, holding the camera, was protected amidst the squad.
A specially designed shotgun blasted open the door lock, allowing the front door to swing wide. Another flashbang paved the path for them.
Similar action unfolded at the back door.
After a brief wait, both teams charged into the villa.
They didn't fire any shots and faced no resistance whatsoever.
The nine individuals inside the villa were all apprehended without incident.
When the Los Angeles' top armed violent group decided to make a move, the gangs barely amounted to anything.
...
In the signal transmission van, Hawke took off his earpiece, grabbing his camera. "Shall we go together?"
"Let's do it," Suzy said as she put on a police hat and followed Hawke down to the street in front of the villa.
The outer perimeter team quickly erected a barricade.
The commotion had drawn many community residents out to gawk.
Hawke switched on the camera as he crossed into the barricade and began filming over toward the villa.
With the permission of the scene commander, he and Suzy entered the villa together.
Hawke filmed everything, arriving in the living room where he got a close-up shot of Erika who had removed her helmet.
She was leading a search when they quickly uncovered crucial evidence in a basement.
Hawke kept filming as the camera shifted, revealing bright light gleaming off cabinets filled with palm-sized plastic bags packed with a significant amount of substances, far more than their previous yacht seizures.
Erika pulled out a few bags for a quick inspection, stating, "Kratom."
Hawke captured another close-up.
"Over here!" yelled another officer who had pried open a metal cabinet. "Come look."
Everyone came over to check. The cabinet was stuffed with firearms -- various handguns, along with five AK-style rifles and two shotguns.
In one corner, there were even grenades.
There were also valuables found in the kitchen above.
They retrieved large amounts of cash and further kratom packages, with Edward following along to capture it all.
Noticing that nobody was filming her temporarily, Erika sent a glance to Hawke and began speaking to her superior according to their script.
Hawke walked closer, turning the camera in her direction.
"Preliminary searches of the scene have uncovered a massive amount of narcotics, firearms, and kratom," Erika reported to her superiors. "The quantity is beyond imagination; this could be the largest drug bust we've done in five years."
The superior succinctly replied, "Keep searching. Don't miss a single corner."
After some time, the situation reached a stalemate.
The nine captured suspects along with the confiscated illegal items were steadily escorted out.
...
Meanwhile, media reporters began to appear outside.
An officer responsible for perimeter security hurried to the door and whispered a few words.
Erika borrowed a phone to call her former partner Milner and then found Hawke, beckoning him to a corner.
"Milner just called. Daniel Richards, who was tailing you, disclosed some information," Erika quickly said. "The person instructing him is Anna Cookman, an assistant producer at Channel 11's Ace News, and it's tied in with Gretchen. They're curious about how you keep getting hot stories and want to uncover the secret."
Hawke couldn't help but shake his head. "What secret? It's just self-production and self-distribution."
Trying to hold back a laugh to maintain a serious facade, Erika continued, "Like today's news, for example."
"More or less," Hawke contemplated what Erika had mentioned, "Gretchen from Ace News is a curious character."
Erika reminded him, "The paparazzi issue is one thing, but involving someone from Fox could become problematic."
Hawke wasn't one to keep his head down; since Gretchen and her assistant were the instigators, he needed to figure out a counterattack.
He thought of Megan and realized that if this worked out well, he could help her out too.
Being an important link in the relationship web would be beneficial for him.
Hawke asked, "Given that this involves Gretchen, can the West Bureau issue a legal summons for her? Get her in for questioning?"
"Just to ask for information?" Erika wanted clarity since it involved Fox. "If it's purely a matter of inquiry, there's no problem as long as you give a heads-up beforehand to those at Fox."
She was no stranger to these kinds of disputes. "Don't expect to get anything out of her; she'll definitely have a lawyer when she comes in. This incident should serve as a solid warning for that paparazzi; he'll know to keep a low profile."
Hawke glanced at his watch, adding, "That's not what I meant. Can the West Bureau issue a proper summons after 6:30, keeping her until 8 PM before letting her leave the station?"
Erika pondered momentarily, "An hour or so shouldn't be too difficult to arrange."
Hawke recognized that she hadn't finished.
Erika stared at him, probing, "Can I trust you to handle this?"
Hawke detailed, "Considering the nature of my work, if I don't respond when pressured, it could create more turmoil down the line. It's better to make an example to warn those who are itching to move."
Erika nodded slowly, remaining silent.
Hawke continued, "During morning shooting practice, you mentioned wanting to take a vacation next month. How about I invite you to Wyoming for a hunting trip? I'll cover all the expenses."
"That sounds like bribery," Erika replied teasingly.
But Hawke said confidently, "Don't worry; I have ways to make this not count as bribery."
"Just a summons and inquiry, at most an hour and a half," Erika pulled out her phone and dialed.
...
Once they wrapped up there, Hawke called for Suzy to return to the signal transmission van and organize the filming footage.
It wasn't just what he had shot; they also had the footage transmitted from the recorders.
Soon, Edward and Campos rejoined him.
Hawke quickly reviewed the videos they captured and asked Suzy, "Any issues?"
Suzy nodded, "Everything looks great. The operation was swift, and the strikes were precise."
Hawke compiled the footage onto his notebook and made a copy onto a storage drive, announcing, "I'm heading to Fox Broadcasting now."
Suzy pointed outside, "I'll manage the media here. I still need to prep the statements for Johnson and Erika."
"Stay in touch," Hawke packed his things and slung his bag over his shoulder as he headed out.
...
Edward had already revved up the Cadillac outside.
Hawke hopped into the back seat, turning to Edward. "Take me to the Fox Television Center."
As the car started moving, Campos in the passenger seat chimed in, "Boss, if there's nothing else, could you drop me off at Albert Kinning Boulevard? I'll drive home from there."
Hawke responded, "Your legal status will be resolved soon; don't worry."
Not able to return to Mexico, Campos wanted to remain in Los Angeles, saying, "Thanks."
Edward turned onto Albert Kinning Boulevard, pulling up near the parking lot.
Campos got out of the car.
Hawke reached into his already prepared envelope full of cash, handing it to Campos. "This is your pay for these past few days. Once your legal status is sorted, you'll receive a weekly wage. When that happens, you can rent a place, and I'll inform you of specific jobs then."
With others to take care of, Campos accepted it without fuss.
After he exited the car, Edward drove toward Century City.
...
Fox Plaza, office of Channel 11's director.
The channel's legal advisor, Pierce, had just reported to director Cynthia Rosenberg about the notification from the West Bureau.
Cynthia asked, "What are the specifics?"
Pierce elaborated, "I reached out to contacts in the West Bureau. Gretchen's assistant Anna Cookman sent a freelance reporter to investigate Hawke Osment at the West Coast studio, and coincidentally today, the LAPD had a major operation. The reporter encountered a disguised civilian vehicle carrying SWAT and got apprehended."
Cynthia, who oversaw everything at Channel 11, grasped the situation instantly. "Gretchen's rivalry with Megan."
"The West Bureau plays by the book; they notified us first, and their officers will arrive shortly," Pierce posed a direct question. "How should we respond?"
Cynthia asked, "Is it just for a summons?"
Pierce confirmed, "Yes."
He then added, "I also got word that Carter Ferguson's daughter, a member of the LAPD commission, is in a close relationship with Hawke Osment. They reportedly shared a near-death experience with Dwayne Johnson on that yacht, saving everyone aboard."
Cynthia recalled the media clip. "Megan's news team aired that."
She pondered for a moment, "Gretchen has crossed a line; if everyone starts doing what she did, where does that leave the channel's order? Who would dare sell hot news to Fox again? When the West Bureau arrives, take Gretchen with you. If things check out, fire Anna Cookman immediately."
"I understand," Pierce nodded and left the office.
...
Ten minutes later, as Gretchen prepared for tonight's Ace News broadcast, she suddenly noticed the legal advisor showing up with two people, barging into her crew's workspace.
The two men explained their purpose and showed Gretchen and Anna Cookman the paperwork.
"I refuse," was Gretchen's immediate response. "I don't know the person you're talking about, nor am I clear on what happened. My show is about to go live in less than an hour..."
The two men remained silent and turned to Pierce.
Pierce replied directly, "Director Cynthia's instruction is for you to come along and explain the situation to prove your innocence. I'll accompany you the entire way."
Gretchen didn't believe it. She picked up the phone and dialed the director's office number. "Director, I'm here..."
Cynthia cut her off, "You've crossed the line; don't let it happen again."
Hearing the busy signal on the phone, Gretchen could only put on her coat.
"Please hold for a moment," she went to the adjacent office, saying, "Nina, tonight's show will air as planned, and if I don't make it back, you'll have to hold the fort."
Leaving that office, Gretchen shot a glance at her assistant.
Anna lowered her head.
They headed downstairs and drove to the West Bureau.
While in the car, Gretchen asked, "Who exactly did you look for? How do you get things done?"
Anna replied with a sense of grievance, "You've met Daniel Richards; he's been providing us news for a long time and is reliable. I specifically warned him to avoid direct contact with Hawke Osment..."
Gretchen retorted, "Remember, this all came from your personal instructions."
Anna, being a competent assistant, nodded in agreement, "I'll stick to that."
Gretchen tried to keep her emotions in check, knowing that with Fox's backing, this wouldn't be too big a trouble.
As Anna turned out of the parking lot, she noticed a Cadillac approaching from the nearby entrance. The dapper driver was familiar to her; it was one of Hawke's assistants.
She pointed, "Hawke's here."
Gretchen turned her head to watch the Cadillac as it parked.
As soon as that Cadillac came to a stop, Hawke stepped out, briefcase in hand, and hurried toward Fox Plaza.
"Did he land another big scoop?" Gretchen asked.
Anna quickly glanced, "Looks like it."
Gretchen had a bad feeling, but given the circumstances at the West Bureau, she had no choice but to go.
*****
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