Chương 131: Chapter 131: Old Dogs Still Have a Few Teeth
[Chapter 132: Old Dogs Still Have a Few Teeth]
West Los Angeles, West Division Station.
Sarah Jessica Parker, along with Caroline and two police officers, emerged from the precinct.
Over twenty journalists, who had been waiting, immediately rushed over to her.
One shouted, "Sarah, a photo of your pregnancy test appeared on Yahoo Entertainment. Are you really pregnant?"
Sarah stopped, placing a hand on her abdomen, forcing a smile as she said, "Yes, I'm pregnant and about to become a mother!"
Another reporter asked, "There are rumors that your visit to the precinct was related to domestic violence?"
"Yes," Sarah replied, touching the bruise on her face and rolling up her sleeve to reveal the bruises on her arm. "I suffered serious violence, and I had no choice but to seek help from the LAPD."
A journalist from Yahoo Entertainment interrupted, "But at the previous press conference..."
Sarah cut him off: "Because I'm pregnant and will soon be a mother, I can't let my child go through the same horrible treatment I did. I had to call the police!"
Looking down at her flat belly, she continued, "I must ensure my child grows up healthy; that's a responsibility I have as a mother."
Some reporters attempted to ask further questions, but Sarah gestured to the bruises on her arm. "Sorry, I need to go to the medical examiner's office."
She walked away, her steps somewhat unsteady.
Although the reporters continued to snap photos, they instinctively parted to let her through.
Once Sarah got into her car, the journalists sprinted towards their vehicles, some following Sarah while others rushed back to their newsrooms.
The reporters on various websites began brainstorming how to craft their headlines.
...
In a corner of the West Division Station lobby, Hawke spotted Milner returning with Broderick and slowly exited the precinct.
The plan had reached this stage, accomplishing the initial goal.
Sarah had betrayed Broderick by filing for divorce on charges of domestic violence, aiming to take most of his assets.
Whether Broderick would end up in jail later depended on how things unfolded.
Hawke would adjust his plan based on real-time developments.
He left the West Division Station and approached his car.
After a brief wait, Milner's phone call came through. Hawke asked a few questions and hung up.
He started the car and headed straight to Century City, quickly arriving at the Fox Television Center, going directly to the Ace News editorial team.
Hawke intended to leverage all available media resources.
Many experienced cases had shown that public opinion could indeed be lethal.
...
Upon arriving at Channel 11, he met with a new assistant named Aisha, who was waiting at the door.
She led Hawke directly into Megan's new office.
Megan waved her hand, and Aisha politely exited, closing the office door behind her.
Hawke glanced around the more spacious office and remarked, "The new office looks nice."
"I took it over in a rush, didn't have time to redecorate," Megan replied simply before asking, "Any news?"
Hawke pulled out a flash drive. "Sarah Jessica Parker was a victim of domestic abuse; here are the photos of her injuries."
Megan connected it to her computer, and the first thing that appeared was the sight of injuries.
"Exclusive news?" she inquired.
Hawke answered without hesitation, "The photos are exclusive; I got them from Sarah, but the news isn't. About half an hour ago, Sarah, accompanied by her lawyer, went to the West Division to file a report, and the LAPD has already summoned Broderick."
Megan opened her browser to search for related news and found several websites already reporting on the matter.
"Brutal! Broderick assaulted his pregnant wife, Sarah Jessica Parker."
"Sarah is pregnant and bravely stands up to domestic violence for her child."
"Brave mom-to-be, Sarah Jessica Parker, says no to domestic violence!"
Megan, being a media professional, quickly skimmed through the online articles and noticed the overwhelming support for Sarah Jessica Parker.
She looked at Hawke and asked, "There's been quite a lot of news about Sarah lately. Are you the mastermind behind it?"
Hawke replied, "I signed a nondisclosure agreement, so I can't go into specifics."
Megan understood and commented, "Normally, media tends to lean towards the underdog, and since Sarah is pregnant, Broderick's in trouble."
She recalled the previous suppressed news, noting, "With both being Jewish, there shouldn't be too much interference."
"You get the stance," Hawke noted, preparing to leave while reminding her, "Don't forget the price for the photos."
"It's no longer exclusive," Megan said, pragmatic about work. "I'll give you a maximum of $8,000."
Hawke replied, "Make it quick."
Megan called Aisha back in to handle the necessary paperwork.
Once Hawke signed the rights agreement and received the $8,000 check, Megan escorted him to the door, asking, "Got time tonight?"
Hawke explained, "I need to go out of town. I won't know how late it will be; let's reschedule."
Megan nodded, "Alright, next time."
...
Downstairs, Hawke called Brian, learning that Sarah had left the medical examiner's office and gone to the Beverly Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
When he arrived, Sarah had already completed her admission procedures.
Caroline was ready to head out and told Hawke, "I'm going to the FMF, and I'll let them know to gather forces."
Hawke called her back: "Unless something unexpected happens, Broderick will likely be bailed out tonight. Let them protest to grab media attention."
Having worked with Hawke for a long time, Caroline sensed more was at play: "What else?"
Hawke explained, "I'll have Savior find some people to blend in."
"Make him get in touch with me," Caroline said, and after a few whispered words from Hawke, she hurried away.
Hawke phoned Edward, asking him to come over.
Meanwhile, Brian approached, saying, "Sarah consulted me about sending Broderick to jail."
He shook his head: "The estranged couple is too terrifying."
Hawke glanced at the hospital room. "I'll go see her."
Brian added, "Sarah wants to file for divorce to quickly secure her assets; I need to deal with this mess."
Hawke stopped him: "Get the lawyer's letter and asset division demands over to Broderick's side as soon as possible."
"What are you up to?" Brian questioned, having witnessed Hawke's trouble-making capability firsthand. "What else are you planning?"
Hawke replied, "Isn't Sarah eager to send Broderick to jail? Let's lend her a hand." He shrugged, "Let's run a social experiment and see how far a man is pushed before he loses it."
"I'll send the lawyer's letter ASAP," Brian said, rushing off to handle the task.
...
Hawke entered the hospital room, while Sofia stepped outside to allow Hawke and Sarah to speak privately.
Sarah asked, "Did they summon that jerk Broderick?"
"I saw him being taken to the West Division," Hawke pondered for a moment. "Broderick has funds and backing from Ackerman Films. If it's quick, he'll likely be bailed out tonight."
Having publicly severed ties with Broderick, Sarah was solely focused on protecting her interests. "You have connections. Is there a chance I can get all the assets?"
"To accomplish that, we need to mobilize all our resources," Hawke pivoted to Stephen Parker: "Sarah, you mentioned before that your father had worked in media for years and had some influence in the Jewish community..."
Sarah responded, "He could have treated my mother and me well but chose to abandon us."
Hawke got straight to the point: "I suggest we enlist his help."
"He? Help?" Sarah shook her head, "He's a selfish man."
Hawke insisted, "Don't underestimate Broderick and the potential backing he has. This is war, and we must pull all resources to win."
Sarah replied, "But I don't want to see him or ask for his help."
"I'll go," Hawke offered.
Thinking about the upcoming battle for assets, she nodded, "Okay, he lives in Palm Springs."
...
After exiting, Hawke waited a moment.
Edward arrived, asking, "Boss, what do you need me to do?"
"Find a few women who haven't been involved before and mix them into the FMF protest tonight," Hawke instructed quietly. "You contact Caroline."
Edward grinned broadly, showing his bright white teeth: "That's easy."
...
At the West Division Station, in the questioning room.
Broderick found out that his wife, Sarah, personally came to report him for domestic violence and weapon-related assaults, providing a series of evidence from that night.
His attorney had arrived.
But when facing LAPD's inquiries, Broderick remained silent, feeling utterly defeated.
Sitting there, he had no desire to speak or act; his mind was consumed with one thought: the love of his life had betrayed him.
The pain of betrayal made Broderick furious, his muscles in his legs and arms tensed up, nearly causing him to fall off the chair.
He risked tarnishing his own reputation to help Sarah through her struggles, only to be met with betrayal in return!
Seeing Broderick's expression, the attorney assumed the domestic violence accusations were true.
The questioning yielded no results, and Milner and his partner took a breather outside the interrogation room.
The attorney pressed Broderick, "Not saying anything is equally detrimental. You need to deny--"
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter anymore," Broderick continuously shook his head. "Let Sarah do whatever she wants."
The attorney warned, "You used a weapon; that could land you in prison!"
"Just bail me out, first," Broderick simply replied before shutting his mouth, refusing to say another word, even ignoring his attorney.
The attorney was left speechless and could only call Barack Bernanke.
...
In the office of the chairman at Ackerman Films, Barack hung up and told Melissa Ackerman, the chairman of the studio, "Broderick's that wimp who won't even defend himself."
Melissa had just learned the situation: "I warned him; Sarah Jessica Parker is no ordinary woman."
Barack pointed out, "He fell into a trap."
"Are we sure it's definitely Sarah behind this?" Melissa, who didn't care much for the odd couple, was more worried about other issues. "Anything else going on?"
Barack spoke, "I specifically checked. Sarah filed the report herself; she's hired a highly capable studio in the industry to handle the crisis from her plastic surgery. That woman cannot be trusted; she has cheated multiple times and is quite scheming, even colluding with feminist groups. Broderick's in for a tough ride."
Hollywood couples falling out was a common occurrence; although the process could be quite dramatic, Melissa lost interest quickly. "Get Broderick bailed out soon, so he can deal with these issues. That woman should be tossed aside, and the marriage should end."
"Let's hope he learns from this experience." Barack left the chairman's office and told his assistant to coordinate Broderick's matters.
He didn't want to be involved in this soap opera between the wimp and his star wife -- otherwise, long-time friendships could shatter.
...
Hawke drove his Audi east, turning into Palm Springs.
Following Caroline's instructions, he parked in front of a standalone wooden house.
Through the wooden fence, Hawke saw an older man with a big nose sitting on a recliner soaking up the sun.
He grabbed his briefcase, got out of the car, and approached the door, waving, "Mr. Parker, I'm here on behalf of Ms. Sarah Jessica Parker."
Hearing his daughter's name, Stephen Parker immediately sat up, scrutinizing Hawke. "The door's not locked; come in."
Hawke pushed the door open and walked in.
"This way," Stephen beckoned him into the living room, and after seating Hawke, asked, "She actually reached out to me?"
Hawke took out an envelope and handed it to Stephen. "Sarah is facing an unprecedented dilemma; as her father, she can only turn to you for help."
As Stephen opened the envelope, he saw photos of his daughter covered in bruises.
Hawke stated directly, "Broderick did this. Sarah has reported it, but Broderick, like you and Sarah, is also Jewish; he has some support in the media and entertainment world, and he might be bailed out tonight."
He added, "Sarah is pregnant and is facing such abuse; she seeks justice."
Stephen trembled as he looked at the photos, his face and neck visibly reddening.
Concerned he might suddenly have a heart attack, Hawke quickly reassured him, "Stephen, Sarah still needs you to protect her!"
Stephen put down the photos, sat on the sofa, opened the nearby drawer, took out a pill bottle, and swallowed two pills.
Hawke picked up a water cup from the low table and handed it to him.
After taking a sip, Stephen said, "Thank you." He then asked, "What does Sarah plan to do?"
Hawke responded, "Divorce, aim to get as much of what she deserves, ruin the bastard who hurt her, and preferably send him to jail."
"Even though I'm old," Stephen's anger nearly burst forth, "Old dogs still have a few teeth!"
Hawke had achieved his objective and prepared to take his leave. "Sarah is currently at Beverly Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; she would appreciate a visit from you."
He shifted his tone: "I had a rough relationship with my father, and it wasn't until he passed away that I understood his good intentions. Stephen, this is a great opportunity to mend your relationship with Sarah."
"Thank you," Stephen nodded. "I'll take care of a few things before visiting the hospital."
...
Hawke left, and as Stephen walked him to the door, he began searching online for news about Sarah.
As a father, he grew increasingly furious.
He took out an old cell phone and called his old friends. "David, it's me, my daughter Sarah, the one you've met before, yes -- that's her. She's being abused by her husband and is preparing for divorce. As for the news... you don't have to slant it; just report the truth about Sarah's abuse."
He made another call, raising his voice: "Broderick is Jewish -- my daughter Sarah Parker isn't? All I'm asking is for fair reporting!"
Having worked in the media for years, even though retired, his reputation still held some sway.
The most significant point was that the drama between a Jewish couple didn't need extra interference; let them sort it out.
...
Leaving Palm Springs, Hawke returned to Los Angeles, calling Campos along the way.
They met in a parking lot on the east side of Los Angeles.
Campos got into Hawke's car and asked, "Boss, what's our next move?"
Hawke replied, "Broderick will be bailed out tonight. Keep an eye on him with your people 24/7, and notify me as soon as he steps out."
Campos agreed and gathered his team to head near the West Division Station.
Hawke then called Caroline, who discussed with leaders of several feminist organizations, including the FMF and the Guerrilla Girls.
They planned to leverage the situation to push Sarah into the limelight, igniting a new wave of feminism.
...
In West Los Angeles, at the West Division Station, the night had completely fallen, and numerous journalists filled the front road.
Over thirty women appeared gradually.
They held banners and raised posters with slogans against domestic violence and demanding strict penalties for offenders.
Among them were two mixed-race women wearing hoodies, each holding a bag.
The older one quietly asked, "Did you remember what he looks like?"
The other said, "I remember. Don't worry; I have a knack for throwing things; I can hit the bucket from across the street."
The two donned their hoods and advanced forward, quickly making their way to the front.
...
A car parked in the distance; Caroline looked towards Michelle and asked, "Is everything alright here? Will the LAPD interfere?"
"Don't worry," Michelle replied seriously. "As long as we're not targeting the LAPD, they won't bother us. This is about a female star who has suffered severe domestic violence bravely seeking fairness and justice."
She turned to Caroline, "Never underestimate the power of women. We are the main consumers in society; when we unite, public opinion will shift in our favor."
Caroline looked at the Chanel outfit she wore and the Hermes bag she carried, realizing that among her acquaintances, women's consumer spending was multiples that of men.
"Sarah bravely stood up; she wants to be a hero of the anti-domestic violence movement."
Michelle smiled brightly: "We need someone like her as a role model. Have the exclusive interview details been sorted out for tonight?"
Caroline confirmed, "It's all set."
...
Suddenly, chaos erupted as Broderick emerged after being bailed out.
Media reporters surged towards him, cameras flashing.
The protesting women, all with fierce expressions, shouted.
"Murderer!"
"Broderick, aren't you ashamed?"
"You should commit suicide to atone!"
Amid the curses, the older mixed-race woman pulled out a few rotten eggs and threw them.
With a splat, one hit Broderick squarely on the face, the disgusting smell causing the lawyer to distance himself.
The other mixed-race woman took it a step further, unearthing what was concealed in her bag and tossing it at Broderick's head.
A large pile of fresh human waste splattered all over him.
Broderick was left covered in excrement from head to toe, his hair, face, nose, and mouth completely sullied.
Journalists went wild, photographing the spectacle.
The two women quickly made their escape.
Seeing their bravery, the other women opened up the way and provided cover while continuing to hurl accusations at Broderick.
"Murderer, go eat shit!"
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
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