[Chapter 188: Full Counterattack]
December 28, 2024
After the eting concluded, everyone else began to busy themselves.
Hawke called Brian back to the office, saying, "You've been working yourself to the bone downstairs; you should ask for so resource support from higher-ups."
Brian inquired, "What kind of resources?"
Hawke replied directly, "The party must have so madams or agents available; find a suitable person for a sting operation with the LAPD. Get them to produce a ledger or client list, and let them accuse Owen Nester of soliciting prostitution and abusing won."
Spreading rumors and slandering wasn't just sothing Grant and the others could do; Hawke was equally skilled. "You aren't married yet, but Owen has a wife and kids, which makes it hit harder for him."
Brian said, "Using their tactics against them? Good idea. I'll get in touch right away."
Hawke asked, "Can you find soone suitable?"
"As long as there's money, people are not a problem," Brian affird, not forgetting to point out, "Our dia influence isn't as strong as the blue party's, so we'll need you."
Hawke thought for a mont and said, "On Fox Television, we won't have a problem getting on Ace News. Twitter has a new algorithm to push news to the right audience."
Brian understood, "The users around Covina."
Hawke said, "Alright, go do it quickly."
Brian left the office building on his tasks.
Like last ti, Hawke surveyed the overall situation and coordinated commands.
With Grant's team suffering a heavy blow, there would be a brief window of opportunity against Owen Nester, and he planned to take full advantage of it.
Hawke thought of Hailey Field's thods used against him; if he could find the right opportunity, he could similarly use it against Owen.
Grant's team had previously employed violent tactics against him, so now he and Brian planned to retaliate even more ferociously.
What happened next was hard to predict.
Hawke opened the suitcase Edward had brought and took out the firearms that had been prepared in advance, placing them in the office cupboard.
...
The highway from Los Angeles to Covina.
Campos got into his car, driving slowly forward under police direction.
As he passed by the accident site, he turned to glance at the person lying on a stretcher, already covered with a body bag.
On the wreckage of a Toyota Alphard lying off the road, a rescue team was using tools to remove the door to assist the individuals trapped inside.
Nearby, dical personnel rushed to the vehicle and retrieved a body bag.
Clearly, there were more casualties than just that woman.
As traffic moved ahead, Campos increased his speed and drove further away.
...
On the roadside near the accident scene, LAPD's Sheriff Mombart was coordinating his team's investigation.
Soone approached to report, "Sheriff, we couldn't find the driver of the Western Star truck. The license plate is fake, and both the chassis and engine numbers are all bogus. This vehicle isn't from California; I've had people check it thoroughly, and we can't find its origin for now." Ř𝔞𐌽ΟＢЁṧ
"I understand," Mombart replied. "Did you find any traces in the vehicle?"
The person shook his head, "No fingerprints, no usable shoe prints, no biological samples; we have nothing to work with."
Mombart had dealt with similar cases before and knew right away that the situation was going to be complicated.
He quickly decided to follow the necessary procedures and then put the case on hold; anyone who wanted to investigate could continue as they wished.
Another officer brought over the deceased's phone, on which there was a number called today.
Mombart put on gloves, took the phone, and dialed the number.
It rang a few tis before soone picked up.
A man's voice responded, "Grant, are you on your way?"
"I'm Sheriff Jerry Mombart with the LAPD. The owner of this phone was involved in a serious car accident..." Mombart briefly explained the situation and asked, "May I ask who I'm speaking with?"
The man replied, "I'm Owen Nester, the mayor of Covina."
Mombart said, "If possible, please notify the owner's family."
...
Covina, City Hall.
In his office, Owen hung up the phone, at a loss for words.
His brother Fowler leaned in, asking, "What's going on? Are they not coming?"
Owen replied, "Grant, along with three others, was in a vehicle that crashed; it's severe enough that they won't be able to make it."
Fowler frowned, "How could there be an accident?"
Owen looked towards Brian's campaign office, "Is it really that coincidental? Or do these big wealthy families not follow any rules?"
Sitting in a single sofa was a middle-aged man nad Arnold, wearing black-rimd glasses, who reminded him, "We need to notify Sacranto imdiately and have them send soone to handle the follow-up."
Owen replied, "I'll make the call."
He turned to his brother Fowler and said, "Mobilize the old friends and get everyone on guard."
Fowler was just about to leave when Owen called him back, "Starting tomorrow, you'll be picking up Pratt from school; keep him low-key at school. He has just over a year before college, and I'm already trying to arrange a recomndation letter."
Fowler nodded and hurried out of the office.
Owen took a mont to adjust his emotions before picking up the phone to call Sacranto.
...
Los Angeles, South Park.
A Cadillac pulled into the parking lot, Edward got out and walked into the park, arriving at the agreed-upon artificial lake.
There, at a stone table diagonally across, soone waved at him, "Savior, over here."
Edward quickly walked over and embraced a fellow who was almost of the sa age, saying, "Michael, you finally decided to leave Compton."
"My mother passed away," Michael stroked his bald head. "There's no longer anything keeping in Compton."
Edward said, "I'm sorry..."
Michael shook his head, "It's alright." He changed the topic, "A few days ago, I t DaShawn; he ntioned you've been doing pretty well."
Edward laughed, "Mostly just got lucky; I'm involved in a company and got a bit of equity."
Michael took a step back, appraising him, "Man, are you about to beco rich? You better pull up with you."
Edward responded, "Not rich, but I do have a job that could help you out of your current predicant."
"What job?" In Compton, Edward had helped Michael before, so he trusted him, "I can't handle anything too complex."
"It's straightforward; you'll be suing soone, and I'll help you get set up with lawyers," Edward explained the special job briefly.
Michael hesitated, "Ride a motorcycle and crash into a citrus sculpture? Then sue the builders of the statue?"
He asked, "Savior, you're not joining a gang, are you?"
Edward said, "I'm doing legitimate work. This is part of an election campaign, proper work!"
Michael seed a little skeptical.
Edward added, "You'll also be given a motorcycle and $10,000 cash, and any expenses incurred will be on ; whatever compensation you get will be all yours."
He patted Michael's shoulder, "Compton is poor and dark; the outside world is equally harsh, especially for us black folks. When we can't find decent work, we can only join gangs or end up holess. You don't have a distinct look; unlike the DaShawn and his crew, you can't rely on natural talent to make a living..."
Michael nodded, "I trust you, because you're my brother."
"You're a smart guy." Edward cautioned, "This requires not just smarts but a good plan. You must rember everything I'm about to tell you."
Michael felt confident, "We're the ones who broke free from Compton!"
...
Covina, Center Street.
As night fell, Sandra hurried back after investigating Owen's son.
She imdiately went to see Hawke in the office, saying, "I quietly talked to so people outside of East Covina."
Hawke nodded, "Tell the details."
Sandra stated, "Since eighth grade, Owen's son, Pratt Nester, has been selected for the East Covina High School football team. He originally played wide receiver but later switched to quarterback. East Covina has historically been a weak team; Pratt isn't particularly good at football but is like many white quarterbacks in film and TV -- good at bullying."
Hawke interjected, "Art imitates life."
"Pratt was physically strong as a kid and often bullied classmates in elentary school, and he carried that habit into middle school." Sandra recalled her own experience of being bullied by cheerleaders: "Bullying is way too common in Arica, to the extent that it's beco part of school culture."
She complained about it briefly before quickly getting back to the point: "When he moved to middle school, Pratt was rejected by two private schools due to bullying and ended up choosing local East Covina High, but he didn't change his ways. Owen was called to the school more than once, but being the mayor, both the school and the principal offered him dignity, and many matters were swept under the rug."
Hawke asked, "Did this encourage Pratt's arrogance?"
"Absolutely; it made him more reckless." Sandra reflected for a mont before continuing, "Plus, he's sowhat clever; he never bullies white classmates who are well-off. His targets are mostly minority students, primarily xican-Aricans."
Covina, being part of Los Angeles, shared similar demographics, with a significant number of xican-Aricans.
Hawke confird, "Can this be verified?"
"Yes!" Sandra, after so on-site investigation, said, "Just a few days ago, Pratt even gathered his buddies to attack a xican-Arican classmate."
Hawke was aware of this incident; it was ntioned in the materials Campos had provided him with, and he praised, "You did very well; this information is quite useful."
Sandra smiled lightly, "It was my duty."
At this mont, the office door opened from the outside, and Brian returned.
Sandra greeted him and excused herself as she left.
Hawke asked, "How did it go on your end?"
"We made great contributions last ti. If they don't reward us, who will work hard in the future?" Brian said, "It's done. We'll start when you say we will."
Hawke inford him, "Edward has found soone; we'll start with him."
*****
/Sayonara816.
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