[Chapter 229: Find a Relative for Hawke]
In the office, Hawke took the flash drive Edward handed him and connected it to his laptop to review the photos and videos taken by Carlos and Juan the previous day. Most of the footage ca from outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel, featuring a middle-aged white man. Emma Batson personally opened the car door for this man, indicating his significance.
At that mont, Edward said, "Carlos and the others followed him discreetly for a day. This man left the Hilton and went to Universal Pictures, visiting the newly ford Focus Features. After that, he headed to Burbank to et with Disney and Warner Bros. He is currently staying at the Burbank Hotel."
"Clearly, he is an important figure," Hawke responded. "Have you figured out who he is?"
Edward shook his head. "Carlos and his crew couldn't reach the higher-ups. They didn't dare inquire at the hotel for fear of alarming him, so they still don't know."
...
Hawke needed to determine who the man was. He picked up the phone and directly called Pacific Investnt Group. When his future mother-in-law, Mary Ferguson, answered, he said, "I have a person here who might be connected to Emma Batson, the female interdiary I ntioned, who is possibly from San Francisco. Could you help confirm his identity?"
Regarding work matters, Mary Ferguson didn't offer any unnecessary comntary. She simply said, "Send the photos and videos."
Hawke edited the photos slightly and sent them to Mary via encrypted email on Twitter. It wasn't long before Mary called back, stating, "I know this person. His na is Douglas Coster, head of the BlackRock Investnt Group's San Francisco office. He's in Los Angeles, likely related to Twitter."
Hawke inquired, "Is there anything more specific?"
Mary thought for a mont and replied, "I'll gather more detailed information on him. I'll be at Twitter in an hour. We can discuss it in person."
...
After hanging up, Hawke noticed Edward grinning happily. This guy had been acting like he was on cloud nine for the last few days.
Curious, Hawke asked, "Did you et soone special? Tell about it."
Edward, sitting across from him, bead as he said, "I started dating Miller Collins' ex-wife."
Hawke recalled, "Maria Collins, right?"
"Exactly," Edward elaborated. "A few days ago, I saved her daughter, Dorothy, at Manhattan Beach. It was a formal introduction. She invited to dinner that night, and I invited her back yesterday. Everything's been going smoothly."
Hawke teased, "You saved soone? It isn't so cliche hero story, is it?"
Edward quickly denied it. "No, not at all! Though I was watching them, I didn't cause the incident."
His dark face wore a knowing smile. "Miller Collins was once our adversary. I thought if I could win over his ex-wife, it might bring so emotional value to you, boss."
Hawke couldn't help but chuckle. The guy might not be a hero, but his loyalty was undeniable.
Edward continued earnestly, "Sadly, while Miller Collins has beco a holess man, he's still very much alive. No dancing on his grave."
Hawke thought of Robert Downey Jr. and observed a mont of silence for him, then said to Edward, "Miller Collins has beco a holess man?"
"I heard it from Maria during dinner," Edward summarized. "She ntioned that Miller's assets were mostly awarded to herself, and he had to pay her and their daughter significant alimony every month. With no sufficient inco, he chose holessness instead."
He rembered the location. "Like Frank, Miller has an RV parked at the Ackerman Charity Foundation's back lot."
Hawke nodded slightly and casually ntioned, "Let's invite Eric and check it out together."
Director Eric Erson was Miller Collins's victim.
...
As the ti approached, Hawke went downstairs and waited a mont in the lobby before Mary Ferguson walked in with her assistant.
They went upstairs to the conference room to discuss. Mary handed the materials she had to Hawke, saying, "Douglas studied at Stanford Business School. After graduating, he was recomnded to join the Blackstone Group by forr Governor Gray Davis. Later, when BlackRock split from Blackstone, he left Blackstone to join BlackRock. He beca the president of the BlackRock Los Angeles office over six months ago, overseeing all of BlackRock's business dealings in California." 𝙧äƝ𝔬ʙЕṨ
Hawke's focus wasn't on the public records. He asked, "Have there been any incidents of casualties or criminal charges related to the acquisition deals he handled?"
"More than once," Mary replied, eager to convey her findings. "Last winter, BlackRock faced resistance from the founders of a company in Silicon Valley they were investing in, resulting in an imdiate IRS investigation, which led to BlackRock completing the investnt below market estimates."
She had evidently used her resources to investigate further. "BlackRock invested in a mining company in Wyoming, which is now under FBI investigation and has shut down."
At that, Hawke couldn't help but inquire, "Could it be related to the attack Erica and I encountered?"
Mary affird, "Yes, Douglas was responsible for BlackRock's dealings in Wyoming at that ti."
"An old acquaintance," Hawke recalled, rembering that group of gunn.
Mary then added, "There's been a developnt. Rember I ntioned the future developnt pathway designed by BlackRock and Vanguard International for the blue camp? It has been approved by the Donkey side."
She sounded especially serious. "While we don't know the specifics yet, this plan reportedly involves dia, entertainnt, and finance, aiming to ignite society's enthusiasm for marginalized communities and equality movents, linking them to financial investnts."
Hawke grasped the implication imdiately. "Douglas ca to Los Angeles and visited the heads of different production companies at Universal and Burbank. Their plan might leverage Hollywood to spotlight issues concerning marginalized groups and the black and won's rights movent via Hollywood films."
Mary added, "And the dia; they have always held a strong position there."
As she spoke, she beca increasingly aware of Twitter's importance. "Twitter holds substantial influence among young people. His goals on this trip also pertain to you and Twitter."
Hawke nodded, emphasizing, "This plan is formidable as it aligns with current social trends. Once the marginalized movent gains traction, it could flip the script on the downturn of the last few years and spark a new social wave."
Mary stated, "I'm planning to head to Woodland Hills."
Hawke understood the significance of Woodland Hills; it was the ho of Erica's grandparents. He escorted Mary downstairs and, upon returning, instructed Edward, "We're staying at the office for the next few days. Notify security chief Austin that the security level of the company is being raised to the highest."
Edward imdiately called Austin and then returned to the office, retrieving a handgun to carry with him.
...
At the Burbank Hotel, Tim drove a Cadillac, turning into the underground parking lot, taking the elevator straight to the top floor's business suite.
Two bodyguards stood at the elevator exit. Upon seeing Tim, one of the black n said, "Hold on, the boss is on the phone."
Tim patiently waited outside the door.
After about ten minutes, the suite door opened, and soone waved him in. Douglas pointed to the sofa opposite him. "Sit down, let's talk."
Once Tim settled, Douglas asked, "How are things looking on your end?"
"I moved in diagonally across from Hawke Osnt's villa, making it easy to monitor his comings and goings," Tim detailed the recent activities, emphasizing, "I found Miller Collins. He hasn't been ntally stable since his release; any slight provocation can turn him into a ticking ti bomb."
His hired help, Coulson, had been preparing for this. "The private detective we're working with has been posing as Miller Collins' fan during this ti, frequently assisting him and has earned his trust."
Douglas was sowhat pleased with Tim's groundwork. "Get ready to activate this pawn."
Tim, being his confidant, questioned, "Didn't the negotiation work out?"
Douglas slowly shook his head. "No reason to continue negotiations. I've made preparations on other fronts; soone will be coming from Wyoming soon."
Tim did not fully understand.
Many tasks still needed Tim's execution, so Douglas briefly explained, "During our previous dealings in Wyoming, we had so indirect communications with Hawke Osnt and Erica Ferguson. I've looked into Hawke Osnt's family and couldn't find anyone with a direct blood relation, but that can be manufactured."
They were experienced in such fabrications. "A distant relative of Hawke Osnt from Wyoming will arrive in Los Angeles soon, and several people will testify to his familial connection to Hawke Osnt."
Tim chuckled, "With that paired with legal proceedings, we can't lose."
Douglas stated flatly, "Even though the governor of California has changed, the blue team remains unchanged."
In the plan to acquire Twitter, BlackRock had already gained support from forr Speaker Willie Brown among others, and their people would be positioned from prosecutors to judges to inspectors.
Tim still had so doubts and spoke up, "Sir, there's sothing that must be taken seriously. I've learned that Hawke Osnt trains three tis a week, possesses strong combat skills, and has tead up with his girlfriend Erica Ferguson, taking down 21 ard criminals. While there were advantages to their location, they should not be underestimated."
With a company like BlackRock, their thods and personnel were much more extensive than what was openly displayed.
Douglas took a mont to consider. "Deploy a specialized team just in case."
Tim now felt more confident. "What ti are we initiating the plan?"
"Your work can get underway now," Douglas decided decisively, "Wait for the specialized team to arrive, look for an opportunity, and deliver a decisive blow."
He glanced at another assistant, "Prompt Wyoming to hurry along and ensure they bring evidence and witnesses."
The assistant swiftly made the call.
Tim didn't linger much longer, exchanged a few more words, and quietly left the Burbank Hotel.
*****
/Sayonara816.
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