The Wolf of Los Angeles.

Chapter 44: Getting people, things, and money
Fox Tower, Fox Television Center.

As soon as Hawke entered the reception room, he found Megan, a tall female producer and anchor with blonde hair tied into a ponytail, waiting there.

Megan smiled and asked, "Did you bring the video?"

Hawke didn't waste any words and put his notebook on the table.

Claire took the adapter and plugged it in.

Hawke turned on the camera and clicked on the shooting video.

Megan crossed her arms over her chest, and there were two visible bulges on the sides of her clothes.

As the video plays, the rear of a Cadillac appears in front of the camera, and the picture follows the Cadillac.

The car stopped and the picture was still of the rear of the Cadillac until the sirens sounded, the camera moved up, and two LAPD officers appeared behind the car.

Robert Downey Jr. got out of the car, pulled out a handgun, and pointed it at the female patrol officer, who fired faster and emptied the magazine.

The camera moved, and a close-up of Donny appeared on the screen, with a gunshot chest, a bloody cheek, and blood flowing from under his body.

Seeing this, Megan's breathing became rapid, and she fell into inexplicable excitement, with every brain cell jumping.

The explosive news made her unable to restrain herself and grasp the breaking point of public concern: "This news can be linked with other violent law enforcement by the LAPD to set off a wave of..."

Hawke sensed the crisis: "If you report in this way, I will take the news away."

Megan stopped him: "Anything else?"

Hawke clicked on another video: "Watch this first, then decide your position on the report."

The video of Donny's transaction with the trafficker in the parking lot was played.

Megan immediately overturned her previous thoughts and changed her tone: "Robert Downey Jr. was involved in the deal, hiding a large amount of drugs, and attacked the police with a gun after taking an overdose."

Hawke let loose: "Let Downey be disgraced and spurned by the mainstream media."

Megan thought more: "Linking Donny's previous drug-related case to other drug-related cases in Hollywood that have been exposed, it can be inferred that drugs and drugs are rampant in Hollywood, and the negative social impact caused by celebrity idols."

Hawke was murderous and heart-wrenching: "There is also the drug history of Downey and his son, digging deep into why Downey Jr. got addicted to drugs and the bad things he did after getting addicted."

Megan took note of it. This piece of news was extremely valuable, so she directly offered a price: "Fifty thousand dollars, two videos, and one piece of news."

Hawke checked the prices before coming: "Two months ago, a video of the LAPD shooting a black man was sold on Channel 9 for $8000. The victim was an unknown civilian, and it was a relatively low-profile social news."

He took a picture of the vertical border of the notebook: "Now, the deceased was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar and was also a British Academy Award winner. In the process of transporting and even trafficking drugs, he armed himself against the LAPD inspection and almost killed a female police officer. His value is more than ten times!"

Hawke specifically emphasized: "A female police officer!"

Megan had an active mind and immediately followed Hawke's train of thought: "Yes, the gender of female police officers can be used as an issue."

The characteristics of a media person are clearly evident in her. She wanted to expose the policewoman's violent law enforcement before, but now she has made a 180-degree turn: "Women are brave and fearless. What men can do, women can do too. Contact the Los Angeles Women's Organization and encourage them to visit the heroic female patrol officer and film the whole process. This is a good opportunity to promote the development of women's rights."

Having said that, the news video must be taken down.

Megan is decisive and has a broad vision. She directly offered the highest price: "$10, this is the highest number I can offer. If it exceeds this, I can only say sorry."

"Okay, $10, but the reporting stance you mentioned needs to be written in the transfer agreement." Hawke agreed immediately: "Attached is a suggestion."

He said quickly, "With Donny's personality, he must have offended a lot of people in Hollywood over the years. Why don't you invite some people to join in and beat up the downtrodden. Many people like this and it's also very interesting."

"Further dig up Donny's dirt and nail him to the pillar of shame completely?" Megan lowered her hands from her chest, put her left hand into her women's trouser pocket, and looked at Hawke seriously for the first time.

Apart from being strong, he looks ordinary in other aspects.

Megan then extended her right hand: "Megan Taylor."

Hawke shook her hand again: "Hawk Osment."

Megan picked up a pen, tore off a piece of notepaper, wrote a string of numbers on it, and handed it to Hawke: "This is my mobile phone number. If you have any news, you can call me, provided it is heavyweight news."

Hawke took it and said, "I will."

Megan then instructed Claire: "Apply for a special correspondent pass for Channel 11 for Hawke in my name. Go now."

Claire goes to make a phone call.

Hawke said politely, "Thank you."

Megan was very curious about why Hawke was able to take these news photos, but she didn't ask a single question. She just wanted the explosive news and didn't care where the news came from.

An assistant came over to copy the video, and Hawke did it himself. He was not confident handing the notebook to these people.

The bottom line of Fox's affiliated media is lower than a mine. Ten minutes later, after a series of procedures, Hawke received a check for $10 and a special correspondent certificate for Channel 11.

Megan has already started a program production meeting in the office.

After the two videos were played, she made a direct statement: "The tone of the video was too obvious. The program is based on this tone. Everyone should immediately mobilize all resources to dig up dirt on Robert Downey Jr. He cannot leave this world without a sound or a trace. I need Downey's death to contribute to the ratings of the program!"

Megan arranged her work in an orderly manner according to her previous ideas.

On the other side, Hawke left the Fox Building and drove towards the studio.

Just as I was thinking about the LAPD, my cell phone started ringing.

Hawke answered the call and heard a familiar voice on the other end: "Hello, Mr. Osmond, I'm Officer Julian from the West Los Angeles Police Station. We met this afternoon and you left me your business card."

Hawke was prepared and said, "Yes, we met on Santa Monica Boulevard this afternoon."

Julian said, "We have something to consult you about this afternoon's case."

Hawke said tentatively: "You can come to my studio, the address is 13 Fountain Street in East Hollywood."

Julian hesitated for a moment, but quickly said, "Let's go over there now."

Hawke felt that the risk factor was low: "I will put off the later work and wait for you to come over."

After carrying his equipment bag and locking the car, Hawke entered the studio.

He tidied up the room briefly, found the Glock pistol, and hid it where he could easily reach it.

Cash and other items are also put into one bag.

Hawke waited for a while, and then there was a knock on the door.

He looked at the surveillance camera first and saw that there were only three people outside.

The one in the front was wearing a patrolman uniform, the man Hawke had met in the afternoon, Julian, who was on the phone.

The two people behind, the older man was a police inspector, and the female officer following him was a sergeant.

Across Fountain Street, Frank, sitting on the roof of his RV, looked at West Coast Studios curiously.

Three LAPD officers coming to your door is not a good thing.

Frank took a sip of beer and frowned, saying, "Just opened, and now you're closing? Young people are too wild."

In the studio, Hawke gave up his seat and Julian introduced the two sides. The inspector was called Edmund and the sergeant was called Susie.

Edmund asked, "I heard you are a journalist."

"Yes." Hawke took out the press card he had just obtained and placed it in front of him.

Edmund saw Fox Channel 11 and asked, "Did you take the initiative to leave Officer Julian's contact information?"

Hawke was prepared: "Yes, I am a journalist and I am very sensitive to public opinion. The person who died was a celebrity. Julian and another police officer may face public criticism. I watched the whole process and I don't think they did anything wrong. My professional ethics and sense of justice will not allow me to sit back and watch the situation deteriorate."

Susie replied, "That's what we're worried about, so we came to you."

Edmund asked, "Can we watch the video?"

Hawke turned the notebook around and showed them the video they had taken.

The attitudes of the three people show the position of LAPD.

This is consistent with what Hawke expected.

Edmund looked at it carefully and found that the most troublesome thing about this matter was that Donny was a celebrity. If he was an ordinary person, even if the media hyped it up for a while, they would not be able to do anything to the LAPD.

At most, the female patrol officer will be suspended for a period of time.

Now, old Downey is jumping up and down with some people and causing trouble for the LAPD.

On the contrary, Donny's wife Deborah doesn't care.

These people were not donors to the LAPD, and there was even deep resentment between the two sides. The LAPD arrested Downey three times, causing him to spend nearly three years in prison.

The fourth time, Donny was called by God.

The attitude of the headquarters Parker Center is very clear, so they have to find solid evidence to nail Downey and thoroughly characterize the case.

(End of this chapter)