The Wolf of Los Angeles.

Chapter 45: Death and Reputation
After the video was over, Edmund, Susie and Julian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The first two were from the Parker Center, the headquarters, and Susie was in charge of media liaison work. She was well aware that the incident could cause a huge public opinion storm.

The media has been keeping an eye on the LAPD.

But these two videos are enough to make the storm disappear and nail Robert Downey Jr.!

In addition, she found that the shooting angle was very clever, not only recording the entire process of the shooting, but also focusing on Robert Downey Jr.

After watching the video, one immediately feels that Robert Downey Jr. deserves what he got.

The same thing, shot by different cameramen from different angles, can give viewers completely different feelings.

Susie leaned close to Edmund's ear and whispered something softly.

Edmund's attitude changed significantly. He smiled at Hawke and said, "Can we make a copy of the video?"

Susie immediately pulled out a mobile storage disk from her bag.

"I'll make a copy for you." Hawke took it.

After the video was copied, Edmund still had some doubts, so he asked directly, "Have you been filming Donnie?"

"I've been following him for a few days." Hawke clicked on the notebook folder and opened the photos and videos one by one: "This is him going to Tracy's gym a few days ago, this is him going to the Wing Chun gym on Victory Street, and this is him going to the Viper Bar..."

Edmund asked again: "Why do you want to follow him?"

"These are my jobs." Hawke found a recent copy of The Inquirer and placed it on the low table, pointing to the front-page headline: "I took this photo, but please keep it secret. I'm worried about getting in trouble."

He added: "By the way, as for today's video, please do not disclose the source to the public."

Susie replied: "We are LAPD. We understand the press law and will never reveal the source of the video."

Hawke is basically sure of the LAPD's position, so he stands on the same side: "I just came to Los Angeles, less than a month ago, and I feel like a headless fly most of the time. I finally caught a headline, and I thought I would get more news if I dug deeper. I have read reports about Downey in recent years. It is as difficult for a person like him to prevent scandals from breaking out as it is to prevent people from eating and drinking. I always feel that a drug addict like him will completely ruin himself."

Thinking of Donnie's bad deeds over the years, Edmund nodded slowly and suddenly stared into Hawke's eyes: "Did you call the police?"

"Call the police? I haven't called the police." Hawke was surprised.

Edmund has been a police officer for more than ten years and feels that the person on the other side is not lying.

Hawke was confident because he really didn't call the police.

Edmund nodded and asked, "Donnie is not the only one in the car, right?"

Hawke said: "Yes, Donny also had a driver, but he never got out of the car and I didn't take any pictures."

He spread his hands and said, "Even if he gets off the car, I won't take a picture. The driver is not newsworthy. I won't waste even a second on him."

Edmund recognized this.

Seeing that he stopped asking questions, Susie quickly asked the key question: "Did you give the video to Fox?"

Hawke said: "I have given exclusive authorization to the Channel 11 Midnight Entertainment program team and have signed an agreement."

He knew why the other party asked these questions: "During the licensing negotiations, I made a solemn statement to the program team regarding the angle and position of the report, requiring them to report from the perspective of facts. The program team promised this and wrote it in the licensing agreement."

Susie asked tentatively, "Can I see the agreement?"

Hawke found out: "Please don't take pictures."

Susie quickly looked at it and it was true: "Thank you."

Hawke's presence made LAPD's work much simpler, and the originally complicated situation suddenly became clear.

Edmund said goodbye. Before leaving, Susie gave Hawke a business card and asked for his contact information: "If you need anything later..."

Hawke smiled and said, "You can call me anytime."

The three LAPD officers got out and into the car, and Susie asked, "Inspector, what's this?"

Edmund said softly, "The higher-ups have made it clear that Donny attacked the police with a gun, and he deserves his punishment."

In the past few years, Downey was messed with three times in a row. The fourth time, he was completely discredited.

Susie nodded, took off her hat, revealing her brown hair tied into a bun, and said, "Take me to Fox Center."

Julian immediately drove to Century City.

Susie looked for contact information and found the "Midnight Entertainment" program team, and soon got in touch with Megan Taylor. The two met at the Fox Television Center and hit it off.

The tone and stance of "Midnight Entertainment"'s reports are completely opposed to Downey's, and they will even dig up some negative information about him.

Susie will act as a liaison between the two sides, providing the program team with first-hand information about Downey's previous three arrests, and will also ask the LAPD to cooperate with the crew and accept condolences from the program team and Los Angeles women's organizations to the female patrol officer.

Both sides have common interests.

…………

On the other side, just as Hawke sent the LAPD away, someone knocked on the door again, so he went to open it.

Frank came in uninvited, looked around, and was quite surprised: "You weren't taken away?"

Hawke closed the door and said, "LAPD is here for help, not trouble. I'm sorry to disappoint you for not seeing the good show."

Frank was not polite at all. He opened the refrigerator and took out two cans of beer, throwing one to Hawke: "I know your business very well. For the so-called freedom of the press, you dare to do anything. Quite a few of you have been sent to prison."

Hawke opened his beer, took a sip, sat on the sofa, and said, "On the contrary, I know best how to abide by the law, so the LAPD asked me for help, and I helped them."

Frank, who was sitting on the other side, said in a very experienced manner: "You did the right thing. Don't mess with them casually. In a sense, if you mess with one LAPD, you mess with the entire LAPD."

He reminded: "In Los Angeles, the LAPD is the biggest gang. Even the FBI has to give face to the LAPD. What you are doing now is likely to attract the LAPD."

Hawke listened and said, "I'm just a nobody now, trying to make a living in Los Angeles, so of course I won't mess with them."

He was curious: "You claim to be a big shot in Hollywood. Let me ask you, why was Robert Downey Jr. arrested three times by the LAPD a few years ago?"

Frank said casually, "It's simple. Donny offended one of the LAPD's financial sponsors. Why would they go after him when there are so many people taking drugs in Hollywood? It could be some dirty stuff in their pants. So, man, don't mess with the big guys. The so-called Hollywood stars are just toys for the big guys."

Hawke understands this: "I'm not stupid."

Frank is very artistic: "I am lonely. I finally met a new friend. I don't want to attend his funeral or visit him in prison one day."

Hawke gave this show-off the middle finger.

After finishing a can of beer, Frank stood up and said goodbye: "Let's go, let's go back to sleep. Maybe I can meet my celebrity ex-wife in my dreams."

Hawke had had enough of this pretentious bastard and imitated Edward's tone: "This dream must be about your ex-wife and the little male model she kept, loving each other under your wedding photos."

Frank was so angry that he couldn't sleep well for half the night.

It was almost 11 o'clock in the evening when Hawke turned on the TV and switched to Channel 11. The "Midnight Entertainment" program was on on time.

Tonight, the program only had one content: Robert Downey Jr. was suspected of drug possession, drug transportation and drug trafficking, and was suspected of attacking a police officer with a gun and was shot dead in the street.

The two videos shot by Hawke were played, which directly put the final nail in the coffin of public opinion.

The media that had previously expressed sympathy or questioned the LAPD quickly changed their tone, and the mainstream media unanimously denounced Downey.

By the next day, countless negative stories about Downey were exposed, and old Downey was no exception.

A Los Angeles women's group came forward, saying Downey deliberately attacked women and repeatedly claimed he wanted to kill "her."

Some women were even mobilized to sit in protest in front of old Donny's house.

Even some people in the Hollywood circle took advantage of the popularity and exposed various news that were unfavorable to Downey Jr.

Public opinion is completely manipulated.

The dead star was nailed to the pillar of shame.

When people are alive, there are all kinds of public relations possibilities, as well as the script of the prodigal son returning home.

But the man died in such a miserable way, and everything ended there.

Even if old Donny jumps up and down, he can't cause much trouble.

He was even targeted by the LAPD. It was too easy for an old drug addict like him to be caught in a weak spot.

Donny is dead and infamous!

Taking this as an opportunity, "Midnight Entertainment" made several consecutive programs about Downey.

Not only did they expose all the secrets of Robert Downey Jr., they also launched a publicity campaign in conjunction with the LAPD, and the female patrol officer became a celebrity police officer as well.

(End of this chapter)