The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 187: Who's Worse?]

The highway scene had become a congested mess, with Campos in his car caught up in it. Like many others caught in traffic, he stepped out to avoid danger and watched the situation unfold.

The woman who had been flung from the vehicle had a pool of blood and brain matter beneath her head.

Campos didn't need to look further to know that she was beyond saving.

He remembered Edward had mentioned how she had once tried to frame their boss. "She had it coming!" Campos felt no sympathy for such a scumbag.

As the jam worsened, more people exited their cars, seeking refuge on the roadside to watch the spectacle.

Some bolder souls ventured near the mangled vehicle to look at the damage.

Others, with camera-equipped phones, eagerly snapped pictures.

Blending into the crowd, Campos took out his phone and captured a few shots of the woman and the wreckage, finding it hard to ignore the severe condition of the three people inside the car. Whether they lived or not depended on whether fate smiled upon them.

Finding a quieter spot, Campos called Hawke's number.

...

In Covina, in the office on the second floor, Hawke's backup phone rang -- Campos's call. He walked to the window, pressed the answer button.

"Hey, I just witnessed a horrific accident; a West Star truck slammed into a Toyota Alphard. A woman was thrown from the Alphard and fell onto the road; her brain matter was spilling out. The Alphard got knocked clean off the highway, crumpled like a metal pancake. The three inside are probably... may God bless them," Campos reported as if gossiping with a friend.

Hawke understood, replying, "Such a terrible accident, may God bless them."

Campos continued, "A patrol car is on its way; I think I'll go check it out."

"Sounds good," Hawke said, wrapping up the call.

Brian immediately asked, "What's going on?"

Hawke replied, "Operation successful. The vehicle is severely damaged; one fatality and three injuries. The injured's condition isn't looking too good."

Hearing this, Brian smiled. "Excellent! Excellent!"

He approached Hawke for a fist bump. "Brother, with the two of us combined, who can deter us?"

Hawke had broader considerations: "Grant's team took a hit, and Owen Nester's power has been undermined. We must seize this moment to turn the tide."

Brian nodded firmly, acknowledging, "Although Owen has some tricks up his sleeve, when it comes down to it, he can't match us."

"Let's head to the meeting," Hawke said, exiting the office and entering the conference room.

Brian trailed closely behind.

...

Beacon, Sandra, and Edward were already waiting within the conference room.

Hawke confidently took the seat at the head of the table and directly asked, "What's the current situation?"

Beacon opened his notebook and explained, "Owen Nester has served two consecutive terms as mayor, with his support base being the orange growers and associated businesses. However, his reputation isn't that great; most of the promises made during his second term remain unfulfilled."

Hawke wasn't surprised; a politician who cannot paint a rostrum in the sky is not a qualified politician. 

How many of those big promises laid out during campaigns ever materialized?

Beacon continued, "Besides Center Street, all other branching roads here are in disrepair, with streetlights and infrastructure severely damaged. Owen promised to improve them but took no action."

He checked his notes again. "Then there's the broadband issue. Covina is close to Los Angeles, and the eastern housing market is relatively cheap, attracting many young professionals. But Covina's broadband remains primarily dial-up. Owen's promises of fiber optics remain only campaign slogans."

Hawke looked at Brian, "Have you all done any work on this?"

"Of course," Brian detailed, "I'm not just making empty promises. Last month, I brought in a road management company to assess the condition and got AT&T's LA division to promote fiber optics. Owen's support base consists of the older established powers in Covina. I find it tough to win them over. However, the recent influx of blue-collar workers and new residents will be my focus."

He elaborated, "These people are eager to improve their living and cultural conditions in Covina; the old guard and the so-called freedom of the Democrats are not set in stone. Given how long the Democrats have dominated the city, they've come to symbolize the establishment."

Hawke certainly understood this -- the notions of conservatism and freedom were also time and place dependent.

Beacon added, "Initially, we had decent support through our early operations, allowing us to catch up to Owen's momentum. But throughout this past week, Brian's negative news took a toll, particularly the AIDS rumors, affecting us significantly. Now, we're at a distinct disadvantage."

Brian turned to Hawke, "With the biggest obstacle gone and you here, we need you to turn the public opinion around."

Hawke pondered for a moment before responding, "As for the media, you've already clarified the rumors, and the impact has been fairly average, so keep pushing hard in Covina."

Brian noted, "My fear of AIDS originated from you, and once the rumors spread, clearing them is exceedingly difficult."

Hawke had a plan. "Pursue a Hollywood actress known for being squeaky clean to become your friend, publicly express love and cohabitation, and then have her agree to an interview."

Beacon chimed in, "That's a solid plan."

Edward, eager, pulled out his notepad. "I can recommend someone, Sarah Parker."

That actress had recently suffered a miscarriage after a fall in March, not fitting the savior image; she became a non-viable option.

Brian shot Edward a middle finger, exclaiming, "I think Jennifer Aniston would be great. She just got divorced, has a good reputation in the industry, and substantial influence."

Hawke commented, "When it comes to Hollywood starlets, you know better than I do."

Brian nodded and listed a few candidates in his mind, including Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Connelly, and Cameron Diaz.

He whispered a few instructions to Sandra to gather details on these actresses.

Hawke continued, "As for public perception, currently, Brian is at a disadvantage in Covina due to the AIDS rumors. Even if we implement the above measures successfully, it'll take time to alter the negative impression that's been created; erasing it will require immense time and effort."

He stood, walked to the whiteboard, and wrote down Owen Nester's name, adding, "Therefore, the primary goal in the next phase is to tarnish his reputation even more than Brian's."

Brian clearly understood, declaring, "Are we really comparing who's worse?"

"That's pretty accurate," Hawke continued while writing on the board. "Given the current situation, our strategic play is not only to gather more support for Brian but also to create a scenario where fewer people support Owen!"

To achieve this, slandering, defaming, and spreading false rumors would undoubtedly be necessary tactics.

Edward had followed Hawke for over a year and commented, "Let's make Owen's reputation even worse."

This wasn't a novel electoral strategy; since the Watergate scandal, the public had grown quite aware of such maneuvers.

Brian voiced a reality check, "From small towns to cities and states, elections are no longer about simple democratic processes; they have devolved into a game of position, money, and influence."

He asked Hawke, "Have you found a breaking point?"

Hawke didn't answer directly but instead asked, "The giant orange sculpture at the intersection leading into Covina, that was Owen's doing, right?"

"Correct, he put that up," Brian detailed. "His supporters are concentrated in the upper fruit industry, and for this election, he forked out of his own pocket to build that ugly statue, claiming it's the new landmark for Covina."

Hawke nodded subtly. "During my previous visit, I noticed that big orange was painted brilliantly and reflected some light. You find the right person to drive... no, ride a motorcycle; just ram into it. Then you can sue Owen Nester for endangering public safety due to the orange's reflection. Brian, you're a lawyer -- figure out the charges that would work."

The idea hit Brian hard, his eyes lighting up. "Turning Owen's prized creation into his laughingstock -- that would damage his reputation effectively!"

Edward raised his hand to interject, "Leave this guy to me."

Both Hawke and Brian turned to him.

"I have a buddy who finally got out of Compton; right now, he's unemployed and strapped for cash," Edward explained. "He's a stand-up guy with no gang affiliations and a clean record."

Hawke questioned, "Someone just like you?"

Edward quickly clarified, "No, no. Boss, he's not as charming as I am; he wouldn't easily attract women's attention."

Brian added, "That's fine. You find a person, and regarding the expenses, get some cash from Hubbard."

The usually quiet Hubbard mentioned, "You can come find me directly in the finance office after the meeting."

To support this campaign, Brian had raised quite a bit of campaign funding.

Campaign finance law allowed candidates not to disclose how they spent the funds.

"That alone is far from sufficient," Hawke remained cautious. He had gathered intelligence from Campos: "I heard that Owen's son, Pratt, currently attends Eastside School and serves as the quarterback for the school's football team. He often bullies fellow students, particularly minorities."

Brian's focus had been solely on Owen, neglecting his teenage son. "I hadn't looked into that."

Hawke suggested, "We should investigate; it shouldn't be too complicated to find out, but caution is paramount -- not to alert Owen's camp."

Sandra eagerly volunteered, "I'll handle that."

Hawke nodded, "Sounds good."

Brian inquired, "Are we planning to use this against Pratt?"

"Precisely," Hawke emphasized. "The campaign isn't just about the individual; it's about the team, which includes their family. Families often provide ripe opportunities."

He added, "Moreover, targeting Owen personally, you're burdened by the scandal -- we can use the same tactics against him."

*****

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