The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 194: Complete Collapse]

"Extreme campus violence resurfaces in Los Angeles, as Covina Mayor Owen Nester's son, Pratt, assaults a Mexican American classmate, Antonio Navarro, at East Covina High, leaving him severely injured..."

Fox 11 News broadcast vans parked directly in front of the City Hall, focusing their cameras on old Navarro and the poster he raised high.

With a crowd growing and the media converging on site due to the victims' rights and concerns, LAPD dispatched several patrol vehicles to maintain order.

...

A couple of blocks away, a business vehicle rolled up and came to a stop.

Inside, Hawke turned to Brian, stating, "Go ahead; your stage is set!"

Brian brimming with confidence responded, "Watch me!"

Driving, Edward glanced back and cheered, "Go get them!"

"Let's beat them to death!" Brian affirmed, exiting the vehicle, accompanied by Beacon and Sandra, charging toward City Hall.

...

Passing by the officers maintaining order, Brian stepped right in front of old Navarro, looking up at the poster he held, and declared firmly, "The attacker must pay the price!"

Fox 11's cameras quickly shifted their focus to Brian.

Brian mounted the steps leading up to City Hall, receiving the megaphone from Beacon. "I've seen the videos and spoken with the LAPD about what occurred -- a student who just transferred to East Covina High had no issues with Pratt Nester, yet he was met with extreme violence. Are we, in Covina, incapable of accepting even a seventeen-year-old boy?"

His voice grew louder. "In my eyes, Covina is an open, inclusive town, where white folks, African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Asians coexist peacefully, working together to build a home. Why then does such a situation arise? Is East Covina High protecting Pratt? Why is that? Because he's the mayor's son?!"

His words ignited the crowd.

Brian continued, "Through this, can you not see that a hidden evil force exists, obstructing Covina's growth? Take a glance around at the state of our internet connections and revisit the bullying incidents at East Covina High."

He cried out, "I firmly believe that Antonio Navarro is not the first victim! Sisters and brothers among you, there are surely more victims! Here, I, Brian Ferguson, swear to do all within my power to ensure the attacker and those sheltering him pay the appropriate price!"

In that moment, the overwhelming crowd fell eerily silent.

Brian, emphatically stated, "Shall our children continue to suffer from the hands of these evildoers? Are you hesitant to even stand up for them?"

Amidst the crowd, the restaurant boy, Rod, who had once encountered Campos, managed to break free from his mother's grasp. Dodging his grandmother's attempts to restrain him, he boldly stepped forward from the crowd.

"I'm a student at East Covina High. I've been beaten by Pratt too. I thought about going to the police, but Mayor Owen warned my mom that if we didn't accept his measly offer for compensation and stayed quiet, our family's restaurant would close."

Covina being a tight-knit community, many residents had visited the Mexican restaurant, recognizing Rod and his mom.

Another Mexican American with a beard stood hesitantly but summoned courage and stepped out. "I work at the Gadis Orange Grove. Two years back, Pratt and his friends broke my son's eyebrow bone."

Soon more voices joined in, and as time passed, more than three hundred gathered at the City Hall.

All seven victims testified, and led by Brian, they joined old Navarro on the steps.

...

It wasn't just the victims of Pratt's bullying who stood up; more media outlets surged towards the scene.

A Twitter team arrived on the site and launched a live broadcast online.

What began as young Navarro's bullying incident evolved into a public grievance against the normal citizens of Covina.

Initially, it was only students bullied by Pratt who stood and spoke out, alongside their parents.

But as waves of confidence swept through, former victims of capital bullying also emerged, recounting their experiences.

Gradually, even those who had conflicting encounters with Owen Nester began stepping forward to denounce the current mayor's despicable actions!

The reputation of Owen Nester and his family among Covina's working class reached a critical low.

All of this gained traction through radio and Twitter live broadcasts, reaching every corner of North America. The news of the mayor and his son's bullying reached trending status on Twitter.

Millions discussed Owen Nester.

"I can't believe the mayor of a small town with only a few thousand people could be so atrocious."

"Pratt became a bully purely because his father is the mayor."

"My dad is the mayor; such a backing solidifies my power as a bully."

...

Before long, the number of people gathered outside City Hall surpassed a thousand.

Among them were numerous students who, faced with the likes of Pratt's bullying, had felt powerless yet couldn't must the courage to confide in their parents.

Now was their time to speak up.

Some even carried evidence of their own experiences with bullying.

This impromptu event grew far larger and more impactful than Hawke had anticipated.

From his car, he glanced outside, pulled out his phone, and called Sandra. "Tell him to mobilize for a collective report at the central precinct."

Sandra hung up and found a moment to lean over and chat in Brian's ear.

Brian instructed her to coordinate with the lead officer.

As the public grievances approached closure, Brian organized over thirty victims to form a substantial reporting team, driving to the central precinct.

Leading with patrol cars clearing the paths, their contingency followed closely.

The procession of victims was impressive.

The word spread quickly, and shortly after, a group of injured motorcyclists joined, seeking to file their own reports.

They, too, claimed that the sculpture constructed by Owen Nester had led to irreversible injuries.

...

At the central precinct, Owen received word of events unfolding in Covina and intended to rush back.

However, first, he needed to bail out his son.

He continuously pressed his lawyers to expedite the process and made calls to Sacramento to seek assistance from their district attorney.

The evidence against Pratt along with public sentiment posed significant challenges.

After enduring much back-and-forth effort, they finally managed to process bail.

However, they were swiftly notified of a cancellation as another wave of victims emerged at the precinct to file reports.

This time, some presented strong evidence, prompting police to question further and clarify the details.

Upon emerging from the waiting area, Owen glimpsed heavy crowds in the precinct lobby.

While he didn't recognize every face, many appeared familiar.

In charge was none other than Brian Ferguson.

Although their eyes crossed, Brian deliberately ignored Owen, focusing on aiding all the victims in filling out their necessary paperwork.

Lawyers called by Brian also appeared on the scene.

As Owen moved closer to press matters, two officers intercepted him.

Officer John approached and stated, "Mr. Nester, you are accused of intimidation and insult, as well as interfering with judicial proceedings. Please follow us."

Owen didn't just fail to bail out his son; he was temporarily detained by the central precinct.

The incident regarding Pratt's bullying crisis detonated fully as the ramifications spread nationwide through Twitter.

Owen's reputation fell into disarray while Brian significantly shifted public perception.

...

Later that evening, a meeting occurred at the campaign office.

Everyone gathered, including Hawke and the others.

Edward reported, "There's a total of nineteen claims made against the orange sculpture incident -- including Michael."

Beacon added, "Although the Western District Office has no further evidence, the rumor that Owen raped a transvestite has spread everywhere. Many people say that he raped ten transvestites. "

This was the nature of rumors -- devastating.

Sandra chimed in, "Interestingly, Owen's wife Helen has reacted with more outrage than we anticipated. Her lawyer has already delivered a divorce agreement to Owen."

Hawke mused, "There might be angles we're not privy to -- keep an eye on that."

Sandra acknowledged, "Understood."

Brian chuckled. "With the bullying scandal included, Owen's reputation in Covina is nearly obliterated."

Hawke summarized, "The objectives of our smear campaign have been fully achieved." He turned to Brian. "Next, it's time to rebuild your reputation."

Brian appeared taken aback, "My current..."

Just as he was about to underscore the advantages at hand, he remembered Hawke's warnings and swallowed down his words.

Hawke cautioned, "Never underestimate anyone. Owen is currently on the defensive, but who can predict he won't make a comeback? We have to ensure he has no opportunity for a rebound."

Suddenly, Brian envisioned the Toyota Alphard that had been smashed by a dump truck.

This case had been classified as a hit-and-run, and due to the elusive driver and vehicle, it languished unattended.

Similar circumstances often fell into the abyss of antiquated and forgotten records.

"The truth is, Owen's reputation has plummeted over tenfold compared to yours," Hawke's words contrasted sharply with Brian's thinking. "Put aside the reputation -- something tangible must be shown; let the Covina citizens see real benefits."

Brian instantly recalled previous discussions. "The AT&T fiber optics?"

"Correct. You've made plenty of promises during your campaign. Before the votes are cast, showing that something has been concretely achieved will garner stronger support."

Brian said, "I'll contact AT&T right away."

...

The following morning, Covina citizens discovered that the fiber optic service promised by mayoral candidate Brian was actively underway.

AT&T technicians arrived, assessing the town for the installation of fiber optics running from Los Angeles.

On the same day, Sandra's investigation revealed Owen's approval rating had tanked below thirty percent.

His campaign had completely collapsed.

*****

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