The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 249: Life Destroyed]

Palisades, St. Beatrice Church.

Sitting in his Cadillac, Hawke glanced at the LCD screen installed on the passenger seat, where Ace News was in full swing.

Megan Taylor dug into past cases of child abuse linked to the Catholic Church and Hollywood.

Suddenly, the sound of police sirens wailed from a distance.

It wasn't just one police car; it was a whole convoy!

Even during the day, the flashing red and blue lights were blinding.

Edward said, "Boss, the LAPD is on the move."

Hawke checked the time. Ace News had been on air for nearly half an hour, and the LAPD finally arrived.

...

In front of the church, a TV broadcast van emblazoned with the Fox logo rolled in from the parking lot and parked right outside St. Beatrice.

A cameraman carrying his camera, along with reporter Aisha holding a microphone, got out and walked towards the church entrance.

...

On the LCD screen in front of Hawke, Megan was starting live coverage from outside the church.

...

As the LAPD convoy pulled up in front of the church, the leading officer noticed the Fox live camera and quickly straightened his uniform.

He issued orders: "Everyone, no talking out of turn; follow instructions."

This case had already aired on Fox and was bound to shake the nation. Faced with the cameras, he had to keep everything by the book.

The pressure from the diocese would not fall on him; those higher up would handle that.

The officer stepped out, entered the church, and presented official documents to summon Father Michael Baker and Father Stephen Weiss.

The two priests, still unaware of what was happening, walked over from a side room. Upon seeing the charges on the summons, they trembled, their lips turning pale.

...

The church was a public area, so Aisha and the cameraman entered as well.

Several LAPD officers seized the two priests, and through the television screens, the scene was broadcasted to North America.

In voiceover, Megan said, "The LAPD has acted swiftly and has taken control of the two priests involved in this case."

...

But the subsequent events were going to be complicated.

To search the Catholic welfare school, the LAPD needed to file papers.

Dealing with religious issues could be messy, even in America.

The LAPD needed more evidence to convince the local prosecutor's office and the judges.

Fortunately, the media capital earned its name for a reason.

Fox breaking the news meant shattering the unwritten rules of the media industry; once one person stepped forward, others would surely follow.

The LAPD had not yet taken the two priests away.

Outside the church, the media presence had grown from one Fox team to nearly thirty outlets.

More reporters and paparazzi arrived, and some operatives from Campos' team blended in, guiding the journalists to cover every entrance of St. Beatrice Church and the welfare school.

A media frenzy had commenced.

Hawke didn't need to take any further steps.

He told Edward, "Let's head back to the office."

Edward revved the Cadillac and turned it south.

...

Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios.

In a street-facing studio, James Gunn, wearing glasses, sat by the window, gazing at the nearby shopping center, sketching a scene in his mind.

A zombie apocalypse had broken out, with police and soldiers trapped inside a mall, armed to the teeth...

Gunn shook his head. Weapons needed to be limited, and people too; otherwise, how could zombies become a real threat?

Zombies in films needed their own handicaps to give humanity a fighting chance.

He had realized this long ago.

Otherwise, faced with human firepower, how could mindless zombies ever stand a chance?

For instance, he recalled seeing artillery capable of delivering a 155mm explosive round with a kill radius of thirty meters and shrapnel casually claiming lives over a hundred meters. The max range was up to three hundred fifty meters.

In an open area, one shot would take out a crowd the size of a football field.

So, automatic firepower couldn't be part of a zombie film.

As Gunn pondered, the sound of chaos erupted from the first floor. He got up and opened his office door, only to be met by a line of LAPD officers.

The lead officer presented a summons and said, "James Gunn, you are suspected of sexually assaulting a child. Please come with us to the station for questioning..."

Gunn was momentarily stunned.

Two officers approached, flanking him.

Gunn shouted, "I want to call my lawyer; that's my right!"

Moments later, James Gunn was led out of the studio by the LAPD, journalists trailing him and snapping photos along the way.

Gunn tried to cover his face, but the two officers, both fathers, firmly held onto his hand.

The reporters had seen the news and knew exactly what was at stake, eager to get a close-up shot.

...

Los Angeles Suburb, Pasadena.

Multiple police cars with flashing lights rushed towards a motel.

Following closely behind was a convoy of media vehicles.

The police cars parked in front of the motel, and several officers entered the lobby to speak with the front desk staff before heading up to the second floor.

On the second floor was a small bar that Victor Salva had rented out the previous night for a wild party.

Sheriff Coria instructed the front desk clerk to open the door.

When the little bar door swung open, the lights flicked on, revealing a raucous scene.

A few men and a dozen women lay bundled together, with various drug paraphernalia scattered on the floor.

"LAPD! Don't move!" Sheriff Coria saw the addicts and instinctively placed his hand on his holstered gun, raising his voice, "Hands up! Let me see your hands!"

He then demanded, "Where's Victor Salva?"

Among the crowd, a bearded man, with one arm around a woman and the other around a man, bobbed his head in confusion.

The hangover combined with the high had left Victor Salva dazed. He found the noise unbearable, shoved the two people aside, reached for his pants, and pulled out a handgun.

The mind of an addict was a chaotic mess, utterly unaware of the situation.

Victor Salva stood up, gun in hand!

"Put down the gun!" Sheriff Coria shouted, swiftly drawing his weapon and aiming it at the armed suspect.

Bang! Bang! Bang -- the shots rang out suddenly, with four of the LAPD officers firing.

They employed their traditional LAPD tactics and emptied their magazines.

Screams, gunfire, and the sound of bullets striking objects melded into a cacophony.

Victor Salva, previously stripped to the waist, crumpled to the ground amidst the chaos, with multiple wounds bleeding heavily.

...

Century City, CAA Headquarters.

Nicole Kidman may have looked down on the actions of Pat Kingsley, yet she still helped her up to sit back on the couch.

Having weathered many storms, Kingsley's eyes were hollow as she muttered, "What will my grandkids think when they see this?"

Nicole understood instantly; the recording on Ace News was genuine.

Despite her long history of making poor choices, sacrificing her dignity to climb the ladder, she couldn't bring herself to harm a child.

Kingsley continued to mutter, "Will they think I'm a monster?"

She grasped Nicole's arm, as if seeking a final ounce of comfort and redemption, "They won't hold it against me, right?"

Nicole, who had her own reputation issues, frowned and replied, "When you were doing those things, did you ever think about how your grandkids would view it?"

Kingsley was left speechless.

Just then, the office door swung open, and an assistant stepped in, saying, "Janet Kim has been taken by the LAPD, and there are others..."

Before she could finish, a group entered the office.

At the head was CAA's legal head, flanked by several LAPD officers.

One of the deputies stepped forward, presented a summons to Kingsley, and announced she was going to the station.

Once celebrated and capable of handling anything, Pat Kingsley was now gripped by an uncharacteristic panic.

Everyone had their fears, or aspects of themselves they worried would come to light.

Kingsley pleaded with an unusual tone, "Please... just let me leave with my dignity intact."

The deputy refused and instructed two of the female officers to restrain Kingsley.

Before arriving, he had just received a call from 911 reporting another suspect, Victor Salva, had brandished a firearm, leading to a shootout with Coria and his colleagues.

"Take her away!" the deputy ordered.

Kingsley implored, "Put a hood over my head! Let me have some anonymity!"

The deputy ignored her.

The two burly female officers each grabbed one of Kingsley's arms and escorted her out.

The CAA legal head, a mother, remained silent, having just seen the news.

In America, particularly in Hollywood and related industries, individuals who engaged in such actions were openly scorned.

In broad daylight, Pat Kingsley was forcibly taken away.

Once outside the building, reporters swarmed, camera flashes blinding Kingsley.

This famed public relations manager and agent of Hollywood saw her spirit utterly crushed.

She understood her life was shattered.

Her family would no longer be proud; they would be ashamed!

Not far ahead, another female CAA agent, Janet Kim, was similarly escorted into a police car by two female officers.

...

Following the expose on Fox Channel 11 regarding the St. Beatrice priests, the LAPD displayed amazing efficiency and accountability, apprehending or fatally shooting the suspects in under an hour.

Ace News kept its rolling coverage, with Megan Taylor urging society to focus on the victimized children and calling for the LAPD to rescue them swiftly.

As a massive wave of public sentiment began to spread, it was clear that Hawke had done what was necessary and stepped back, taking no further action.

He informed Campos and the others to retreat as well.

*****

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