Chapter 359: Good Journalist

Heath Ledger was at the Sunshine Hotel near the beach in Santa Monica.

Ivan exited the bathroom and entered the beach area of the hotel. From a distance, he spotted Heath Ledger playing volleyball with others. He found a spot to sit and patiently waited.

Jodi arrived with his assistant, took a seat next to Ivan, grabbed a newspaper, and spoke in hushed tones, "It's been two days, and we still haven't had an opportunity."

Ivan, relatively new to the industry and influenced by Martin and Bruce, was humbled by the professionalism of the seasoned reporters. He responded, "He might be holed up in his room or other places. We can't forcibly extract information from him in public."

The assistant, less experienced and a bit anxious, suggested a risky idea, "What if we capture him smoking and then analyze the photos..."

Judy sharply rebuked in a low voice, "Shush! You work for TMZ, not American Rumors! TMZ reporters adhere to professional ethics and their news must be factual and reliable."

The assistant fell silent. Despite TMZ's relatively short history, its reputation had been built on the credibility of its reports.

Judy flipped through the newspaper, realizing that prolonged waiting wasn't a viable option.

Ivan inquired, "What can we do?"

Judy pondered for a moment and replied, "We need to take a more proactive approach. When does Heath Ledger urgently need those drugs?"

Ivan, with a background of lesser means and knowledge in this area, explained, "Besides the attacks, he often experiences extreme mood swings."

Judy continued, "Who do you think Heath Ledger currently dislikes the most?"

Ivan was quick to respond, "It must be that scoundrel Martin Davis. After the incident in New York involving Heath Ledger, Martin Davis, and Aniston, he didn't get any work, and two projects that were lined up for him fell through."

Judy added, "Michelle Williams broke off her engagement with Heath Ledger, and he wasn't willing to let her go."

As Judy surveyed the people on the beach, an idea began to form. He instructed his assistant to handle some tasks and walked to a distance. Speaking on the phone, he said, "Get the team to print a few tabloids and bring more people here tomorrow."

The assistant nodded and got to work.

The following morning, Heath Ledger continued his routine of studying the script and then headed to the hotel beach.

Like the previous days, he donned his beach shoes and strolled along the sidewalk. On the way, he approached the car left by Bale and popped the trunk to retrieve a bottle of mineral water.

Close to him, two individuals were engaged in a conversation.

"Hollywood is such a mess. I heard Julie and Aniston are involved with Martin Davis," one of them with a mustache commented. "I really envy him!"

The man with the crew cut chimed in, "These are old rumors. Haven't you read today's tabloids? Michelle Williams had an affair with Martin Davis yesterday, and they spent a long time together in a hotel."

Heath Ledger overheard their words, and it hit him like a blow to the chest, making it difficult to breathe.

A nearby newsstand caught his attention, and he approached it without thinking. Positioned prominently was a tabloid.

On its front page was a photo of Michelle Williams and Martin Davis entering a hotel together.

The image was clearly taken candidly, with low resolution and some awkwardness, but Heath Ledger knew his ex-fiancée all too well. He recognized her without a doubt.

He bought the newspaper from the vendor, paid, and began to read the contents.

The tabloid described in detail how Michelle Williams and Martin had entered the hotel hand in hand and emerged separately more than three hours later.

Heath Ledger was familiar with the atmosphere of the industry. When male and female celebrities entered a hotel together holding hands, it was nearly impossible for nothing to have happened.

Less than half a month after their engagement was called off, Michelle Williams had found someone else. Heath Ledger could have accepted it, even if it was Bale. However, the person she chose was Martin Davis.

Heath Ledger wondered if she was seeking revenge on him. The weight of this revelation felt like a blow to the head, leaving him dizzy, his mind muddled, and his vision darkening.

He couldn't find the words to express the turmoil in his heart – betrayal, escape, confrontation – he grappled with his emotions.

After a dazed moment, he crumpled the newspaper and discarded it in a nearby trash can. He took a few steps and sat down on the beach steps, lost in thought.

He remained there like a statue, unmoving.

Judy, who had just sold the newspaper, grew concerned about Heath Ledger's emotional fragility. He considered the possibility of suicide, but the news was of utmost importance.

Should he tell Heath Ledger the truth?

Judy wrestled with the dilemma for just a couple of seconds before silently shaking his head. In the news industry, sometimes human lives took a back seat to the story.

After a few minutes of sitting, Heath Ledger finally rose from his seat. The heavy emotions were causing him physical discomfort, a sensation of a hundred thousand insects crawling in his chest, propelling him to the nearby parked car.

Now, he needed a secluded space.

Judy grabbed the walkie-talkie beneath the newspaper and said, "He's heading to Target 1. Everyone, prepare."

For today's mission, Judy had brought along four skilled photojournalists equipped with TMZ's best photography gear.

Heath Ledger got into his car, closed the door, and reached into the gap beside the seat to retrieve a plastic bag.

Not far from the car, several individuals held concealed cameras, recording every move Heath Ledger made from the front windshield and two car windows.

Judy efficiently wrapped up his tasks, stowing away several privately printed mock newspapers in his bag. He retrieved the discarded newspapers Heath Ledger had thrown away from the trash can and concealed them. He then signaled to the beach from a distance.

A middle-aged Latino man rushed over and inquired, "Is it already over?"

Judy placed a few U.S. dollars in front of him.

Just as the Latino man was about to take the money, Judy swiftly passed him and cautioned, "This is your hush money. You never saw me."

The Latino man was only interested in the cash, so he readily agreed, "Of course, I don't even know who you are or what you're up to."

Judy left the beach, made his way to a nearby parking lot, and climbed into a commercial vehicle. After waiting for about ten minutes, all his team members returned to the car.

"Boss, it's done, and it's a big scoop!" The assistant was quite enthusiastic, holding the camera that was hidden in his bag.

Another team member chimed in, "I had a great angle!"

A woman among them sighed, "The car window has a dark tint, so the image isn't as clear as the front windshield."

Judy collected the cameras from the first two individuals and reviewed the footage for a moment. She smiled upon confirming that they had acquired the news about Heath Ledger.

She patted the driver's seat and instructed, "Let's head back to the office!"

The commercial vehicle promptly started and left the hotel.

"Boss, you're truly ingenious!" The assistant was quick with praise. "You easily secured a major scoop."

Judy glanced around and took the opportunity to convey a message to her team, "We're TMZ, and we don't deal in fake news! The team I lead is the gold standard at TMZ. You must always uphold your professional ethics and never engage in fabrications."

Her tone shifted, "In situations like today, remember that when you can't find news, you need to use your initiative. News doesn't always come naturally; sometimes we have to create it ourselves."

The recent events served as a live example, and all her team members admired Jodi. Her ascent to the position of editor-in-chief from a paparazzi background was well-deserved.

The editor-in-chief was truly skilled and knowledgeable!

The group returned to TMZ headquarters and got to work immediately. Judy ensured that the privately printed tabloids were securely destroyed.

Her team members processed the news and fine-tuned the clarity, while she personally supervised the uploading process.

Judy stood behind a technician, hands on her hips, and directed, "Select three videos for this news. The first one should be the footage I brought back a few days ago, the one where Heath Ledger is furious. The second one, the press conference he held after the incident at Brooklyn Studios, where he announced his complete withdrawal from acting."

She raised her lips in a smile, "The last one should be the video shot today, taken through the windshield with the B camera."

This video captured the entire sequence involving Heath Ledger, showcasing the various aspects of the attack.

The assistant interjected at the right moment, "The first three videos should be included in the same news article. The contrast is particularly impactful, allowing people to see his true character."

Judy nodded in agreement and added, "Include the accompanying written news and publish it."

News about Heath Ledger was rapidly uploaded to the website.

Judy called the chief editor and instructed, "The lead actor from 'Brokeback Mountain,' Australian movie star Heath Ledger, is making headlines. Release it as soon as possible and feature it on the homepage." Soon, the news appeared on the TMZ website.

In the past week, TMZ had lacked any sensational news. Within minutes, the video news about Heath Ledger took the prominent position on the website's homepage.

Today, many in Hollywood's industry and North American gossip enthusiasts often kept a close eye on TMZ. The website was known for its occasional big scoops, offering a tantalizing taste of the latest juicy gossip.

Relevant news spread rapidly.

Meanwhile, Bruce concluded his interview with Ivan, and after bidding him farewell, he drove back to the Four Seasons Hotel. He headed straight to Martin's room.

Using his key card to enter, Bruce was greeted by the sight of Martin turning around, wearing a sinister grin that exuded cruelty and oddity.

Bruce muttered under his breath, "This guy's a real weirdo."

Martin was seated on the sofa in a peculiar posture, a stark departure from his usual demeanor. He greeted Bruce with, "Brother, don't be so solemn, give me a smile." Bruce used both hands to stretch his lips wide, grinning from ear to ear, and asked, "Is this smile good enough for you?"

Martin chuckled, "It's utterly dashing. Now, what's the good news?"

Bruce shared, "Judy and the TMZ team secured the footage they wanted, and it's already on the TMZ website."

Martin rose from his seat, adopting an unsettling gait akin to Scott's, and spoke in an eerie tone, "Let me contemplate how we should orchestrate the next act of this drama. Well...I've figured it out; it's time for the insurance company to make an appearance." He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and extended his hands, saying, "Before the audition commences, I want to eliminate the most significant threat!"