Chapter 175: The Justice and Axiom of Idealists

[Chapter 176: The Justice and Axiom of Idealists]

Twitter was in need of experienced executive-level staff across multiple positions.

Hawke headed to downtown Los Angeles, where he engaged in detailed discussions with Glimmer International, and the two sides soon signed a headhunting agreement.

Apart from the positions discussed by Hawke and Jet Brown, there was also a need for a video site architect. Jet Brown was responsible for Twitter's senior talent recruitment efforts.

Twitter was also recruiting general employees. Candidates such as Caroline, Harland, and Kasim submitted some suitable options, Hawke reviewed them and vetoed some applicants from advancing to second interviews.

...

Beverly Hills, Century City Shopping Center.

Edward was with Deborah and Indio Downey as they exited a supermarket. They placed several shopping bags into Deborah's Bentley.

Indio was clamoring to go to the amusement park on the other side. Edward was about to accompany him when he suddenly spotted a familiar figure. He glanced over and confirmed he hadn't made a mistake.

The woman wore a sunhat, dark sunglasses, and loose clothing, making it difficult for unfamiliar people to recognize her. On a June afternoon in Los Angeles, there were many women dressed similarly.

Edward quickly placed several filled shopping bags down and said to Deborah and Indio, "I've got something urgent to take care of back at the office, so I can't stay with you."

Deborah expressed her displeasure, "You have been so busy for the past few months."

Indio complained, "You haven't played with me at all lately."

"It'll be over soon," Edward tried to reassure the mother and son. "I'm in a career growth phase, so it's a bit busy. Please understand."

Deborah didn't respond, but Indio angrily retorted, "You never keep your word."

Edward understood the gravity of the situation, grabbed his baseball cap, and left, blending in with the pedestrians as he followed the woman ahead.

...

He could clearly see that the woman was indeed Gretchen from Fox News. Although he had done little undercover work since 2003, Edward had been a freelance journalist for over half a year, and the instincts lingered. He pulled out his latest Motorola camera phone and opened the camera app.

Gretchen walked into a cafe, pushing the door open as she went inside. Edward remembered that this cafe had a side door leading into the shopping center. He bought a newspaper, turned, and entered the shopping center, using the side door to reach the cafe. He found a good spot for observation, quickly scanned the area, and spotted Gretchen in a diagonal corner speaking to another woman.

With enough distance separating them, Edward looked around to ensure no one was watching before opening the newspaper to feign reading. He slipped his camera phone behind it and extended the top of the camera just enough to take pictures of the two women.

He snapped several shots, picking the clearest one, and sent it via MMS to Hawke's backup phone.

...

After a short while, Hawke replied: "I just had someone check into it; the unknown woman is named Harley, a Fox News reporter, and Gretchen's confidante."

Edward recalled the information Hawke had sent to Fox News earlier. "Should I follow her, see what's going on?"

"Go ahead," Hawke replied. "Just make sure you're not caught."

Edward tucked his phone away, ordered a coffee, and waited for that side to leave.

...

On the other side, Gretchen looked surprised at Harley and asked, "Why didn't you go to the station? You brought me out here and made me change my look."

Harley pushed her gold-rimmed glasses up her nose, her heart-shaped face serious. "Boss, I found some troubling information on the girls who went missing from Super Star Training School, and it might be serious."

Gretchen, being a news person with a hefty curiosity, probed, "What did you find?"

Harley explained, "I discovered two girls went missing from Super Star School because they were too good-looking and faced rejection from those around them. They had no close friends in Los Angeles, and their original families had broken apart. I sent my assistant to their hometown, but they never returned, neither to where their parents live, it was the same."

She took a sip of her coffee. "Their phone numbers are unreachable, and no one has reported them missing. It's as if they never existed."

Gretchen nodded slightly. "What about Kristin Johnson? Didn't her mother report her missing?"

Harley continued, "The case is with the detective bureau, and the LAPD has been investigating. Kristin Johnson's mother, Blythe, was initially going to get media exposure, but right after contacting the Los Angeles Times, Blythe went missing too."

"Are you sure they didn't leave Los Angeles?" Gretchen sensed the gravity of the situation. "Didn't they go back to their hometown?"

Harley had a particularly serious expression. "I can confirm; Blythe divorced and remarried, her husband has passed away, and she lives alone. I personally went to ask her neighbors, and Blythe hasn't returned since she left a while ago."

Gretchen inquired, "What's the LAPD's stance?"

"Now that there's no victim, the detective bureau has shelved the case," Harley laughed coldly. "The LAPD appears to do well on the outside, pouring funds into promotions, focusing on publicity rather than actual crime-fighting..."

Gretchen pointed out a fact: "The homicide clearance rate is less than 70%, and cases of missing persons without bodies are basically set aside."

Harley nodded. "It's already been shelved; the detective bureau doesn't care about a single woman missing. The LAPD has long since decayed."

At the mention of this name, Gretchen began to worry and cautioned Harley, "You need to be careful. Always prioritize your safety."

Perhaps in three to five years, running into trouble, Harley might also become someone like Gretchen and Megan Taylor -- seasoned veterans of the field.

But being new in the industry, she still harbored ideals and passion, pursuing justice and fairness.

Harley declared, "I've already found a breakthrough. At Super Star Training School, through my recent investigation, I can confirm that there were more actresses who went missing after studying there, not just those two, but at least three more, or possibly even more."

Determined, she asserted, "Super Star Training School enrolls two batches of students every month, and I plan to sign up for the next session."

Gretchen knew the training fees must be steep and replied, "I'll apply for a special allowance to cover your expenses."

"Thanks," Harley paused momentarily, then added, "Boss, I will mail you updates every two days. If there's a gap in communication, please call the police."

This declaration startled Gretchen as she looked up at Harley.

A voice deep inside her urged her to stop Harley, but she couldn't find the words to say it.

Gretchen well understood that if this story broke, she, no -- if she and Harley exposed it, it would create a media sensation.

And Harley would carry the biggest risk.

Fox was indeed their shield.

Gretchen instructed, "You need to take good care of yourself."

Harley nodded firmly. "I'm leaving."

Gretchen watched as she loaded her bag and walked toward the cafe's entrance.

At that moment, Gretchen felt as if Harley's silhouette was exceptionally tall.

Compared to the brave and pure-hearted Harley, people like herself, Roger Ailes, Megan Taylor, Erica Ferguson, and Hawke Osment were just a bunch of disgusting scoundrels all focused on profit.

...

Harley exited the cafe and drove off in her Volkswagen, heading toward Hollywood.

A Cadillac lingered behind from a distance.

Before long, Edward followed the Volkswagen to near Paramount Pictures.

The Volkswagen parked in a roadside spot opposite Super Star Training School.

The woman got out of the car and walked alone into the school.

Edward was already prepared with a camera in hand, aiming it at her as he snapped away.

Wary of being recognized, he did not rush to get out of the car. Instead, he switched out the camera for one with a zoom lens. As soon as Harley emerged from the training school, he rapidly clicked the shutter.

Edward then followed the woman to her apartment building and called Hawke.

Hawke directed him to contact Campos directly.

Half an hour later, Edward met Campos at a safe house.

He handed over all the videos and photos he had just taken, and Campos arranged for someone to track Fox reporter Harley long-term.

...

The red-blue political battle in California had reached a boiling point, with many in both political and business circles either passively or actively involved.

In a place like America, if one wanted to expand their business and make more money, politics was unavoidable.

Los Angeles, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

In the conference room, several people were seated.

The most prominent figure among a group of black individuals was a white man, Steve Nutt, star player of the Los Angeles Dodgers and a leader of the civil rights movement, revered as a saint.

Also present was Sesco, a true power player within the NAACP who had appeared at Steve Nutt's press conference.

They were joined by black leaders from Hollywood, Spike Lee and Will Smith.

Additionally, a white man named Grant Cesar had come all the way from Sacramento, the state capital.

The NAACP was a standard deep blue organization, essentially the Democratic Party's stronghold in California.

Grant arrived in Los Angeles with a heavy mandate. He looked at Spike Lee and Will Smith and inquired, "Why has Brian Ferguson and Hawke Osment kept quiet after tearing open Hollywood's deepest wounds?"

Spike replied, "People are dead; what do you expect?"

Will chimed in, "Hollywood knows how to avoid trouble. Wagenen and Redford have tarnished their names; who would want to get involved with them?"

*****

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