Chapter 20: Starting a Business in Los Angeles
Late March, East Hollywood, Los Angeles.
In the parking lot of Ranch Park, Frank Brown sat atop his RV, gazing past Fountain Avenue at the two-story house across the street where a new tenant was moving in.
The man had short black hair, a lean, muscular build, and a calm demeanor. His appearance was unremarkable, blending into the crowd effortlessly.
When the new arrival stepped out through the security door and looked toward him, Frank generously offered a middle finger.
Hawk, unfazed, returned the gesture with two fingers, then headed to his second-hand black Mondeo to unload his belongings.
His luggage consisted of a bag of clothes and daily necessities, with the rest filled with tools for his media work.
Back inside the house, Hawk carried his clothes upstairs and organized them before unpacking his equipment, wrapped securely in bubble wrap.
Among the items were the camcorder gifted by Eric, surveillance equipment, professional cameras, long lenses, storage drives, photography smartphones, a printer-fax machine, a mini recorder, and a laptop—all purchased in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.Over the past two months, Hawk had spent heavily.
He had signed a one-year lease for the house and set up a workstation and shelves in the first-floor living room. Internet and a router were already installed.
Although East Hollywood was far from downtown's impoverished areas and near affluent neighborhoods like Silver Lake and Beverly Hills, Hawk still installed hidden surveillance cameras inside and outside the house.
He placed his cameras and camcorder in easily accessible spots, reinforced the security doors and windows, and replaced the locks.
From his belongings, he retrieved a Glock pistol and performed maintenance. He planned to obtain a California firearm license to purchase a legal weapon.
Standing in the center of the living room, Hawk realized he still needed a safe, which would have to wait for now.
He cracked open a bottle of water, sat at his workstation, and powered up his laptop to check his blog.
Despite posting nearly 30 entries, his readership was negligible—he lacked explosive news to draw attention.
Hawk wrote a new post:
“Starting Fresh in Los Angeles: West Coast Media & Entertainment Studio Underway.”
After publishing it, Hawk closed the webpage and began researching the activities of Buddy Ackman, Robert Downey Jr., Bro Derek, and Barack Bernan—his primary targets in Los Angeles.
His goals in the city were clear: take down those four, and gain wealth and power.
To sever ties with his past and rise higher, he needed to fry some big fish.
With the 74th Academy Awards approaching, entertainment news was everywhere online.
Hawk quickly found a popular article about Robert Downey Jr.
The article quoted Downey at an Oscars pre-event, stating that he was fighting his drug addiction and would emerge reborn. Photos accompanying the piece showed him entering and exiting a gym, still sweaty from his workout.
Even Downey Sr. had stepped up, claiming his son’s addiction issues were hereditary and partially his fault.
The media celebrated Downey Jr.’s bravery in confronting his demons, praising him as a phoenix poised to rise from the ashes.
Hawk scrutinized a photo of the gym’s sign: “Tracy Gym,” located in Westwood.
A quick search revealed Downey’s public residence in the affluent Brentwood area.
Taking note of this, Hawk moved on to Buddy Ackman, whose most newsworthy moment included Barack Bernan.
A report from weeks earlier described Buddy, alongside his daughter and Bernan, attending a press conference to announce his recovery from a severe illness. Buddy pledged to donate $30 million to support bone marrow matches for children with leukemia.
Hawk surmised that Buddy had found a suitable organ donor. The bone marrow initiative hinted at continued hunting for compatible donors, possibly to ensure a steady blood supply.
Another report speculated that Los Angeles might grant Buddy the Honorary Citizen’s Golden Key, recognizing his contributions to society and philanthropy.
Next, Hawk checked on Bro Derek. He had recently attended the premiere of the new season of Sex and the City with his celebrity wife, Sarah Parker. The couple exuded wealth, flaunting designer attire and expensive jewelry.
Leaning back in his chair, Hawk reflected on his determination. The memory of almost losing his kidneys and life left him resolute: he wouldn’t just fry these "squid"—he’d ensure their complete downfall.
What would happen if Robert Downey Jr. or Buddy Ackman met an untimely end?
Downey Jr. might become a tragic figure, celebrated like Heath Ledger or Paul Walker, and The Singing Detective would soar in popularity, immortalizing his legacy alongside Hawk’s involvement in the project.
Buddy Ackman, on the other hand, would be canonized as a moral and charitable icon, with his heirs continuing their opulent lives.
The thought of such outcomes made Hawk sick.
Hawk narrowed his focus to Downey Jr. He lacked the strength to confront Buddy Ackman head-on, as Ackman’s wealth and connections were far beyond his current reach.
American corporate warfare often escalated beyond simple tactics like cutting power or internet lines. Stories of dump trucks, explosions, plane crashes, and mysterious "self-inflicted gunshot suicides" were alarmingly common.
To dismantle the Ackman empire, Hawk needed time and resources to grow.
With that, he grabbed his phone and called a consulting agency, arranging a meeting that afternoon.
That afternoon.
After grabbing lunch and taking a brief nap, Hawk drove his Mondeo to the agency’s office on Highland Avenue.
Passing by Hollywood Boulevard, he noted the presence of numerous homeless people, even though it wasn’t as impoverished as the city’s worst areas.
After circling the Kodak Theater (soon to be renamed), he parked in front of an office building on Highland.
Inside, he met with Milner, a consultant who reviewed Hawk’s prepared documents.
“What’s the name of your company?” Milner asked.
“West Coast Media & Entertainment Studio,” Hawk replied.
Milner jotted it down. “What’s your scope of business?”
“Media promotion, crisis PR consulting, and strategic planning,” Hawk answered.
Curious, Milner inquired, “Going beyond entertainment into politics?”
Hawk smirked. “Power is hard to resist when opportunity knocks.”
“Fair enough,” Milner said, though privately skeptical. Many such studios launched yearly in Los Angeles, and few survived.
Hawk, however, knew his focus had to remain on entertainment—for now. Ackman Pictures and other Ackman family ventures were deeply rooted in the entertainment industry.
After paying the agency fee, Milner reminded him, “Keep your phone on. We may need to contact you anytime.”
Hawk signed the paperwork and left the office.
Checking his bank balance, Hawk noted his dwindling funds. After months of training, buying equipment, and securing his identity, his savings had fallen below $10,000.
He ordered a safe and drove to Westwood, easily locating Tracy Gym.
Attempting to enter, he was stopped by a guard. Membership required an existing member’s referral and a minimum $5,000 fee.
Taking a step back, Hawk snapped photos of the gym and its surroundings.
He then headed to Brentwood, finding Downey Jr.’s public address—a luxurious mansion.
Hawk took a few pictures but didn’t approach, noting the extensive surveillance and security systems.
Later, he passed by Buddy Ackman’s home in the gated Sunset Boulevard North area of Beverly Hills. The area’s tight security and frequent police patrols made entry nearly impossible.
Back on Fountain Avenue, Hawk bought a stack of entertainment tabloids with grandiose names like National Enquirer, World News, and Us Weekly. These papers often revealed more than their lofty titles suggested.
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