The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 23: Down the Wrong Path]

At the front desk, Robert Downey Jr. was busy checking in.

Hawke settled into a spot in the lounge, sitting at a small round table. As always, he quickly started mapping out his plan, surveying his surroundings and searching for advantages.

Across from him sat a gorgeous woman with impeccable makeup, a great figure, and a form-fitting mini skirt. Upon seeing Hawke's outfit, she took him for a business executive on a trip. She raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, her palm sliding down her smooth, silk-clad leg up to her knee, before subtly beckoning with her fingers.

Hawke saw it all clearly; this woman was likely an upscale escort. The level of clientele she could attract at this hotel already put her several notches above typical street work. Her manager probably had some special arrangement with the hotel.

Hawke formulated a strategy. He gave the escort a slight beckon.

The woman immediately got up and sat down across from him, flashing a professional smile. "Good evening, handsome. I'm Jacqueline. Yes, just like that Jacqueline whose husband had a hole in his head. I have the same charm. Are you alone tonight? Need some company?"

Hawke pulled out his phone, turned on the screen, and said, "Do you have a cell? Give me your number."

Jacqueline flashed her white teeth as she laughed. "What? One night isn't enough; you want to stay in touch? We can't just give out our digits in this line of work..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she halted.

Hawke placed a twenty-dollar bill on the table.

Jacqueline's mouth moved faster than her brain and she immediately blurted out a string of numbers, reaching for the money.

Hawke dialed the number, and Jacqueline's phone buzzed.

She hung up and said, "In a hurry, are we? Shall we head upstairs?"

At the front desk, Robert Downey Jr. was finishing up his check-in.

Hawke pulled out fifty bucks, laid it on the table, pointed toward the front desk, and lowered his voice. "You see that man in the gray sweatshirt and baseball cap? Wait until he finishes checking in, then follow him upstairs. See what room he's in and call me."

Being in Jacqueline's line of work, it was easy for trouble to creep in, and she remained cautious. "What... what do you want to do? I don't get into illegal stuff."

Hawke stifled a sigh and avoided further conversation. He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. "I'm a freelance journalist."

In Los Angeles, that didn't require much explanation. Jacqueline nodded, understanding immediately. "I get it. He's a celebrity."

Downey was wrapping up his check-in, and Hawke had little time left. "After you pull this off, I'll give you another fifty bucks."

He clarified, "Just follow them into the elevator, pretend you're on the same floor, and tail them for a bit."

That was an easy enough task. Jacqueline picked up the fifty and looked toward the front desk. "I'll do it."

Hawke cautioned, "Don't focus only on that direction. Aren't you supposed to be good at putting on a show while working? Use those skills to charm the clients; this'll be a piece of cake."

He spotted Robert Downey Jr. making his way toward the elevator. "You should go now."

...

Jacqueline grabbed her purse and headed toward the elevator.

Downey stepped into the elevator area, glancing back toward the entrance.

Sarah Jessica Parker strolled over calmly and stood behind him waiting for the elevator.

The two acted like they didn't know each other at all.

Three others -- one of whom was Jacqueline -- got into the elevator behind Sarah Jessica Parker.

She felt a bit nervous, but given her background in this special industry, she still remembered to play it cool; after all, dead fish don't fetch a good price.

Pretending to be composed wasn't too difficult at that moment.

As the elevator arrived, Downey stepped in first and pressed the button for the fourth floor.

The others followed one after the other.

Jacqueline reached for the button but withdrew her hand upon seeing the fourth floor.

The other two pressed for the fifth.

As the elevator reached the fourth floor, Jacqueline stepped out first. Suddenly, she swayed, pretending to twist her ankle in her high heels, quickly grabbing onto the elevator wall for balance.

Downey walked past her, and Sarah Jessica Parker sidestepped around her.

They merely cast a glance at Jacqueline before exiting the elevator.

After waiting a moment, Jacqueline heard the sound of the woman's heels clicking and stepped out of the elevator just in time to see the two enter a room.

She peeked at the door number and turned into a stairwell, dialing the number she had just called. ...

"They're on the fourth floor, in room 407."

Hawke replied, "Got it. You can come down now."

Jacqueline reminded him, "Don't forget about that fifty bucks you promised."

"Just wait patiently in the lobby. I'll bring it to you shortly." Hawke hung up, went to the hotel layout chart, and confirmed where room 407 was located.

The bedroom window of that room faced the hotel entrance.

As Hawke exited the hotel, he crossed the narrow street, glancing upward where the light in room 407 was on.

It was quite clear what a solitary man and woman were doing in such an inconspicuous little hotel.

Hawke remembered distinctly that Sarah Jessica Parker hadn't divorced Matthew Broderick, and Robert Downey Jr. had a wife and kids.

As a compassionate person, he felt it was necessary to inform Sarah's husband and Downey's wife.

Hawke glanced back, spotting an old four-story office building. He promptly returned to his car, parked in a more discreet location in the alley, changed back into his original set of clothes, slung his gear bag over his shoulder, put on gloves, and prepared for a climb.

This old-style American office building typically had metal fire escapes on the side.

After a quick observation, he made use of the wall corners and drainpipe bolts, climbing upward. Reaching the second floor, he grabbed the iron railing and climbed up to the rooftop via the fire escape.

He opened his backpack, pulled out his camera, attached the telephoto lens, and aimed toward the window of room 407. He managed to snap a profile photo of Downey when suddenly, a woman's hand reached out and pulled down the curtains.

The lens couldn't see through, and Hawke swore under his breath, scratching his head in annoyance.

Giving up wasn't an option.

"Bastards," Hawke thought, seeking for alternatives. After all, this was the first major operation for West Coast Media Entertainment Studio.

Climbing up the outside of the hotel was impossible; pedestrians and cars would easily spot him.

As for the prior escort? It didn't seem like she offered much hope; he couldn't pin too many expectations on someone like that.

In that moment, "Das Kapital" was exemplified by Hawke. When the profit potential was substantial enough, he always managed to conjure up some solutions.

Even if it was through dubious means, if it served a purpose, it was worth it.

Hawke rummaged through his jacket pocket, remembering he had cards and flyers from the convenience store he visited earlier. He had the contact info for that store.

It wasn't far from Victory Boulevard, and driving over wouldn't take more than five minutes.

He called the store, speaking quickly. "I'm the freelance journalist who visited earlier today. I need to buy something; please send it over immediately."

The woman on the line sounded sluggish. "It's too late to deliver."

Hawke cut her off, "Double the price and shipping costs."

Her tone immediately shifted. "Hello, dear customer! What do you need? Just let me know, and I promise to deliver it as quickly as possible."

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.