Chapter 40: Hitchhiking

[Chapter 40: Hitchhiking]

The next morning, Ian first headed to the newspaper office. After handling some official business, he glanced at the time and stepped out of his office, calling out, "Ron!"

Ron Lloyd, busy processing articles, looked up. "What's up, boss?"

"I need to take a trip to Oakland. I'm not really sure when I'll be back, so I'm leaving the paper in your hands for the next few days. Remember what I said -- try to find valuable stories and don't worry about the costs. I need to boost the influence of the Herald now."

"Sure thing, boss," Ron replied, looking at Ian curiously. "What's taking you to Oakland?"

"I have an interview with a big shot," Ian replied with a slight smile.

"You'd better be careful then; you will be going through the Chaos District."

Chaos District was not a street name, but refers to neighborhoods with high gang activity.

"Don't worry, I won't stick around. Plus, I've got this," Ian said, slightly opening his suit jacket to reveal a gun at his waist.

Ron was speechless. "What do you need a gun for?"

"Because I have the right to bear arms," Ian smiled.

Ron simply shook his head.

---

After discussing the rest of the work with Ron, Ian got into his car and set off. The drive from Los Angeles to Oakland was roughly 600 kilometers, a journey of about four to five hours.

Cruising along the highway, with the wind in his hair, Ian casually took in the scenery outside. All around were vast fields, with the sky clear and blue, not a cloud in sight.

As he hummed a tune on the open road, suddenly, the car sputtered and came to an abrupt halt.

"Damn it!" Ian cursed and quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road.

Stepping out, he popped the hood and saw white smoke billowing from the engine.

"Fuck!" Ian shouted.

"Maybe I shouldn't have sold the Porsche -- used cars can be so unreliable!" He had no choice but to call a tow truck company, and then grabbed a large black bag and stood by the roadside to hitch a ride.

Unfortunately, as cars passed by, not a single driver seemed willing to stop for him. The area was a little too close to Bloods territory, so sitting idle on the roadside presented a huge risk.

This left Ian feeling frustrated.

At last, a black Rolls-Royce appeared in the distance. After contemplating for a moment, Ian decided to step into the road and shot the gun into the air.

Screeching to a halt, the car stopped.

...

Ian strolled over and leaned in close to the driver's window. Inside sat an older man in a sharp suit and a young woman next to him, draped in a luxurious fur coat. The man bore an air of sophistication, while the woman was beautiful with striking features, her hair a vibrant shade of red that framed her delicate face.

At that moment, both looked genuinely startled as Ian smiled and pointed at his broken car, saying, "My car broke down; can you give me a lift?"

The old man stared at Ian in disbelief. "You're just looking for a ride?"

Ian nodded, "Yeah, I can pay."

The man seemed at a loss for words. "Then you didn't need to pull out a gun."

"Would you have stopped if I hadn't?" Ian countered.

The man pondered for a moment and then chuckled, "No, I wouldn't have. So you weren't wrong."

...

As the car resumed its journey, Ian took a seat in the back next to the beautiful lady. It was a strategic move; sitting in the back would keep him out of immediate danger should she try anything sketchy; one had to be cautious.

Once in the car, Ian apologized once more, "I'm sorry for scaring you, sir. No one wanted to stop for me."

The old man chuckled, "I understand. I accept your apology. By the way, my name is Gaskill Bronte, and this is my wife, Lena Bronte. Pleasure to meet you."

"Ian Carr, nice to meet both of you," he replied politely.

An old man with a younger wife and a Rolls-Royce? Clearly, Gaskill was wealthy -- Ian's approach made a lot of sense even if he drew it under duress.

Perhaps sensing that Ian was not a dangerous figure, the three of them soon engaged in casual conversation.

Ian learned that Gaskill was actually a banker -- specifically at Lino Bank in Los Angeles.

Bankers had significant standing in America, and even if Gaskill only managed a regional institution, he was still a big deal. However, clearly, he didn't seem to have bodyguards.

...

"So, where are you headed to Oakland for?" Lena asked, turning to Ian.

"I'm going to interview an old friend," Ian explained.

"Interview?" Lena's large, beautiful eyes widened as she looked at Ian, "You're a reporter?"

Ian smiled. "Yes. Well, actually, I'm also the head of a newspaper... the Los Angeles Herald."

Lena was taken aback. "The Los Angeles Herald? Ian Carr... oh my God, you're that cold-hearted reporter!"

She stared at him, shocked. The one who faced a burning gang member while handing over a microphone? The guy who saved the leading lady of Pearl Harbor from the kidnapping while dodging a gang shoot-out? The one who exposed Lili Marlene? The hero who rescued an innocent girl? And he was just this young, handsome guy? Plus, he was the boss of the paper?!

But then she quickly added, "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to imply anything negative about you; it's just..."

"It's okay, Mrs. Bronte," Ian reassured her quickly. "People often say things like that about me. No need to worry. I wouldn't shoot at you, even if you called me names or hit me. I'm not a mobster, just a journalist stuck in a tough situation. You don't need to be scared of me."

Lena placed her hand over her heart, feeling her pulse racing. "It's all good; I'm just not used to this... I read that report, which was thrilling. A gang member burned, and I heard it was because of you."

"A reporter needs a silver tongue," Ian smiled in response.

Once they began talking freely, the tensions eased, and they shared idle chatter.

...

As Ian gazed out the window, he casually asked, "So, you both are headed to Oakland too? Going to discuss a business deal?"

Gaskill chuckled from the driver's seat, "No, I'm just going to see an old friend. He's not doing too well, but I don't know how bad it is... You know, when a business leader has health issues, it can impact the entire company. And as a banker, we get anxious about such matters."

Ian squinted slightly. "Oh, that is true. I hope you haven't invested in that company."

"We have both investments and loans," Gaskill confirmed.

"So you must prepare for such scenarios beforehand?"

"Correct."

*****

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