Chapter 112: Etna Company

[Chapter 112: Etna Company]

On the phone, Katherine's voice carried a suppressed anger, "You could have handed the evidence to the police instead of taking those girls on a dangerous escapade!"

Ian spoke calmly, "It wasn't a dangerous venture. I identified the target, dealt with the adversary, and brought the girls in for some photos. It benefits them; making it in the entertainment industry requires capital, and most of them lack that. This is the fastest way to rise up. I promised them a bright future, and I'm just fulfilling my promise!"

Katherine shouted furiously, "Damn it! You were only looking to make your news story! For you, the police catching the criminals is no story. The news is five girls taking down a murderer, and that's a story only if Halle Berry is involved!"

Ian laughed coldly, "You don't understand, Officer Brown. For most girls in Hollywood, they need that one big break. They're willing to risk everything for it. Sleeping around? That's basic -- too many people can do that, and it's never worth much. What truly matters is being able to do what others can't. I saved their lives, and I gave them a chance! They're grateful to me... In the eyes of outsiders, you're the hero cop, but to them, you're just a deluded, ungrateful woman who doesn't know better."

Katherine was taken aback.

Was it really like that?

Was she really that person?

Ian chuckled, "But that's what I like! Want to know why? Because I've got you in my pocket. An ordinary cop hero means nothing. A hero who has flaws and falls from grace -- that's where the story is. Don't be upset over today's news; it won't affect your career. Sure, some may doubt your abilities, but that's okay. When there's a big case, I'll still make sure to give you credit. You'll rise, fall, and then rise again, only to fall once more.

Whenever I need you to be a hero, I'll let you shine. When you piss me off, I'll let you crash and burn... I'll elevate you to the clouds, only to drag you back down to hell; it's even more exciting than sex!

In people's eyes, you'll become an enigma. Sometimes you'll seem powerful, but other times utterly helpless. You'll become the center of debate, a controversial hero cop, around whom topics will forever swirl. And I'll be the one pulling all the strings.

So, I like your rebellious attitude -- it means I don't have to hold back when I mess with you. Who would strike at their favorite girl, right? Luckily, you're not my favorite."

Ian chuckled again.

A hero with ups and downs makes for a better story, right?

Katherine snapped, "So that's why you wanted to sleep with me back then?"

Ian shrugged, "That doesn't change anything. Even now, I wouldn't mind if you crawled into my bed. I could be with you while saying all this; that's my little perk for you!"

"Fuck!" Katherine wished she could punch Ian through the phone, "Don't you even think about it. I'm not your puppet!"

Ian shook his head lightly, "That's not for you to decide, Officer Brown. Honestly, the reason I haven't been with you isn't due to your refusal, but because I've been busy with other women lately; I just can't keep up. I'm waiting for the day when I'm superhuman and capable of handling it all. Maybe then I would consider you to fill in the gaps... But I need to warn you; right now I still have some interest in you, but it might fade over time. By then, you may find yourself crawling on the ground, begging like a dog, just to get my attention... You better have a leash ready!"

Before Katherine could retort, he hung up the phone.

---

Crips sat happily in what used to be crazy Jett's office, playing with the toys Jett used, and enjoying the company of women he once was with.

Though the Crips and Bloods were both Black gangs, their relationship was never good; the only thing that could unite them was Fort City Boys 13.

But with Ian -- who was both politically and economically powerful -- behind him, Crips surprised everyone by taking down Bloods first; he hadn't expected that himself.

Although Bloods hadn't been completely annihilated, with many members still scattered outside, they lost their main leader, the crazy Jett, which doomed the gang to become a disorganized mob quickly absorbed by others -- quietly disintegrating in the process.

Gangs might not disappear but simply change territory.

In this confrontation, Crips undoubtedly reaped the most benefits.

He took over Jett's turf and many of his businesses -- golden geese that laid golden eggs.

Jett wasn't just a pimp; that type of business could be profitable and curry favor with the elites but wasn't great for building a strong, lethal crew. Extortion, loansharking, drugs, and smuggling all were part of the deal.

Ian had firmly warned him not to engage in forced prostitution, but beyond that, anything went: if the women weren't coerced, he could run the business.

A crime boss who wasn't obsessed with purity was a good boss!

Except he had one demand: Crips needed to keep feeding him inside information, which would offend many, but he had no choice.

Additionally, Crips was tasked with doing some dirty work Ian shouldn't be seen doing.

For instance, breaking the legs of an obnoxious reporter.

Right now, Crips was happily playing with a golden horse statue from Jett's desk -- a pure gold statue that Ian overlooked and that now belonged to Crips.

...

A knock came at the door.

"Come in." Crips patted the woman beside him, "You can get out now."

The woman covered her mouth and rushed out the door.

Crips yelled, "If you throw up in the bathroom, I'll skin you alive!"

The woman paused, took a deep breath, then turned back to Crips with her mouth open.

"Very good," Crips nodded in satisfaction as he buttoned up his pants, addressing his lackey, "What's up?"

The lackey glanced enviously at the woman leaving and said, "Billy Kirkham said Boyle Kaman is arriving tomorrow afternoon."

Crips instantly felt a thrill.

Billy Kirkham was the head of the claims department for Etna Insurance Company in Los Angeles.

It was him working with local ambulances to reroute and lead patients away from urgent medical care to their deaths.

Both Ian and Crips knew this wasn't a decision Kirkham could make on his own -- he didn't have that much power to spend so much money.

The issue was that Kirkham was merely the face of the black hand; once things went wrong, he would take the blame.

So Ian insisted: they needed to dig deeply.

It was sometimes straightforward for the mob to make someone talk -- "Work with me, or your family pays the price!"

So, they had already figured out who was above Kirkham, but even that didn't seem sufficient.

The Etna Company's trail led upward; to pull one weed without removing the roots could unearth quite a lot. Ian's target was to reach the core executives of Etna Insurance.

In his words: if it didn't involve the board level, it wouldn't mean much.

Therefore, Ian devised a plan.

Crips promptly replied, "Great, you can go now."

...

Once the door closed, Crips exhaled a couple of deep breaths in excitement.

Then he picked up the phone: "Boss, it's me... I've completed the assignments you gave me. It's Boyle Kaman, board member, executive president... Sorry, their chairman isn't here; for now, it's just the executive president... Okay... Alright, boss!"

*****

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