Chapter 32: Gossip and Scandals are Too Tame
Chapter 32: Gossip and Scandals are Too Tame
In a corner unit of a Santa Monica apartment building, Hawk, disguised with a wig and a glued-on mustache, pulled open the curtains.
The fourth-floor apartment had windows facing south and east, with nine-meter-high streetlamp poles below. The height made climbing up nearly impossible while still allowing Hawk a quick escape through the windows if necessary.
At the table, Hawk spread out a set of photographs in a circular pattern, placing Robert Downey Jr. at the center. Around him were pictures of Downey’s wife, Deborah, his agent, and two frequent companions.
With a pen, Hawk marked Deborah and the two companions.
Inspired by Edward’s comments, Hawk saw Deborah as a potential emotional trigger. To dig deeper, he needed more information about Downey and the people closest to him.
The companions, often more intimate than a wife in Hollywood, were key. In both Hawk’s photos and online reports, these two—a fat man and a bald one—appeared frequently at Downey’s side.
Unable to find much about them online, Hawk left his apartment and took the old subway to Inglewood, where he located a private detective agency specializing in tracking and photographing cheating spouses.
Adopting an East Coast accent, Hawk handed over the photos of the two companions along with $1,000 cash as an advance. He left a new phone number for updates.