The surveillance footage provided clear evidence: three black men entered the house via the back door and cruelly shot Daisy and John. Upon hearing activity at the front door, they swiftly retreated through the back door, making their getaway in a Toyota.
The Toyota's license plate number was captured clearly by the camera.
The brutal killing of his cherished dogs enraged Marcus. He layered a large coat over his tactical vest and turned to Kane and Martin, saying, "Please wait for the LAPD. I'll be back shortly. They can't have gone too far."
Chad was the first to speak up, cautioning, "Marcus, stay calm!"
Martin grasped Marcus's arm and tried to persuade him with genuine concern, saying, "You know, you shared your Afghanistan experience with me to discuss future memoirs and film adaptations. Do you want me to spend my days visiting you in prison for project discussions?"
These words started out businesslike but carried a heartfelt tone that resonated with Marcus. In a deep and steady voice, he replied, "Martin, I appreciate your concern. I won't act impulsively. But they killed my dogs, and I can't let them escape. I must bring them to justice with my own hands."
Chad, worried about Marcus, offered, "I'll go with you."
The two men left in haste.
As Marcus departed the house, he glanced back at his dogs' lifeless bodies, patting his chest, and declared, "For Daisy! For John!"
To Martin, this scene seemed like a real-life version of John Wick.
A relentless pursuit for the sake of a dog?
It made him recall a movie he planned to discuss with Chad once he was more experienced.
Unexpectedly, he found himself in a similar situation.
One man, one dog, and one gun!
It was a 'you took my dog's life, now I'll take yours' scenario.
The movie portrayed a relentless vendetta, where the protagonist eliminated not just the murderer but their entire gang and family.
For Martin, the memories of John Wick series was more than the any other films he'd watched over the past decade, most of which he couldn't even remember the names of. He had even seen the fourth installment before succumbing to suffocation, and his memory of it was quite vivid.
Watching Marcus chase down four individuals for the sake of his dog made Martin realize that this retired Navy SEAL's value extended beyond just his memoirs. He nodded to Old Bruce and followed him.
Seeing everyone leaving, Kane voiced his concern, "Are you leaving me here?"
Martin retrieved a card from his wallet, the one given by the LAPD, and tossed it to Kane, instructing, "The PD is on its way. Show them this."
Kane recognized the card and replied, "Be careful."
Martin exited and got into the Escalade. Bruce quickly accelerated to catch up with Marcus's pickup truck.
Both vehicles headed for the back door, a one-way street leading directly out of the community.
The pickup truck ahead was speeding up, and it wasn't challenging for Bruce to keep pace.
Martin gazed outside, clutching his pistol and watching the rapidly changing scenery. He couldn't help but feel like he was chasing down a murderer.
Originally, Martin had little hope of finding the culprits. In such situations, a typical person would flee as fast as possible.
Maybe the thought processes of elderly African Americans were different, or maybe they didn't think much at all.
As they exited the community, Martin saw the Toyota slowly heading south ahead.
The culprits had been caught on the surveillance camera, and they couldn't deny their involvement.
Martin didn't want to witness a street shootout or see Marcus behind bars, so he pulled out his phone and called Chad. He said, "Tell Marcus not to act impulsively. Follow them and find their hideout!" Martin targeted Marcus's psychology and added, "Black people tend to stick together, especially these thugs who like to form gangs. They must have accomplices. Let's tail them, find their lair, and apprehend them all at once. This way, we can truly avenge Daisy and John."
Chad switched to speaker mode, and Marcus heard clearly. He responded, "Old Bruce, let's tail them."
Bruce replied, "No problem. You follow, and I'll inform you when I approach."
Marcus and Bruce took turns trailing the Toyota, and the occupants of the car ahead remained oblivious to their tail.
Upon reaching a warehouse near a small pier in Santa Monica, the Toyota parked by the side of the road, and the four men entered the warehouse.
Bruce parked the car at a distance.
Martin immediately phoned McClain of the LAPD.
Seeing Chad and Marcus exit the pickup truck, Martin and Bruce also stepped out of the Escalade.
Marcus used a military telescope to observe the distant warehouse.
Seeing that Marcus had somewhat calmed down, Bruce said, "These guys are just brainless thugs. There's no need to engage them. Martin has already called the police. They'll be here soon, and once they're inside, there are various ways to handle the situation..."
Marcus nodded, saying, "I won't act recklessly." He glanced at Martin with gratitude, knowing he had helped and wouldn't cause major trouble for others. "Let's resolve this through official channels."
Martin patted his arm and assured him, "Just wait a little longer; the LAPD is on the way."
Bruce took Marcus's binoculars and examined the situation more closely. He noticed that there were more than four individuals in the warehouse and remarked, "The chance of a black gang like this in Los Angeles not being involved in drugs is minuscule."
Martin, wanting to avoid drawing attention, returned to the car.
Chad spoke to Marcus in hushed tones, "You've recently returned from Afghanistan. You need to adjust to the way things work in Los Angeles. It's not all about violence and killing."
Marcus observed a large convoy of police cars in the distance and remarked, "There's still goodness in this world."
Chad gave a thumbs-up and added, "Understanding this will make it easier to navigate Hollywood."
As the largest violent group in Los Angeles arrived, the seven or eight individuals in the warehouse offered no resistance and were all promptly arrested. These individuals displayed some degree of intelligence, possibly sensing that their crimes weren't severe. By not resisting, they might serve a few months, or at most a year or two in jail, and they'd still be content upon release. Had they resisted, their lives might have been in jeopardy due to their ethnicity.
Martin made a few calls and then informed Marcus, "A significant amount of illegal drugs was discovered on the scene. It'll take them a while to sort this out."
The LAPD promised to handle the matter impartially.
Marcus expressed his gratitude, saying, "I understand. Thank you, Martin, for giving me the chance to..."
Martin raised his hand to halt him, asserting, "The rest is not within my purview."
Marcus comprehended that Martin, as a public figure, needed to distance himself from these matters and nodded in acknowledgment, remembering the favor.
Regarding what to do next, Marcus's expertise lay in counter-terrorism, and he had numerous comrades in Los Angeles.
The four men departed in two vehicles and returned to Marcus's home.
Today wasn't the appropriate time to discuss other topics. Martin, Chad, and Bruce left promptly, while Kane stayed behind to oversee the arrangements for the two Labrador Retrievers' funerals. Due to the involvement of animal cruelty and killings, temporary measures were taken, including freezing the bodies. Kane found a professional agency to handle this.
Once the house was cleaned, Kane noticed Marcus's somber mood and tried to console him, saying, "They wouldn't want to see you grieving in the afterlife."
Marcus fetched two bottles of beer, handing one to Kane, and remarked, "Tomorrow, I'll get back on my feet, and I have a new purpose."
Kane agreed, saying, "This could be a great opportunity."
Marcus popped open a beer on the door frame and shared, "Martin is a good man."
Kane provided a reminder, "He certainly is. Among Hollywood stars, he's one who stands by his principles. But he's able to do this because your experiences are valuable."
Having faced life and death situations, Marcus had gained a clear perspective, asserting, "Worthless people get discarded wherever they go, much like the weak who get culled from the military."
Kane encouraged him, saying, "Seize your own path."
Marcus nodded with a strong sense of determination.
...
On the other side, Martin, Bruce, and Chad found a place to have lunch.
Bruce savored the aroma of Brazilian barbecue.
Chad, deep in thought, slowly set down his knife and fork.
Martin took a sip of lemonade and began, "Marcus, Daisy and John made me think of the 'mountains with eyes apart.'"
Bruce continued eating, seemingly ignoring the remark.
Chad, on the other hand, raised his gaze to Martin.
Martin continued, "If we hadn't crossed paths with each other, Marcus could be viewed as a different kind of individual. One gun and one dog. Given his extensive combat experience, he'd have no trouble eliminating those thugs with a surprise attack." Bruce added, "In a direct confrontation, Marcus could take them down."
Martin, looking at Chad, asked directly, "Can this section be adapted into an action film?"
Chad had been contemplating this idea, and it became clearer after hearing Martin's words. He said, "A retired operative, a specialist in killing, returns home with only his beloved dog as a companion. Some thugs break into his house and kill his dog. He picks up the weapon he had long left behind and seeks vengeance for his dog."
Chad then shook his head, saying, "This is a different kind of Rambo, it doesn't quite fit."
Martin took another sip of lemonade, suggesting, "You could alter it to focus on an assassin, someone like Wesley, who leaves the killing business to be with their loved one. However, tragedy strikes when the loved one falls terminally ill and passes away, leaving only their pet dog. This way, the dog holds special significance, and the subsequent actions are more convincing." Chad considered this for a moment and said, "That makes sense! The assassin industry is unique, with many complications upon entering and leaving. The protagonist's past is bound to catch up with him, and even the assassin organizations won't let him go easily. The person who kills his dog could be part of a powerful assassin organization..."
"Perhaps it can be designed as a coalition of multiple assassin organizations?" Martin briefly touched on the concepts of the Continental Hotel and the High Table.
Chad took a napkin and began jotting down everything he and Martin had discussed.
Bruce interjected, "If you're making an action film, it's best to keep it simple and concise. I've been browsing the internet a lot recently, and netizens are quite fed up with drawn-out and sloppy action scenes, especially villains who talk too much. Martin directly stated, "The response to 'Wanted' was very positive. The fast, cool, and exhilarating action scenes received the most praise. Why don't we create an action film that's even more thrilling and exciting than 'Wanted'?" He added, emphasizing self-indulgence, "There's no need for overly complex emotional exchanges, let alone delving into human nature and philosophical pondering with an assassin. He's already an assassin; why would he be concerned with that? It's crazy."
Chad grasped Martin's point, remarking, "Emphasize the charm of the main character to the fullest, and have him eliminate his targets from start to finish."
Martin concluded, "Think it through carefully."
Before Martin could continue, Chad stated, "I'll draft an outline. It can serve as a contracted project with the studio."