At dawn, Los Angeles was shrouded in darkness. Unlike the bustling, never-sleeping streets like Rodeo Drive, this area was eerily quiet at night. Few people ventured out alone, as the night truly belonged to the shadows.
Several cars departed from Old Chinatown and soon arrived near a somewhat rundown bar. The leader gave a signal, and the people in the cars found hidden spots around the bar, waiting for their target to appear.
As the sun gradually rose, light dispersed the darkness, and the once lifeless streets came back to life. More people appeared on the streets, and the rundown bar, unlike others that opened in the afternoon, opened its doors early, seemingly expecting customers at this hour.
Two black sedans suddenly appeared on the road, drawing closer and closer...
Gunfire erupted on the streets of Los Angeles, scattering pedestrians. The crazy Vietnamese had made a wild move, but the other side wasn't defenseless. After a brief panic, they drew their guns and fired back...
While shootings are not uncommon in America, street shootouts are rare. This incident quickly became front-page news in many media outlets, even catching the attention of Murphy, who was focused on his script.
To be precise, his lawyer Robert called to inform him, prompting Murphy to pay special attention to the news.
The reason was simple: one side of the incident involved the Vietnamese gang that Ross had mentioned, eager to seize the market. The other side was Ross, the ruler of the underground market in downtown Los Angeles!
After reading the news, Murphy immediately asked Robert to use his connections to gather information and called Robert Downey Jr., who was filming "Iron Man 2." Like Murphy, Downey Jr. dropped everything and rushed back to Los Angeles from the Las Vegas set.
"This shooting in the city caused six deaths and thirteen injuries!"
In the reception room of Wave Manor, Robert quickly relayed what he had learned to Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. "Ross wasn't injured, but like everyone else at the scene, he was arrested by the police. Things don't look good for him."
"Can he be bailed out?" Murphy asked.
Robert shook his head. "There's no chance for bail! This is the most serious shooting incident in Los Angeles since the North Hollywood shootout, and the media is closely following it. The LAPD is under immense pressure."
Murphy frowned, and Robert Downey Jr. looked just as troubled.
"This is no longer just a LAPD case," Robert reminded Murphy. "You saw the media reports; Washington authorities are also paying attention."
He looked at Murphy and warned, "This is beyond your control. No one can cover this up."
With such a severe incident and media exposure, attracting even more media attention and Washington's involvement, not even Murphy or Robert Downey Jr. could entirely cover it up and get Ross off lightly.
"Weren't the Vietnamese the ones who started it?" Robert Downey Jr. asked.
"Yes, the Vietnamese initiated it, so the police are cracking down on their operations in Los Angeles," Robert spread his hands. "But the problem is, your friend's record isn't clean."
From what he had gathered, the Vietnamese acted purely out of revenge because several of their leaders had disappeared earlier and remained missing.
Murphy paced around and asked, "Robert, what can we do?"
"You'd better do nothing," Robert warned. "Stay out of this."
The media were closely watching the developments. For a public figure like Murphy to get involved would be unwise.
"That's not possible," Murphy said, standing by the window and looking out. "I can't do that."
There was no way he could stand by and do nothing about Ross's situation. He knew that with what Ross had done, even if he didn't get the death penalty, he would likely face hundreds of years in prison.
Robert Downey Jr. suddenly said, "I remember Ross has some connections in the police."
"At this point, those connections won't help Ross," Robert shook his head, "and might even make things worse for him."
Murphy nodded slightly. The world was never purely black or white.
"Figure something out," Murphy told Robert. "Ensure Ross's safety. Money is not an issue."
For him, any problem solvable with money was not a problem.
Robert nodded, "I know what to do."
Like the previous investigation scandal, the police force was never a monolith; conflicts and factions were always present.
"What else can we do?" Robert Downey Jr. asked urgently.
Whether in prison or avenging the Douglas family, Ross had helped him a lot. He might be a complete scoundrel, but he understood the principles of repaying debts and seeking revenge.
Murphy gestured for Downey Jr. to calm down and asked Robert, "What do you think will happen next?"
"It will inevitably go through the judicial process."
This was a certainty. With the incident blowing up to this extent, it couldn't just disappear. Robert knew the rapid spread of information in this era and the pressure from media scrutiny, "Moreover, Ross's past deeds will be unearthed and used against him. He can't escape judicial punishment."
Even without Robert's explanation, Murphy could foresee this. Someone like Ross, the underground king of downtown Los Angeles, was insignificant before the mighty state apparatus. The so-called tycoons like them were equally insignificant. Getting Ross out of jail, unless by breaking him out, seemed impossible.
Breaking him out? Murphy shook his head. This wasn't a movie. Even if it didn't risk him and Downey Jr. being implicated, the chances of success were slim to none.
America might be a land of wealth, but anyone daring to challenge the foundational aspects of the state apparatus would face severe consequences.
Sitting back down on the sofa, Murphy thought for a while and told Robert, "Contact Ross's lawyer and organize a top-notch legal team."
This was the best solution he could think of at the moment.
"Alright." Robert nodded, stood up, and said, "I'll handle it now."
"Keep me updated on any developments," Murphy instructed. "And if possible, arrange for me to meet Ross."
"I'll do my best."
Robert couldn't guarantee this.
After Robert left Wave Manor to handle Murphy's instructions, Downey Jr. remained in the reception room, frowning. The feeling of being powerless was frustrating.
Murphy patted his shoulder lightly, "It'll be alright."
These words were just for comfort. Both Murphy and Downey Jr. knew that even with a whole legal team, this case wouldn't turn into another Simpson trial. Getting Ross acquitted was nearly impossible. The best they could hope for was to reduce the charges and avoid severe penalties, especially the death penalty.
Although twelve states in America had abolished the death penalty, California was not among them. California not only retained the death penalty but also had the highest number of death row inmates in the country. The state prison where Murphy once stayed held the largest number of death row inmates.
What if Ross was sentenced to death?
It wasn't paranoia; any situation had to be considered from the worst possible angle and then worked towards the best outcome.
With this in mind, Murphy called Robert, who had just left, and received a somewhat reassuring response.
California's death penalty execution process was exceedingly long, often taking years or even decades of litigation, which was why it had the most death row inmates.
Death penalty was the worst possible outcome. Other penalties still had room for maneuvering. Murphy and Downey Jr. wanted to avoid the death penalty at all costs.
But this was beyond their control. An individual's power often seemed insignificant against the vast societal machinery.
Of course, to many, someone like Ross deserved whatever harsh punishment he received.
Murphy couldn't control how others saw it. He only knew what he had to do.
Such a case was undoubtedly a major one, catching national attention. In the ensuing time, nearly all American media followed it closely. The overwhelming media storm could drown anyone. Murphy quietly waited, seeking the best opportunities through various channels.
Facing intense public pressure, the LAPD demonstrated high efficiency. And honestly, given Ross's actions, a thorough investigation would certainly reveal many incriminating details. Moreover, even Washington was now involved.
No exaggeration, the conflict between Ross and the Vietnamese had become the biggest case in America since the start of 2010.
The LAPD swiftly eradicated the Vietnamese influence, while the media preemptively branded Ross with monstrous crimes.
In this situation, a massive legal team emerged. One of America's largest law firms took on the case, providing defense services for Ross.
Murphy closely monitored the case, temporarily halting his script work. But truthfully, his ability to act was limited. Besides assembling a huge legal team and secretly ensuring no harm came to Ross, there wasn't much he could do.
Amid this turmoil, Gal Gadot finally returned to Los Angeles from Israel.
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