American variety show: Sniper Elite

Chapter 77 Party
Beta stood in the garage, staring at the bright red Cadillac Escalade, his lips twitching slightly.

The girly color scheme was so eye-catching that he didn't even want to open the car door, let alone drive this "red behemoth" across New York City to take Matilda to the meeting place Mindy had designated.

“Don’t even think about it, Matilda.” Beta crossed her arms and refused decisively: “I’d rather walk across Manhattan than touch this moving red candy box.”

Matilda has donned her signature street style: a jacket over a simple T-shirt, paired with hot pants and ankle boots. This outfit seems to be her second skin; she stubbornly maintains this slightly rebellious street style regardless of the season or weather.

Matilda retorted defiantly, "You were the one who agreed to it!"

As she spoke, she rushed forward and forcefully shoved Beta's arm. But given Beta's physique, Matilda's strength was no match for him.

Beta suggested, "How about we switch cars? Mindy said the place where she and her dad played with guns was very secluded, right?"

“If we drive such an eye-catching car, wouldn’t that expose that secret base? What do you think?” Beta asked Matilda inquiringly.

Matilda stared at him for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Alright. But you wouldn't be making up this excuse because you don't want to drive my 'Strawberry General,' would you?"

Beta turned to look at the bright red Cadillac Escalade: "'Strawberry General'? You have a good talent for naming things. You actually noticed. I do have a bit of a dislike for this car."

Matilda turned her face away: "I'm just young, not stupid!"

Beta opened the passenger door of the Dodge Challenger next to him and made an exaggerated "please" gesture: "Come on, high-horsepower rear-wheel drive V8, 485 horsepower, this is the kind of car our line of work should drive."

Matilda climbed into the car, frowning. "It's so cramped."

John pushed open the door to the garage and walked in, just in time to see Beta and Matilda getting into the black Dodge Challenger. He looked around the garage; now only the bright red Escalade remained.

Beta rolled down the car window and leaned out to ask, "Are you going out?"

John nodded: "Yeah."

"Where are you going?" Beta pressed.

“Find my car, that Mustang.” John had no choice but to open the door of the Escalade and get into the driver’s seat with its red interior.

Beta got out of the car and walked to Cadillac's side: "Do you know where it is?"

John started the engine, and Cadillac roared a deep rumble: "Yeah, at Vigo's brother's place."

"I'll go get it for you." Beta placed his hand on the car door frame. "Can't you, an old man, just retire and rest in peace?"

“What’s taken from me, I’ll take back with my own hands,” John said firmly, leaving Beta no room for negotiation. He pressed the window button, blocking Beta from entering the car.

"How old are you? Still using this old-fashioned style?" Beta took two steps back, making room for Keled.

With a low growl from the engine, John drove the Escalade slowly out of the garage. The tires swished over the gravel driveway. The car traced a red arc in the sunlight, turned right, and disappeared at the end of the road, leaving only a few bouncing pebbles and a wisp of exhaust fumes behind.

Beta shook his head and walked back to the Challenger, muttering, "Childish, stubborn to death."

He opened the car door, got into the driver's seat, and turned to Matilda, saying, "See? John isn't even that old yet, but he's already living like a stubborn old man."
-

The Dodge Challenger slowly drove into the archway beneath the abandoned railway bridge and came to a smooth stop at the roadside. Matilda unbuckled her seatbelt, pushed open the door, and jumped out. She bent over, hands on her knees, and vomited.

As the roar of the V8 engine gradually faded, the area around the abandoned railway bridge fell into silence.

Occasionally, vehicles would drive by on the distant streets, but the area appeared particularly desolate, with almost no shops open and few pedestrians to be seen.

Beta took a CZ P10C pistol from the car and tucked it into the quick-draw holster on his waist. He slammed the car door shut and glanced across the riverbank on the other side of the bridge arch.

There was no one there, only a gentle breeze rustling the weeds on the bank.

Matilda finally recovered from her motion sickness, and the first thing she did was to confront Beta. That madman was speeding through downtown New York City.

She stormed towards Beta, raising her leg to kick his shin. Beta simply reached out and pressed down on her head, making the fierce little girl unable to move an inch.

“Looks like you need to work on your fighting skills.” Beta looked down at her. “Right now, I call it ‘Bear Fist’.”

On the riverbank opposite the bridge arch, a blond head suddenly peeked out from behind a brick wall around the corner. Immediately afterward, a middle-aged man followed Mindy out from around the corner.

Beta sized up the newcomer.

Standing next to Mindy was a brown-haired man wearing a beige jacket, blue jeans, and sneakers, with a mustache and glasses perched on his nose. His attire was as ordinary as that of a typical nine-to-five office worker.

The man stepped forward and extended his hand to Beta: "Damon McCready, former Los Angeles Police Department detective." His hand was broad and strong, with several noticeable scars on his knuckles.

“I usually bring my daughter here to play with guns, to be honest.” He glanced at Mindy and smiled helplessly, “When she told me that she had invited friends and parents to come along, I was really surprised.”

Beta grasped the other's hand, feeling the calluses on his palm: "Saron Wick."

He turned to look at Matilda, who was whispering with Mindy: "To be honest, when this kid said he wanted to come here to play with guns, my reaction was similar to yours."

Mike nodded slightly, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth: "Looks like we both have troublesome kids."

The two walked forward side by side, Beta subtly adjusting his pace to remain on Mike's right. This position allowed his right hand to be at the optimal angle for attack, enabling him to draw his pistol from his waist with a single movement.

As Beta walked, she asked, "Bringing Mindy to a place like this to practice shooting, is that her hobby? Wouldn't a proper shooting range be more suitable?"

He spoke casually, but his eyes were always scanning his surroundings.

Mike shrugged: "I give her all sorts of high-powered stuff to play with."

He pointed to the riverbank: "Many shooting ranges either don't allow minors in or restrict them from using full-power bullets, but this place is different."

He looked around at the abandoned bridge archway: "No one will disturb us, and the gunshots won't reach the residential area. It couldn't be more perfect."

Beta glanced at the former policeman out of the corner of his eye: "Coincidentally, Matilda is also fascinated by firearms."

(End of this chapter)