America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 672 Extortion and Shooting Incident

The dark-colored Dodge pickup truck drove into the open camp, and Pedro in the driver's seat asked, "Boss, there are too many cars here. Where are we going to find that idiot Hodgson?"

Sanchez, in the passenger seat, said, "Keep an eye out for a really big Mercedes RV; there should only be one."

Sergio, who was in the back seat, kept staring out the window. Suddenly, he pointed to a tall car in the distance and said, "Boss, look to the left front, isn't that the one?"

Sanchez and Pedro both looked in that direction.

It was a huge, liftable RV, estimated to be over 15 meters long. If you count the second floor that had been raised, it must have been over four meters high. Under the lights, the Mercedes logo was exceptionally eye-catching.

Sanchez glanced at his phone again and said, "A Mercedes campervan, that's it."

Pedro turned around and drove along a road in that direction. There were too many vehicles in the campsite, and the Mercedes RV was surrounded by other vehicles, so the car could not pass quickly.

The three got out of the car. Sanchez slung a bag over his shoulder and walked towards the Mercedes RV, sending Hodgson a text message as he did so: "I've arrived. I brought a lot of goods, enough for you three months. Have the money ready!"

In the sweltering summer heat, after traveling hundreds of miles without even having dinner, Sanchez was fuming. He sent another text message: "You better not mess with me, or I'll shoot you!"

The reply came quickly: "The money is ready."

Sanchez was very satisfied. If the deal went through, it would be a huge success, with the price 30% higher than before, plus a separate delivery fee.

The three walked in the middle of the camp. There were many people coming and going. Some people lit campfires in the open space and drank and ate barbecue.

"Watch out," Sanchez said, touching the pistol under his jacket, warning his two henchmen, "be careful of being double-crossed."

Southern California was far from peaceful; Pedro and Sergio also touched their pistols.

Gradually, the surroundings quieted down. As we approached the Mercedes RV, all the chaos disappeared. It seemed that the people in the campsite deliberately avoided this area so as not to disturb the people in the RV.

…………

The brief gathering in the Mercedes-Benz RV had already come to an end.

Because they had to work normally the next day, Ridley Scott, Jessica Chastain, and others said goodbye and left quickly after having a few drinks.

Besides Martin, Daddario, and Bruce, only Andy Weir, the author of the original novel "The Martian," was still in the RV.

This former programmer, now a science fiction writer, who is nearing forty, has experienced a midlife crisis, and is not good at socializing, has undergone a major change in his life trajectory.

Andy Weir, not one for words, raised his glass: "Martin, this is a toast to you, thank you for everything you've done for me."

Martin clinked glasses with him: "Congratulations on the release of your new book."

Andy Weir downed his drink in one gulp, scratched his head, and said, "Without you, 'The Martian' would only be a serialized story on a web blog..."

He doesn't use fancy words: "I'm leaving the film crew tomorrow to go to New York for my new book launch. I'll give it my all at all the subsequent book signings."

The larger the readership, the more people will buy tickets when the movie is released.

Martin poured him a glass of wine and said, "Andy, I wish you great success with your new book and that our collaboration will be a success."

Just like when Gone Girl was published, this science fiction novel has garnered much attention as Martin and Ridley Scott officially announced that they would be adapting Andy Weir's Martian into a film.

The first half of Andy Weir's novel, which he serialized on his blog, saw its readership increase several hundredfold.

Davis Studios is still working with Random House and will officially publish the full version of The Martian during the Independence Day holiday.

Andy Weir was in a good mood and not very good at expressing his gratitude, so he had a few extra drinks tonight.

He stood up unsteadily, said goodbye, and left.

Martin helped him out of the car and then got back in.

Bruce was about to close the car door when he noticed three Mexican men turning out from behind a trailer.

The three men were unfamiliar faces, and their necks and arms were covered in tattoos.

The leader, carrying a black backpack, kept his right hand on his waist. The two men behind him, one looking to the left and the other to the right, appeared particularly wary.

This is clearly not what a crew member would look like.

Bruce has seen too many people in Hollywood over the years, and he can tell them apart at a glance.

The three men turned and headed towards the Mercedes RV.

Bruce immediately waved to Martin, telling him to be careful.

Martin quickly tugged at D'Addario, reminding him, "Crouch down, right now!"

Daddario was very obedient and immediately squatted down. He glanced at Bruce at the door and thought to himself, "Is he looking for something new and exciting?"

She reached out and grabbed Martin's belt.

Martin reached for the gun, only to find it held by D'Addario; the woman had clearly misunderstood him.

"Danger! Get down!" Martin could only helplessly remind him.

Daddario then realized she had made a mistake, but she wasn't Elizabeth or Blake Lively, and her reaction was much slower than theirs.

She plopped down on the floor and didn't move.

Seeing Martin pull a Glock pistol from a drawer, he realized what had happened.

Fortunately, having received anti-gun training since childhood, Daddario covered his head with his hands, lay prone on the floor, and crawled forward a few steps to clear the main passage.

At the same time, Bruce hid most of his body behind the Mercedes door, and with his hand hidden inside, he pulled out a pistol from under his clothes.

In another nearby RV, Martin's two bodyguards also pulled out guns.

Sanchez glanced up at the RV's logo, which was the Mercedes mentioned in the text message. Looking at the door from the outside illuminated by the Mercedes headlights, he couldn't make out the face clearly, but judging from the figure, it wasn't Hodgson, so he didn't pay much attention.

He knew the person who wanted the goods was Johnny Depp's friend, and Depp always had many friends.

Sanchez asked, "Where's Hodgson? His goods have arrived. Tell him to come out and give me the money."

Bruce released the safety on his pistol: "Hodgson isn't here. You've come to the wrong place. Get out of here."

Sanchez glanced at the car; it was the right car. "Hurry up, stop arguing, give me the money. We've come all this way, don't mess with us, give me the money now!"

"You've got the wrong person. Hodgson isn't here." Bruce pressed the alarm button on the side of the door and warned, "Get out of here."

The film crew's security team, located not far away, was immediately notified.

Pedro stepped forward: "Boss, they're playing us."

The scorching air infuriated Sanchez, who lifted his shirt and touched the handle of his gun.

Bruce warned again, "I don't know you, and I don't know who you are. Get out of here!"

"This game isn't fun, pay up! I want my money, you son of a bitch!" Sanchez's face was extremely ugly. Having spent years selling goods along the US-Mexico border, he was unusually bold and violent: "If you don't pay, you'll regret it!"

He pulled out his gun and tried to point it at Bruce.

Upon seeing their boss's action, Pedro and Sergio, who were behind him, also drew their guns at the same time.

Sanchez had just raised his hand, his finger not yet on the trigger, when the gunshot rang out.

Through the open window of the Mercedes-Benz RV, gun muzzle flashes, and Martin repeatedly pulls the trigger!

Bang! Bang—

Sanchez was shot in both arms at the same time. His pistol fell to the ground, blood spurted from his arms, and he collapsed to the ground with a scream.

Without the slightest hesitation, Martin aimed his gun at the two bastards behind him who had pulled out their guns.

Gunshots rang out from Bruce's side.

Gunshots were also heard from another trailer.

Martin's two bodyguards, though better at spotting trackers, had no difficulty hitting these stationary targets.

Gunshots rang out repeatedly; once Bruce made his move, he wouldn't give the enemy any chance to retaliate.

Tarus also emptied his magazine.

The two bodyguards also emptied their magazines.

Pedro and Sergio collapsed to the ground, their bodies riddled with bullet holes, blood gushing from them.

Daddario covered his head with one hand, hiding in the cramped space next to the sofa, and covered his mouth tightly with the other hand to avoid screaming and affecting the mood of his people.

Martin stood guard outside, gun in hand.

Bruce changed the magazine, glanced at Martin, and turned on the switch next to him. Several large spotlights on the RV turned on, illuminating the surroundings with bright light.

Pedro and Sergio had long since disappeared.

Sanchez lay on the ground, trying to crawl out.

Bruce fired a shot, the bullet grazing Sanchez's head.

Sanchez froze, enduring the excruciating pain as he cried out, "Don't shoot! Don't shoot, I won't move..."

He was puzzled. What was Johnny Depp up to? He made so much money, why would he want to double-cross someone?

"Don't let me live!" Sanchez lay motionless on the ground, his heart filled with hatred for Johnny Depp: "So what if he's a pirate captain? As long as I live, I'll make sure you get a bullet!"

Gunfire shattered the tranquility of the camp, and chaos gradually descended.

The film crew's security personnel ran over and shouted from a distance, "I'm Harrington, what's going on?"

Bruce replied, "Three gunmen stormed in, trying to extort money!"

Harrington issued the order: "Guards! No one else is allowed to enter!"

More than a dozen security personnel rushed to take up advantageous positions. Harrington personally led his men forward to check on the three gunmen and found that two of them were already dead, while the third was lying on the ground pretending to be dead, with bullets in both hands and arms.

Harrington ordered his men, "Take him under control and call the police!"

Then, numerous subordinates reported, "Safe!"

"Safety!"

Bruce got out of the car and stopped Harrington from touching Sanchez's black backpack, saying, "Wait for the police or the FBI to arrive."

In the car, Martin made a direct call to Neves, an old acquaintance of the FBI, and the FBI would arrive as quickly as possible.

Once Bruce was back in the car, Martin said, "Get the wounded bandaged up. Don't let anyone die."

Bruce nodded: "Harrington had someone do some basic hemostasis and locked the man up. The crew doctor will be here soon."

Martin checked the RV's external security camera and said, "The camera should have recorded it."

He checked the vehicle's computer; the vehicle's surveillance system had captured the entire process.

Ridley Scott called, and Martin told him he was fine, which gave him time to comfort Daddario.

"I'm fine," Daddario said, trying to sound calm.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine." Martin saw Ridley through the car window: "Have some Coke, dessert can help ease the tension. I'm going to see the director."

(End of this chapter)