Chapter 54: For The Lead Actor

In the midst of chaos, Bruce rushed to the scene, his camera now focusing on the handcuffed Ward and Adam Smith.

Lynch, observing the situation, wondered how this guy became a reporter. However, he couldn't inquire further due to his ongoing mission. The discovered cans were meticulously opened, their contents placed into the car, all of it recorded by law enforcement cameras.

Lynch instructed his subordinates to identify Ward and Adam Smith to ensure they weren't their "informants."

Adam Smith, seeing the cans, was visibly surprised. He endured the pain and protested, "These aren't ours! You've got it all wrong!"

Ward joined in, insisting, "Certainly not ours!"

The two couldn't help but argue. At a glance, how could something that should belong in Martin's car be found in theirs?

A DEA agent activated a purple light to examine the can, remarking, "There are fingerprints on it; it can easily be verified."

Lynch waved dismissively, ordering, "Remove it!"

Bruce had an idea and asked aloud, "Agent, what's happening here?"

Lynch, partly due to their shared history, decided to respond instead of giving him the finger. "Dealer, you've got both stolen goods and the people."

Bruce's camera remained focused on Ward and Adam Smith, and despite his unfamiliarity with the equipment, he managed to capture their expressions flawlessly.

Meanwhile, the two APD officers found nothing and had no choice but to release Martin.

Martin voiced a few reserved complaints and threats of legal action, then got into his car and drove away.

Half an hour later, Martin and Bruce reunited in a parking lot.

Bruce handed over the camera to Martin, who reviewed the footage. "I'll contact you later," he said, about to leave but then remembered something. He pulled out Kate Winslet's signed photo and gave it to Bruce, saying, "Bruce, consider this my way of paying you back."

Bruce accepted it, examined the photo, his face breaking into a grin, and he planted a hearty kiss on it. "This is the first time I've seen you willingly settling a debt," he teased.

Martin, not wanting to witness further antics, quickly hopped into his car and phoned Elena. He arranged for her to meet with a friend who could extract the video and edit out the part filmed by Bruce.

The small camera would be returned to Andrew, and the video would be copied onto a USB drive.

Acts of justice needed to be shared.

By the way, was the troublemaker from the past also dealt with?

Martin located a suitable TV station using media contacts Bruce had collected earlier. He used a payphone to inform them of important news leads. With a pair of old-fashioned glasses, a wig, and a fake beard, he disguised himself.

Not far from the TV station, Nina, a middle-aged deputy editor of a news program, met him.

Nina plugged in the USB drive and watched the video of the DEA arrest. She commented, "I'll take this. You can collect your $100."

Martin pointed at the screen. "It's worth way more than $100! Just look at it; they seized a substantial haul. The DEA deployed over a dozen agents. It's a major operation. With this, we could follow the DEA closely and generate a series of reports."

Nina shook her head. "Atlanta's overflowing with such stories."

Martin persisted, emphasizing Adam Smith. "Take a closer look at this guy. Does he look familiar to you?"

Nina examined him closely. "He does seem familiar. I remember now; he's Adam Smith."

"Exactly!" Martin snapped his fingers. "He's a star here in Atlanta."

Martin praised Adam Smith further. "He has hundreds of thousands of fans in Georgia, maybe even more. He's a real celebrity! This is big news!"

As far as Nina knew, Adam Smith was indeed quite popular among late-night drama viewers, especially women.

Martin continued his pitch. "He frequents high-end women's clubs and is highly sought after. Could he be connected to these goods? You could uncover a lot of news."

Nina thought it over. "Let's talk price."

Martin suggested, "A scandal involving a big star is worth $3,000!"

Nina countered, "Start with $500."

After some negotiation, they settled on $1,200.

Martin left the station with two $600 checks.

Adam Smith would make the news that night.

Martin separately called Robert and Bruce and invited them to dinner.

Robert arrived first at the restaurant and took a seat across from Martin. "I said I'd treat you to dinner, but I never found the time."

Martin pretended not to hear and handed him a check. "Consider this your reward."

Robert glanced at the amount, quickly pocketing it. "Don't even think about getting it back from me."

Martin insisted, "I can't let you help for free."

Bruce arrived just then, and Martin asked them to place their orders.

When the food arrived, he handed Bruce another check. "For your scavenger services."

Bruce didn't move, stating, "You already paid me."

Martin argued, "It was just a photo."

Bruce playfully stuck out his tongue and licked his lip.

Martin quickly stopped him, saying, "No need to say anything; I understand."

He couldn't repay Bruce with a photo. "I don't know how you managed to get the DEA involved in seeking justice. You always have to hire someone. I can't let you pay for dinner, and your money can also be put to better use."

"Enough!" Bruce brushed the check aside and stowed it away. "You're still the same old piece of crap."

The three of them continued to enjoy their dinner, undisturbed.

Bruce was curious, asking, "Why did that idiot target you?"

Martin made an educated guess and informed them, "Director Benjamin from Gray Entertainment wrote a script that drew inspiration from my words and experiences. The script was temporarily approved, but Kaily suppressed it. However, once the project gets the green light and the investment crosses one million, it might hit theaters."

Bruce grasped the situation, noting, "So he saw you as a competitor and tried to eliminate you in advance?" He shook his head, disheartened, and remarked, "This industry isn't much better than ours."

Martin shrugged off the grim reality, saying, "For losers like us, which industry isn't tough? To climb the ladder, you not only have to pull down those above you but also step on those below."

He continued, "I'll send you the video you captured. Take it to the TV station; it'll make the news tonight. Adam Smith is somewhat famous in Atlanta."

Bruce chimed in, teasing, "You practically brought about his demise."

"I get it!" Robert suddenly realized, "You killed Adam Smith. You were the top choice for the lead role in that play."

Martin's voice resonated with conviction, "My friend, this is the duty of Atlanta's citizens. I have a passion for justice. I'm battling against evil, and that doesn't align with gambling and drug addiction."

Robert shook his head, lamenting, "No wonder I can't land a significant role. It's tough being the leading man. I should be ashamed!"

Bruce chimed in, summing it up, "Because he's got everything in his head, that stinky piece of crap."

After their meal, Martin called Buckley and provided him with another copy of the video. Out of respect for their past collaboration, he didn't ask for payment this time.

The evening news featured the video of Adam Smith being apprehended by the DEA.

The Atlanta Star continued to cover the story for several days, obtaining detailed information from the DEA. The evidence was compelling, and Adam Smith had transitioned from custody to arrest.

A search of Adam Smith's residence by the DEA unearthed a substantial amount of incriminating evidence.

With various subsequent legal proceedings and cases, Adam Smith found himself temporarily ineligible for bail.

Simultaneously, the DEA discreetly confirmed that the seized goods had no connection to either the DEA or the CIA.

In the interest of the nation's security, these unregulated illicit goods and their distribution channels had to be eradicated.