Echoes of Hollywood

Old Lynch had once helped Murphy, so when he couldn't make a living near Old Chinatown, he found Murphy, who funded him to open this café. Although the business wasn't booming, due to the continuous presence of film crews in the warehouse lot and the lack of nearby competition, the café had a decent flow of customers, enough to support Old Lynch's family comfortably.

Compared to Murphy and Carla Faith's sense of nostalgia, Old Lynch was quite upset with Carey Mulligan for not remembering old times.

Having been a small fry at the bottom of society, he naturally vented his frustrations through his words.

"Some people are always forgetful," Old Lynch muttered as he walked back behind the bar. "Good people like Murphy, who remember old friends, are too few..."

His words clearly reached the entrance.

Gail Gadot shook her head, deliberately interrupting Old Lynch, "Carla also wants a plate of Hawaiian nuts."

Carla Faith would never eat such high-fat snacks, but she said nothing, understanding that Gail Gadot was trying to stop Old Lynch from making Carey Mulligan feel worse.

"Let's go inside," she said to Gail Gadot, leading the way to a booth in the corner.

Following closely, Gail Gadot noticed Carey Mulligan watching her as she passed by. She turned and smiled at Carey Mulligan, nodding in greeting.

Carey Mulligan responded with a blank expression.

Ignoring this, Gail Gadot and Carla Faith reached their booth, where a waiter promptly brought two glasses of lemon water and a plate of Hawaiian nuts.

"She might not appreciate your kindness," Carla Faith commented, glancing at the entrance where Carey Mulligan and her agent seemed to be arguing.

At the same time, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the café door open again as a middle-aged man walked in.

Sheriff Gatlin Collins entered the café and immediately spotted his target. He glanced at Carey Mulligan's table and then sat at a nearby one, ordering a latte from the approaching waiter.

As he habitually scanned the café, his eyes fell on the hidden booth occupants. He quickly assessed the situation.

The sound of a chair moving caught his attention. He turned to see Carey Mulligan leaving her seat and heading toward the booth area at the back of the café.

He frowned slightly but didn't follow, not wanting to make his intentions too obvious.

Carey Mulligan, driven by a surge of old thoughts, found herself approaching Gail Gadot and Carla Faith's booth.

"Do you need something?" Gail Gadot asked, noticing her first.

Carey Mulligan nodded, then turned to Carla Faith, "Carla, I'd like to speak to Miss Gadot alone."

Carla Faith, who never had a good impression of her, ignored her and looked at Gail Gadot. After a nod from Gail, Carla stood up.

"I'll be right over there. Call me if you need anything," she said, walking away.

"Please sit," Gail Gadot said politely, indicating the seat opposite her. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you," Carey Mulligan declined.

Not knowing what Carey Mulligan wanted, Gail Gadot remained silent, waiting for her to speak.

"When are you getting married?" Carey Mulligan suddenly asked.

"Married?" Gail Gadot was puzzled. "What marriage?"

"It seems Murphy has no intention of marrying you," Carey Mulligan said, a smile appearing on her previously blank face. "He'll break up with you just like he did with me."

Gail Gadot dropped her polite smile, her dark brown eyebrows knitting together. Carla Faith was right: Carey Mulligan spoke and acted impulsively, without regard for others' feelings. She was willful, rebellious, and... simple-minded!

For someone to try to sow discord between her and Murphy in this manner was either sheer stupidity or blind jealousy.

"Miss Mulligan," Gail Gadot leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, "you'll need to use better tactics than that."

Carey Mulligan's face darkened again.

Anyone trying to drive a wedge between her and Murphy wouldn't find favor with Gail Gadot. She stood up and waved to Carla Faith before heading to the café's entrance.

Seeing Gail Gadot and Carla Faith walking toward the exit, Gatlin Collins realized it was the perfect opportunity.

Leaving his seat, he quickly approached Carey Mulligan, ready to introduce himself, but was interrupted by a voice from behind.

"Who are you?"

Her agent stood between him and Carey Mulligan within a few steps.

Ignoring the agent, Gatlin Collins addressed Carey Mulligan, "Miss Mulligan, I need to speak with you privately."

Already in a bad mood, Carey Mulligan replied curtly, "I'm not interested."

"It concerns Murphy Stanton..." Gatlin Collins paused, adding, "and his girlfriend Gail Gadot."

The agent, not stupid, warned, "Carey..."

"Come on over," Carey Mulligan interrupted, pointing to the seat opposite her. "Sit down."

Then she told her agent, "Wait for me; I'll just chat with him."

The agent wanted to say something but was cut off by Carey Mulligan, "I'll be right here. What could happen?"

She stared him down until he reluctantly returned to their table, gulping down his cold coffee. Dealing with such an impulsive client was exhausting. After just a few months, he already felt drained.

"Who are you?" Carey Mulligan asked directly.

Gatlin Collins had done some research and knew how to win her trust.

He pulled out his badge and placed it on the table, "I'm Sheriff Gatlin Collins from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. I'm investigating an old case involving Murphy Stanton."

Of course, he didn't mention this was a personal endeavor.

Without evidence, getting the LAPD to reopen an investigation into someone as wealthy and famous as Murphy Stanton was nearly impossible.

"An old case involving Murphy Stanton?" Carey Mulligan knew he'd been in prison. "Is this about his time in jail?"

"No," Gatlin Collins shook his head, glad she didn't reject him. "It's about the year he got out, resulting in several deaths and three police officers seriously injured."

Carey Mulligan interjected, "And you had no evidence linking it to Murphy?"

"That's right," Gatlin Collins hinted that Carey Mulligan might know something, adding, "So, we're reopening the investigation."

He briefly explained the case, and Carey Mulligan recalled hearing about it back when she first came to Los Angeles.

"Miss Mulligan," he asked sincerely, "did you notice any unusual behavior or hear anything strange from Murphy Stanton back then?"

Carey Mulligan thought for a moment, "No, I don't recall Murphy mentioning anything like that. In fact, aside from movie business, he never talked about what he did outside of it."

"Can you think back carefully?" Gatlin Collins pressed, "This is very important!"

Carey Mulligan glanced at him but said nothing, her face showing a hint of impatience.

Gatlin Collins intensified his tone, urging, "This is crucial for the police..."

Someone as impulsive as Carey Mulligan wouldn't take kindly to such pressure. Her face turned cold, "I'm British; I have no obligation to cooperate with American police!"

With that, she gave him a cold look and walked away.

Gatlin Collins hadn't expected this and stood there dumbfounded until she rejoined her agent. Only then did he come to his senses.

But now, it was too late to pursue the matter.

Carey Mulligan and her agent left the café, heading toward the business car. Her agent looked at her and suddenly said, "No matter who that was, don't do anything against Murphy Stanton."

Hearing this, Carey Mulligan showed no reaction.

Her agent continued, "Murphy Stanton is one of CAA's top clients. Acting against him is like going against the entire company. Moreover, if an actor harms a major director, word will spread, and the whole of Hollywood will shun them!"

"Enough!" Carey Mulligan suddenly exploded, stopping in her tracks and turning to glare at her agent. "I've had enough of you! Can you stop with your nagging nonsense?"

The agent opened his mouth but couldn't think of a reply.

"You're fired!" Carey Mulligan shouted. "I don't ever want to see you again!"

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