American TV Writer

Sitting in a seemingly ordinary Buick car, observing the entrance of the 12th precinct, was the "Gunsmith," a black man who appeared as unremarkable as the car he was in. In reality, as a member of the Assassin Brotherhood with his own unique title, the Gunsmith's expertise wasn't so much in killing as an assassin, but in modifying firearms. He was the Brotherhood's go-to gunsmith, known for crafting top-tier weapon modifications. His status within the Brotherhood wasn't much lower than that of the now-departed Cross, although Cross was a top field operative, while the Gunsmith was more of a manager, second only to Sloan, the leader of the Assassin Brotherhood.

The Gunsmith was also one of Sloan's staunchest supporters in transforming the Brotherhood from a "righteous" organization killing under the pretense of justice into a money-driven killing machine. After all, aside from the butcher, a psychopath who enjoyed torturing innocent victims, and Fox, who had been brainwashed into mindless obedience, no one in the Brotherhood really opposed Sloan's changes. The truth was, killing for justice just didn't pay well, and even idealistic assassins needed to make a living.

The Gunsmith had been a vocal advocate of Sloan's shift from ideals to profit, which is why he now had the opportunity to eliminate the female police chief. Despite Cross's recent betrayal, causing chaos within the Brotherhood, Sloan had sent Fox on a diversionary mission with Cross's son to keep Cross distracted in another part of New York. This move was a favor to the Gunsmith for his unwavering support, giving him the chance to earn the $5 million reward for killing the police chief. Even after giving Sloan his cut, the Gunsmith would still walk away with a couple of million—no small amount.

While the Brotherhood had shifted under Sloan's leadership from a "justice-driven" organization to a mercenary one, the reality was that big contracts weren't always easy to come by. Organizations like the High Table and the Continental had far more manpower and resources, constantly competing for top-tier contracts. Despite the Brotherhood's fearsome reputation, the assassins weren't as wealthy as many might think. Completing a mission perfectly required significant investment in intelligence, equipment, and support.

That's why when Senator William Bracken placed a contract on the police chief, it wasn't just a matter of Sloan currying favor with the senator. The $5 million bounty on each target, including the police chief, was a major factor behind Sloan's willingness to send Fox on a dangerous mission to distract Cross. For Sloan, the simplest job of eliminating Beckett, the weakest and least cautious of the three targets, was entrusted to the Gunsmith—a loyal and unwavering supporter who deserved to reap the rewards of his loyalty.

Now, sitting comfortably in his inconspicuous Buick, the Gunsmith waited for Beckett to appear. To his surprise, the tall man who had just stepped out of a taxi at the precinct entrance was none other than another target: Richard Castle, the writer. The Gunsmith hadn't expected to see Castle, and in Sloan's original plan, Castle's elimination was supposed to be handled by another assassin. But now, with the Gunsmith being the only one stationed at the precinct, it was clear that dispatching someone else from the Brotherhood's New Jersey headquarters wasn't feasible.

Reporting this discovery to Sloan, the Gunsmith received authorization to take out both Beckett and Castle. The prospect of eliminating two targets at once thrilled him. The potential payout would net him five or six million dollars—a stroke of incredible luck.

What the Gunsmith didn't know was that Castle, while outwardly a writer, was much more dangerous than he appeared. Though the Gunsmith had taken down many ordinary targets before, he had no idea that this time his prey was a wolf in sheep's clothing. He'd soon regret his decision.

Meanwhile, Castle had already contacted his tech-savvy friend, who wasted no time launching two drones. Luckily, days earlier, Castle had prepared for this moment by having a contact in Rome ship over the drones and control equipment to his hideout. With his friend Mozzie controlling the drones, they were sent flying towards the area around the precinct.

Castle's friend also hacked into New York's traffic control system, hoping to spot any clues from the cameras spread throughout the city. He shared the live feed with Castle, who needed to identify the hidden assassin. Castle had no illusions about being able to pinpoint the assassin himself from the video feed—that was going to be Castle's job.

Beckett, meanwhile, was dumbfounded as she watched Castle's frantic actions after finishing his phone call. Her computer, manipulated by Castle, now displayed a split screen—one side showing the feed from the drones, the other from the traffic cameras. She was livid.

"Castle, do you even know what you're doing? You and that guy, Harry, are way too reckless! You're hacking into the city's traffic control right in front of me, a police chief! Do you think I don't exist?" Beckett fumed.

Castle, eyes glued to the live feeds, replied without looking up. "Beckett, this is different. This isn't like any assassination attempt you've faced before. These guys from the Assassin Brotherhood are insane. They're highly skilled, and they have ancient, mysterious techniques. One slip-up, and we're both dead. I'm not joking."

Beckett was taken aback by Castle's uncharacteristic seriousness. She had never seen him so tense, and she knew that if Castle, who was usually so laid-back, was this concerned, things must be serious. Trusting him, she said nothing further, watching as Castle remotely guided the drones to patrol the two street corners near the precinct in a spiral pattern, searching for any sign of the hidden assassin.

Castle was only able to do this because of his previous experience. After witnessing Cross kill Mr. X at the Metropolis Tower, Castle remembered that the assassin looked identical to the Mr. X he had seen in a movie from his past life. If the assassin outside the precinct was really from the Brotherhood, Castle was confident that, thanks to his enhanced memory from the system, he could recognize the killer. That was why he was so sure he could spot the assassin before they struck.

His confidence came from remembering the faces of every assassin from the Brotherhood in the movie he had seen in his past life.

Had he not witnessed Cross eliminate Mr. X at the Metropolis Tower, Castle might not have thought to use this method to uncover the hidden assassin. Though it wasn't a foolproof plan, it was worth a try. If Castle could identify the Brotherhood's assassin in time, he could not only thwart their attempt on Beckett's life but also strike a decisive blow against the Brotherhood's killer.

In Castle's mind, this assassin was already as good as dead.

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