The four of them sat down in the small motel, with Didi serving a pot of tea and a plate of butter cookies. After the three elders slowly recounted the situation, Jack secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Bruce Willis, along with Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, had been some of Jack's favorite action stars in his past life, iconic figures of the old-school tough-guy genre.
These three actors were also likely beloved by many in Seris, especially those who grew up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, viewing them as Hollywood's leading men.
Bruce Willis held a special place in Jack's heart. Unlike the other two, who initially found their fame in bodybuilding competitions, Bruce Willis had a more relatable, everyman appeal. Although he was also a lone hero in his roles, his characters felt more grounded, making him especially likable.
Jack particularly enjoyed the *Die Hard* series, but he was even more fond of Willis's performances in the sci-fi film *12 Monkeys*, *The Fifth Element*, the thriller *The Sixth Sense*, and his portrayal of the self-sacrificing hero in *Armageddon*—the working-class hero who saves humanity.
Before retiring due to illness, Willis starred in two films, *Red* and *Red 2*, which Jack considered the final bright sparks of the classic action movie genre. Jack had watched those films multiple times, which is why, upon hearing the name Frank Moses, his mind froze.
It wasn't that being a part of *Red* was an issue, nor was the fact that these retired operatives were exceptionally dangerous a problem. Even the exaggerated action scenes from the original film could be achievable for Jack—if he really pushed himself, spent his hard-earned System points, and upgraded his skills to master level.
The problem, however, lay in the fact that in the first *Red* movie, this group of old guys took down a sitting Vice President.
Given that the world Jack had crossed into was a merged and evolved version of his past one, many things seemed familiar yet different. While it resembled his previous world, the overall societal structure operated in a similar way.
In some respects, things were better, while in others, they were worse.
After years of observation, Jack had noticed that this version of America was more like his world in the early 2000s, before it descended into the chaotic "twilight of the empire" he had seen prior to crossing over.
Yes, in this world, "America the Beacon" still shone brightly in most cases, rather than being a crumbling "Empire at Dusk" as it had been in his previous life.
This meant Jack needed to be more cautious. He had to avoid provoking the country's upper echelons, at least until he became strong enough.
Fortunately, after listening to the three elders' explanations, Jack was relieved. It seemed he wasn't facing the same high-stakes challenge of taking down CIA officials or a Vice President, as depicted in *Red*.
Looking at the photograph Hunter handed him, featuring an elegant older woman, Jack couldn't help but chuckle. It clicked. Based on what the couple had mentioned about an unscrupulous guardian, Jack had already guessed what was happening.
This obscure film was called *I Care A Lot*, or *The Perfect Guardian* as it was known by another title in his past life. Jack had seen it before. The woman in the photo was Marla Grayson, a professional guardian who ran a small guardianship company.
The elderly man named Joe Mason, an 80-year-old retired African-American CIA agent, was a former colleague of Frank Moses. He had been retired for nearly 20 years, living under an assumed name in Cold Spring to enjoy his remaining years.
This elderly man, who looked identical to Morgan Freeman, should have been a character in the first *Red* film.
So how did these seemingly unrelated individuals cross paths, to the point where Frank Moses, a R.E.D., and the Hunter couple found themselves at a loss and needing to turn to Jack, a mere FBI agent, for help?
It all started with this country's bizarre guardianship system.
Many were familiar with stories from some states where minors had their guardianship rights stripped away too easily, with child welfare agencies intervening excessively and tearing apart otherwise normal families.
However, guardianship abuse and fraud targeting the elderly were a hidden and less discussed issue.
Compared to minors, who often lacked significant assets to exploit, elderly individuals with substantial wealth and pensions became prime targets for those seeking to plunder their fortunes.
If Britney Spears' ordeal of being exploited by her family through forced guardianship was seen as an anomaly, then the fate of elderly people, especially those with substantial wealth, turned them into juicy prey for opportunists.
Joe Mason, who had worked for the CIA for nearly 40 years, chose to retire under an alias and settle in Cold Spring, a quiet town near New York, across the river from West Point Military Academy.
Although he was now 80 years old, he was in good health, mentally sharp, and had hired two attractive African-American caretakers who visited daily to clean his house and handle chores—while also providing some eye candy.
The CIA had treated this R.E.D. well, granting him a generous pension. Joe had also saved up during his years of service and bought the small villa where he now lived. He had diversified his investments in financial products, ensuring that even if he lived another 50 years, he would remain comfortable.
However, no one anticipated that Marla Grayson, like a hungry wolf, would catch the scent of this opportunity.
During a routine skin condition treatment, Joe chose not to visit his usual private doctor but went to a clinic in the nearby town of Philipstown. Unfortunately, his information was sold to Marla Grayson. The CIA had provided Joe with a cover identity as a retired senior executive from a large corporation, which only made him a more tempting target.
The doctor issued a report claiming that Joe Mason was no longer able to care for himself. Then, in a "rigorous" 10-minute hearing at Putnam County's family court, Joe's guardianship was awarded to the compassionate, professional guardian Marla Grayson, who specialized in caring for lonely elderly individuals.
A few days later, Joe, unaware and unprepared, was forcibly sent to an assisted living facility. By the time he realized what had happened, he had not only lost his freedom but also had all of his visible assets taken over.
Marla Grayson sold Joe's villa, which he had bought for $3 million, for a mere $2 million. She also sold his three antique cars, liquidated all of his stocks and bonds, and claimed all these funds as payment for the "services" she would provide during the remainder of Joe Mason's life.
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