The Crooked Way Page #4

Okay, Coke...

Bring him up here.

What do you want now?

Just when he was coming up

in the department.

Car 9-4

9-4 to Control-4.

Clear Frequency-4, this is an emergency.

Control-4 to 94, go ahead.

Car 94 to Control-4

Notify the Homicide Bureau, we have found

the body of Lt Williams in his car.

At Sepulveda and Sunset.

Give you a lift, son?

Thanks, I had a little accident

back up a side road.

I have to go to town, get a tow car.

-Anybody killed?

No luck at all tonight.

Hop in.

Bet you thought I wouldn't stop

to pick you up, didn't you?

I didn't know.

It's late.

-See...

That's why I fooled you. Have me orders.

Pick up anybody, anytime.

Green Acres Morticians policy.

Live today...maybe a customer tomorrow.

Pays off too.

Most people remember the nice things

you do for them while they're living.

We sure don't get any complaints about our

service from them after they're dead.

Their family, that is.

That accident hurt you any?

Got a match?

-Sure do.

Police, ambulance and everything.

I wonder if I'm losing any customers?

Finished with Joe's stuff yet?

-Still working on it.

It's too bad...

Joe's wife sure liked him

in that suit too.

Any line on Riccardi yet?

-Nothing, Captain.

Keep trying, he's the last one who

might of seen Joe. -Okay.

Eddie Riccardi.

Guess Williams was right after all.

Riccardi or Rice.

A Silver Star and a dumb look doesn't

change a no good heel.

Attention all units!

Attention all units!

Be on the lookout for the following

described suspect, wanted for murder:

Eddie Riccardi, alias Eddie Rice,

White male, American,

Age 33, 6 foot 2.

190 lbs...

Dark brown...

You phone the cops and do 'em a favor,

where to find a dead cop and the guy

that did it, and what happens...

The first stop is Nina Martin's.

I want Eddie before the cops get him.

Then they can have him for a present.

And alive!

Eddie!

-Shut up!

Get those lights out!

Eddie, what happened?

You certainly did a neat job

of tying me into a murder.

Joe Williams was killed tonight.

You?

-I don't know.

The last thing I remember was being slugged

over the head at Vince Alexander's.

I know you think that...

-I haven't got time to think!

All I want is a few bucks, your car and

you in my sight till I get out of here!

Eddie, you've got to believe me!

Believe?

Like you believed me?

Give me the keys!

Eddie! This is why I turned on you

tonight, to get you away from Vince.

The keys are in the car, you go,

I'll try to stall them off.

And get a bullet in the back of my head?

Oh, Eddie! You've got to trust me,

it's your only chance.

Quick!

The garage.

This is where you get out. -Go to the

police, Eddie. Before it's too late.

With my fingerprints all over the

gun and all over Williams car?

I wouldn't last long enough to walk

to the nearest police station.

If I did what could I tell them?

Now out!

You want me to go home and wait

for Vince to come back again?

That's something Eddie Riccardo would

tell me to do, not Eddie Rice.

All right.

Stop.

Keep your lights off and

the motor running.

Well, now you've got a gun! What next?

I didn't ask for any killings,

so I'm in the middle.

But, I'm not going to be a clay

pigeon for Vince Alexander.

You can't prove anything dead.

That would make Vince very happy,

something I wouldn't want to let happen.

Is there any place we could go, someone

you can trust to put us up for the night?

I need time.

Maybe there is.

It's a long chance, but...

You don't think you're going to

get away with this, do you?

We're staying here till tomorrow.

Stay away from that phone!

If it rings, let it keep ringing!

Get rid of anybody who comes to

the door, I'll be right behind you

in case you give the wrong answers.

What about the girl's place?

-There and gone.

Get a teletype out on her car immediately,

have it re-broadcast every half hour.

I want roadblocks at all these points.

I want the airport, the railroad station,

all the bus terminals put

under a 24 surveillance.

I want every hotel and

flophouse notified.

They're in this town somewhere

and they're not getting out.

One other thing...

We picked up Riccardi's fingerprints on

that gun shop. He's got a gun now.

Don't give him a chance to use it!

All right, start moving.

The police tightened its dragnet

about the city today.

Riccardi escaped just as the police

were ready to close in on him

after they received an

anonymous phone call

which led them to discover the murdered

body of one of their men today.

Every available man...

We'll wait till it's dark

and get out of here.

You couldn't arrange to

drop dead before then?

Hazel, you've got to believe us.

Eddie didn't do it!

He should still drop dead.

Twice.

Coke!

Get me a couple of clean towels.

It's pretty bad.

I'll have you out of here in a minute,

we'll find a doctor. -Go to the police.

Eddie, go to the police.

Your car in the garage?

-Yes.

Where are your keys?

-In my purse.

Take care of her.

Thanks.

I'll have the doctor come right

in the moment he returns.

Light me a cigarette.

You're far away.

How far?

Five years.

A lifetime.

Beyond that, a blank.

Me too, Eddie.

Only, it's been a different

kind of a blank.

It's being pushed back

to Eddie Riccardi.

This.

The whole past that keeps me

from being like other people.

Now all that's left is

wondering what it would be like if there

had only been an Eddie Rice.

If I'd of just met you

for the first time.

Eddie Rice can have that.

Oh, you're...good, Eddie.

You're good.

You've taken away the hate in me.

Destroyed it.

You're...good, Eddie.

When a baby wants to be born,

hours don't matter!

7 poundsd 7ounces...a boy.

Doctor, her shoulder...

I can't treat gun wounds.

She'll have to go to the police

emergency hospital.

I don't think so.

I'm sorry, but I've got to report

this to the police.

Doctor.

That report to the police...

It'll wait.

If you want to pull that

trigger, go ahead.

Police headquarters, please.

Put that gun away! I said I was

going to call the police.

Police headquarters?

This is Dr Stacey, 93 Chestnut Street.

Send an ambulance and a squad car.

How bad is it?

She'll be all right.

You'd better leave.

Eddie, I'm scared...I'm scared...

-Take it easy, you'll be all right.

Not for me, for you.

-Listen...

I'm leaving you for a little while.

I've got an idea, it might work.

Something very important.

You knew all about me. The people

I used to know, the places I went.

Think for me, go back five years.

Who was there? Just one person.

Give me the answers, quick!

What you say is my only chance,

the only chance I've got.

The only one left is...Petey.

He can't be trusted with Vince.

Where will I find him?

-Not him, he's... -Tell me!

Two, three places on Main Street.

Fourth and Main...

And after Nina ran in front of him,

Coke never had a chance.

That Eddie sure didn't miss.

Coke took three, went right through

his breakfast, lunch and supper.

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