The Onion Field Page #3

I was going over to Cottonwood Road.

I know Bakersfield real good.

I swamped spuds here.

I used to pick beans and grapes here,

just like a goddamn wetback.

What's at Cottonwood Road?

It's the black part of town, Greg.

There's women there.

I was laying in bed listening to you

and your lady going at it.

And I'm horny, you know.

You know what I mean?

Turn off the keys,

and get out of the car.

- We're going back to LA.

- L.A.?

Jumpin' Jesus. One night in Las Vegas,

one night in Bakersfield...

We're doing okay. We bought

this cherry little hot rod, didn't we?

Bought us some presents,

and we had us some fun.

Fun? I got to lose 10 nickels

in a goddamn slot machine.

Greg, the last thing you said,

we was going to Frisco.

L.A. is a two-hour drive

in the wrong direction.

We're moving around

like goddamn gypsies!

Jimbo, you just don't understand.

We are going to Frisco,

but first we gotta go to LA...

and get some money

by pulling another job there...

so we can go to Frisco.

You understand?

We're just gonna leave the wagon here,

and we'll be back by midnight.

Okay?

What you gotta do is remind me to get

the brake lights fixed on that coupe.

'Cause we can't get stopped by the cops

for faulty brake lights, can we?

Me and my little honey buns

got you stirred up, there, did we?

You know,

I'm kind of a virtuoso, sexually.

That means that I'm a master

at pleasing women.

She says that she could never imagine

herself with another man ever again.

How about that?

- Can I have some money for popcorn?

- Yes, you can.

Let's see now.

There you go. Kissy, kissy.

- Toodle-oodle.

- Toodle.

"Toodle." I love it.

Why do I got to carry this gun in my belt?

Why not in my pocket?

What if this thing goes off

and shoots my dick off?

- That's all I need.

- Jimmy...

Anyways, why do we got to

wear matching leather jackets?

These goddamn, dumb caps?

These things make

an impression on witnesses.

They'll see this leather

and describe us as 6-foot-4.

And that cap will hide part of your face.

I know what I'm doing.

Jumpin' Jesus! We look like the

goddamn Katzenjammer Kids.

Hear you were in the Marine Corps.

Seems like everyone at the station

was a jarhead.

- You, too?

- Communications.

Yeah? So was I. The voice with a smile.

The liquor store's back on Hollywood Blvd.,

for Christ's sake.

I think the street dead-ends.

I gotta go back the way we came.

Dead end. That's all

we ever run into is dead ends.

- We should check these two.

- Yeah.

- What's our probable cause?

- Try no brake lights.

Let's be careful.

Six-zebra-four.

Code 6 at Carlos and Gower.

Six-zebra-four, roger,

- Cops.

- Take it easy.

- It may just be a traffic ticket.

- Jumpin' Jesus.

- What's the trouble, Officer?

- Stay right there.

I bet I know why you stopped us.

That little U-turn back there.

- Would you mind stepping out of the car?

- Sure, Officer.

Take his piece.

He's got a gun in my back.

Give him yours, Karl.

Take his goddamn piece!

Put your hands down.

Put your goddamn hands down!

Get in the car.

You, big man, get behind the wheel.

You get in the back.

Goddamn it, move!

Put the flashlight on the floor and those

hands on the wheel where I can see them.

Get in the back of the car.

Shut the door.

Head towards

the Ridge Route, Bakersfield.

- All right.

- Don't break any laws.

Don't try anything, or you're both dead.

Jimmy.

Keep your eye on him in the back,

and watch out for a tail.

Let's go.

You guys got any money?

I've got about $8 or $9 in my pocket.

I've got $10.

Okay, here's the plan.

I'm gonna take you guys

out on the Ridge Route...

drive you up there on a side road...

drop you off, and make sure you got

a long walk back to the highway.

Do us a favor after you drop us off?

Heave our guns in the brush

so we can find 'em.

We pay for 'em out of our own pocket.

Yeah, I think we can do that.

Come on, let's go.

Go on, let's move it!

- Where does that road go?

- I don't know.

It's a mid-canyon turnoff.

My wife and I go fishing there.

- It's...

- Shut up!

Shut your mouth!

I don't want nothing about it!

F*** the fishing and the lake!

- And f***...

- Jimmy, calm yourself.

Let the man talk.

He can't do anything.

You can start firing through the seat.

Big man knows that if he even flinches

with that steering wheel...

I can start jerking the trigger.

Is this gun hurting your ribs?

I'll manage.

"Manage."

Remember the Lindbergh Law.

I've decided not to take your money.

I won't need it.

Big man...

how big are you?

Not that big.

"Not that big."

Jesus.

I got a brother as big as you.

My daddy's bigger.

Not as tall.

- What kind of pistol shot are you?

- Not very good.

- Were you in the army?

- Marines.

See any combat?

I was in Korea.

Well!

I happen to be an expert pistol shot.

In my business, you got to be good.

I'll give you a chance

to see if you can beat me on the draw.

I'll give you your goddamn gun back.

We'll have a contest.

You better not, man.

My partner here is some shot.

I seen him make a tin can jump

like a farm girl at her first dance.

- Some shot, yeah!

- Yeah!

Jimmy.

You know the country around here.

- Where's there a dirt road?

- Anywhere around here.

You take the next one you see.

Right here. Big man.

This is farm country.

Smell the onions?

Just keep on going.

You get this car stuck,

and you're a dead man.

See that farmhouse in the distance?

That's where you're gonna hike back to,

to make your call.

- We gotta tie these guys up.

- "Tie these guys up"?

They'll be here all night

and freeze to death, for Christ's sake.

Stop the car. Easy.

Turn off the headlights.

This is where we let you go.

You told me we was gonna be

in Bakersfield at midnight.

At least you're right about one thing.

Get out, Jim.

That's the onions.

They make your eyes water.

We told you

we were going to let you go...

but have you ever heard

of the little Lindbergh Law?

Yes.

What's wrong with you?

He's getting away!

Come on.

All right. Here.

Listen. Don't waste bullets.

I'm gonna drive down the road,

stop, wait for you to walk your way down.

Good.

Don't waste bullets.

Jumpin' Jesus.

Sh*t.

Excuse me.

Look, Officer, here he comes.

He's on foot.

He can run faster

than this damn old tractor.

Leave the lights on.

Looky here, Officer.

If you don't quiet down,

I'm gonna have to run off and leave you.

This ain't my business nohow.

This is white man's business.

This is police business.

I don't want to die.

- What's your name?

- McFadden.

Emmanuel McFadden.

You go. I can't go.

There's a farmhouse.

It's out there to the left.

Only one of us can take a chance

and cross in this here last field.

'Cause there ain't no cover.

You stay here and watch out for lights.

If I yells...

you come back to me here in the dark.

You come back to me.

Jimmy! Goddamn you, Jimmy!

Goddamn you!

Sh*t!

Suspect may be driving 1967 Plymouth,

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