Once again, Frank and Cora start covering their tracks to murder Nick. After getting into the car with Nick, they make sure that people see Nick and Frank drunk and Cora driving the car. Frank believes that their previous murder attempt “had cured of me of this idea we could pull a perfect murder” (35). This time, the murder will be “messy.” According to Frank, that means that he and Cora will have a higher chance of succeeding. Frank and Cora establish a witness at a gas station before driving off.

Claiming that she wants to see Malibu Beach, Cora turns the car onto a piece of road that is “about the worst piece of road in Los Angeles County” (36) so that she and Frank can stage an accident. Frank says, “yes sir, yes sir” (37), which is Cora’s cue to pull off the road next to a long drop. After she does this, a couple of cars pass by, and Nick starts singing because “Is a echo. Is a fine echo” (38). Once they get back in the car, Frank hits Nick over the head with a wrench, killing him.