Cora and Frank start carrying out their plan to kill Nick. The plan involves Frank standing outside the diner as a lookout while Cora hits Nick “with a blackjack [Frank] had made for her out of a sugar bag with ball bearings wadded down in the end” (15). They believe that the murder will look like Nick “slipped in the tub, knocked himself out, and then drowned” (16). On the day of the murder, Frank sits outside the diner in his car to make sure that the coast is clear. Suddenly, he sees a cat and gets spooked, nearly honking the horn to warn Cora to abort the plan. Instead, Frank gets out of the car to chase the cat. While he is doing that, a state cop arrives.

Cora hits Nick, but the diner’s lights go out before she can drown him. While Frank repositions Nick’s body, Cora tries to call a doctor but is transferred to the police. After discussing what they will do if Nick survives, Frank and Cora agree that “[they] just got to sell him a story, that’s all” (18). An ambulance arrives, and Cora rides in it with Nick. Frank follows behind in the car.