Blacktop Wasteland

It’s Monday morning, the day of the robbery, with Bug rising early and dressing in dark clothes. Kia realizes what is happening and asks him to make sure he gets home. Bug gets the Buick from his garage and picks up Ronnie and Quan at Reggie’s trailer. Bug makes sure they have the necessary equipment, noting that these two are not in the same league with bank robbers he’s worked with before. He parks in the lot facing the exit and waits as Ronnie and Quan go into the store.

Ronnie, despite telling Bug he had not, used cocaine both the previous night and that morning. He sees four people inside the store: the heavy-set manager, Jenny, an older white woman, and a young Black man. The robbers order everyone onto the floor. When the manager tries to prevent him from taking Jenny into the backroom where the safe is, Ronnie strikes her with the butt of his gun, opening a cut in her head. Jenny was unable to disarm the alarm. With effort, Ronnie opens the safe and takes out the diamonds as well as some cash. When he and Jenny go back into the showroom, the manager opens fire on them with a large gun.