Elwood sighed, as he looked up at the officer leaning into his window. How they ever caught up with him, he had no idea. He thought he was one step ahead. But now, probably with theft added onto the list of offenses, he wasn't surprised.
Theft of property. Stealing gas. Speeding. Assaulting a federal officer.
Then again, he could have simply been pulled over for grabbing two pieces of bread.
"I am sorry officer. I was trying to get out of your way. I didn't realize you wanted me to pull over." Elwood shrugged innocently as the officer inspected his license.
"Illinois?"
"Yes, sir."
The officer handed his partner the license, who then proceeded to call it in from the police car.
"Yes," Elwood added. "I'm ... a janitor there. At St. Helen's of the Blessed Shroud Orphanage."
The officer looked at his a bit suspiciously, but then noticed a small picture of a saint on the dashboard.
Elwood pointed at the card, and said "That's Saint Christopher, sir. The patron saint of travelers."
The officer smirked, then continued with his questioning.
"Did you hitch a ride with two ladies, a few miles east of St. Louis?"
"I had run out of gas, officer. Those two nice ladies? They drove me to a gas station. They even gave me some money, for gas."
"Mmmm, hmmmm?"
"That's the truth, officer. I was desperately trying to get back to see my sick mother in Memphis. I guess I didn't plan on how expensive gas was. I already ran out of money."
Somehow, the officer seemed to believe him.
"Well, Mr. Blues," he said. "I still need your testimony. Those two "Nice Ladies" were picked up this morning with a pound of cocaine in their glove compartment. They fingered you, and said you must have planted it there."
Elwood looked genuinely surprised, his mouth wide open in shock.
"Officer, I had no idea."
"The two are known dealers. Working for Johnny the Dancer, out of L.A."
Elwood looked up at the officer, then removed his hat and sunglasses.
"And they seemed so nice. Such a shame to see two lost souls, like that." With that, Elwood made the sign of the cross, and began whispering the Lord's Prayer.
The officer took a deep breath, as he tried to avoid staring at the praying man behind the wheel. He felt a bit uncomfortable, and shifted in his shoes waiting for the "Amen."
The other officer returned, then leaned into the window.
"Mr. Blues. It seems you have a few unpaid parking tickets."
Elwood put his hat and glasses back on, bowed his head
"I've been meaning to pay them, sir, as soon as mother..."
"Ok, Mr. Blues." The first officer looked at his partner, and subtly shook his head. "We'll just take your testimony here, but we'd like a contact number for you in Memphis too."
Elwood played the game, providing everything the officers want, until they finally sent him on his way. He blessed them once again, as they bid him good luck with his old mother and the poor orphans he so lovingly looked after.
.
August 6th, 1978
Dear Jake,
We're on the road now, taking our time to get to San Diego. Seeing the country on the way.
We played one night in St. Louis, and now we're in Memphis. Things are going great, except Steve got car sick.
I was talking to the guys. You know how sometimes I get. We wonder what things are going to be like when computers start to take over. It will make life a whole lot harder. Even the fucking cops will have them in their cars. That's nothing I want to see.
I'll write more as soon as I can.
Your brother,
Elwood
Author's note: Again, if you recognize the crossover, good for you. Otherwise, fugget-about-it!