- Lori Richards: Look, I helped set up this deal. I want my share.
- Lester: You don't give me much choice, do you?
- Lori Richards: I didn't intent to. Now look - do I get what I'm asking for, or do I give my story to Hammer?
- Lester: [fondling a knife] You give me no choice... except to give you exactly what you're asking for.
- Mike Hammer: No, no, I'm leveling with you, I haven't seen her for years. I set her husband up for a five-to-ten on an extortion charge, but I haven't seen her since. She dropped out of sight.
- Captain Pat Chambers: Five and dime, huh?
- Mike Hammer: Yeah.
- Captain Pat Chambers: With time off for good behavior, he could...
- Mike Hammer: No, don't worry about him. Where he is, there's no time off for good behavior.
- Captain Pat Chambers: Dead?
- Mike Hammer: Yeah. He got it trying to make a break a couple of years ago.
- Captain Pat Chambers: The Department will take care of the killer, Mike.
- Mike Hammer: My way's quicker... much quicker.
- [Lester slugs Hammer]
- Lester: I should have warned you - middleweight champion, Harvard '48.
- Mike Hammer: Middleweight champ, huh?
- [Hammer stands up and decks Lester]
- Mike Hammer: Flyweight champ, P.S. 6, 1938.
- Mike Hammer: [narrating] I decided to have a little talk with Lisa. It might be interesting to see what Mrs. Brewster's protégés were like - while they were still alive.
- Captain Pat Chambers: Do me a favor - take a nice long rest, will ya? Don't stir up any more business for us. Just take yourself a nice rest and give us one, too.
- Mike Hammer: Yeah. Yeah, I could use a good long rest... as long as it's not permanent.
- Ed Camden: You keep it up, Mike and I'll turn Sammy loose on you.
- Mike Hammer: Sammy? You know better to send a boy on a man's errand.
- [Mike punches Sammy in the stomach]
- [last lines]
- Mike Hammer: Well, it looks like the Brewster escort service is back in business again under its original management.
- Mrs. Brewster: Where's your date?
- Mike Hammer: Oh, she's here - unless you're already spoken for.
- Mrs. Brewster: Me?
- Mike Hammer: Yeah.
- Mrs. Brewster: Why, Michael...
- Mike Hammer: Tell me, what's your fee for providing an escort for a gentleman?
- Mrs. Brewster: For you, it's on the house.
- Mike Hammer: All right, chickee, let's go!