I, the Jury

- Where do you think you're going? - I'm Mike Hammer.

The body's in there, Mike.

Yesterday it was Jack Williams,

now it's "the body".

The guy who said he'd give his right arm for a friend.

He didn't have to catch that Jap bayonet in his arm.

It was meant for me.

Where'd he get it, Pat?

Low. The killer carved the nose off a .45.

If you're dealing yourself in you're gonna have to go easy.

How easy? Let you find him first so he can be kept alive by shysters?

You're not the law, Mike.

You're a private sleuth. Because we let you be one.

Sure, you've helped me before and I hope you will again,

but don't get any crazy ideas about how you're gonna pull the trigger yourself

or you'll find yourself without a licence.

- You didn't hear me say that! - I don't have to.

It's right there on your puss?

Listen, Pat, I've managed to take care of myself

one way or another for a long time.

And licence or no licence, I'll find the killer.

And he'll get what he deserves, a .45 right where he gave it to Jack.

Mike Hammer makes his usual statement to the press.

Me, I...

He's a one man police department.

I know how you feel, Johnny.

He just has that certain knack of making friends.

If I were you, I'd do a piece on him.

The only piece I'd like to do about him is in the obituary column.

Wouldn't do you any good there.

If you did a story on page one, it might get you some new readers.

Play it up strong.

You know, "Warning to the killer.

I, Mike Hammer, will find you

and give it to you as you gave it to my pal Jack Williams."

It's an idea.

Sure it is.

It's your idea.

- -

The weather was about as happy as I was.

And unless I missed my guess,

it would be pretty much the way Myrna would feel.

Myrna was Jack's girl.

And when she wasn't working at it,

she was singing torchy songs for the tourist clubs

right here in Greenwich Village.

Hello, Myrna.

Looking at the ceiling's not gonna help you any.

I need facts. All the help I can get.

You were at the party.

Jack say anything to you?

Was he worried?

Alright. Maybe you're just not interested.

Maybe he didn't mean enough to you.

Let me alone.

How can anyone know what I really felt for Jack?

He was the only one who cared enough to save my life.

Everything he earned, he spent curing me.

Nights he'd sit up with me.

And my nerves were that raw,

I couldn't stop screaming.

And you don't know if I'm interested?

I'll tell you a secret.

We were gonna be married.

Next week.

Here... do you good to cry.

I'll be back when you're up to it.

- Good morning to you, too. - Good morning.

I can see by the morning papers that you've been shooting off your mouth again.

"I, The Jury - Says Mike Hammer." Listen to this.

"It was also reported, according to Captain Pat Chambers of the Homicide Squad,

that Mike Hammer had some idea of the killer's identity

but refused to reveal it to the police."

What? Let me see that.

You mean you really don't know?

I'd be after him now if I did.

And why would Pat do that?

Flush out the killer. Worked before.

He lets him know I'm onto him,

and then the killer tries to shut me up.

Then that's why he'd send over a list of the guests who were at Jack's party.

He thinks of everything, even lays out the route, huh?

Present were George Kalecki, Hal Kines, the Bellamy twins and Charlotte Manning.

Well, maybe I've got some ideas on that too.

You're not going to be his patsy, are you?

Why not? I'm a sitting duck for anybody with a .45. Come on.

- Hi, Velda. - What do you know, Pete?

- Going out, Mr Hammer? - Yeah, I see business is picking up.

Picking up all over. Are you looking for company tonight, Mr Hammer?

I wasn't figuring on it.

If I were you, I'd take one of those rides to the roof again.

Step across the adjoining building,

request the elevator operator, Benny,

to take me down to the basement

where I would take the service entrance out to the back street.

That's if I were you.

You've got yourself a deal. Come on.

Shall we go?

Hey.

Don't need the both of us disappointing Pat's tail, let him follow you.

Generous of you.

I think so.

Hey. Wait a minute.

First on the list, Mr George Kalecki.

The Four Oaks, West Chester.

George had come a long way from the Bronx and a cold water worker.

That was before he went in for managing fighters and splitting the purses even.

Eighty for Honest George and 20 for Joe Pug.

We got down to business in a hurry and I hit him with the facts.

He wasn't Jack's kind of company,

which made him suspect number one in my book.

You really have a sense of humour, Mr Hammer.

Yeah? Well, I get funnier as I go along.

For instance, what were you doing at Jack's place?

Simple. He invited me.

Look, you.

I was in bed when the murder occurred. I can prove it.

How? Take a notary public home with you?

The police haven't even attempted to connect me with this Killing.

Where do you come off with these accusations?

Because I know you for a phoney.

I remember you when you didn't know the difference

between a Rembrandt and a right cross.

You're still a small time operator no matter how much art you swallow.

Get out of here.

What? All this art and no manners?

You heard him.

Hal!

Better wait to be introduced, boy.

Now maybe we understand each other.

You'll find I'm not without some influence, Mr Hammer.

You're full of a lot of influence.

But I wouldn't advise you to use it.

What is it you want from us?

- This Kines? - Yes, it is.

Well, is it?

Another one of your art pieces?

Mr Kines is a student I am helping to put through Parkdale College.

He's in visiting me over the Christmas holidays.

That's why I took him to Jack's party.

What did you do after you left Jack's place?

Tell them, Hal.

We went downstairs to my car and drove home.

Who's we?

George, Myrna and myself.

We dropped her off first at her apartment and then came home.

- Is that right? - Yes, that's right.

Then what?

We had a highball and went to bed.

Yeah?

Well, that still doesn't mean that either one of you guys

couldn't have sneaked back to Jack's place and pumped a bullet in him.

You're sick, my friend.

Yeah.

Well, there might even be an epidemic.

Charlotte Manning. Psychoanalysis.

Things had changed since I was a kid.

Shingles were wood and carried a lot of weight.

Now they were brass and could still weigh nothing.

It's too late for an appointment.

You're no beauty either.

Why don't you take an aspirin like a good fella?

And tomorrow Miss Manning can see you and take care of you.

Where do you think you're going?

Tell the lady she's got company.

What is it Kathy, a patient?

Well, if he ain't, he ought to be.

Be right out.

"Analyze Yourself" by Charlotte Manning.

Later I was to find out that this was no Swami with a crystal ball

but the real McCoy.

Anything from a mental motor overhaul to a tune up.

Your slippers, Miss Manning.

Thank you, Kathy.

These characters, the way they come barging in

all hours of the day and night.

It's enough to try the patience of a saint.

Forgive me for keeping you waiting.

That's alright.

I'm not going to stand on ceremony if you don't.

My name's Mike Hammer.

Guess I caught you at a bad time, huh?

Expecting company?

You make it sound so very incriminating.

Alright, I confess, I was expecting you.

Me? Go on.

Pat Chambers told you I might drop in, huh?

It's a pleasure to see your mind work, Mr Hammer.

So penetrating and logical.

Oh, I'm quite serious.

After all, the mind is what I deal with in my profession.