I, the Jury

Detective Jack Williams, a veteran who lost his left arm in the Tet Offensive, is shot dead inside his apartment. The murder shocks the city and sets Mike Hammer on his own path to uncover the truth, despite Pat Chambers' warning to stay out of it. The killing launches the central investigation that drives the story.

Pat Chambers warns Hammer to stay away from the case, but Hammer ignores the advice and begins his own inquiry. He pursues leads the police want to ignore and refuses to let Jack's death go unsolved. His stubborn quest draws him deeper into a dangerous conspiracy.

Hammer interviews Jack's widow Myrna, who reveals that she and Jack were attending a sex therapy clinic run by Dr. Charlotte Bennett. The clinic's existence becomes a critical thread in unraveling the motive behind the murder. Myrna's account hints at secrets that lie beyond the crime scene.

While visiting Dr. Bennett's clinic, Hammer discovers a Government Issue bugging device in the doctor's office. The device confirms that someone is monitoring the clinic and manipulating events. This discovery broadens the scope of the investigation into Romero's operations.

Velda identifies Jack's gasoline receipts near Bear Mountain, close to a summer camp run by Joe Butler. The clue ties Jack's case to a specific location and to Hammer's old circle of acquaintances. It suggests a real-world base of operations connected to the mystery.

Hammer and Velda visit Joe Butler, who explains a military project in Saigon involving drugs to turn prisoners of war into friendly spies. He also mentions Captain Romero's development of mind-control techniques. The discussion expands the conspiracy beyond a single murder.

Two CIA agents pursue the trio in a high-stakes car chase along a road near Bear Mountain. Hammer uses a Molotov cocktail to disable one car, which crashes into the water, and then blocks the road to shoot the second car, triggering an explosion. The sequence heightens the danger and urgency of the pursuit.

The FBI traces the gun used to Jack to special effects artist Harry Lundee, who is shot on set by an unseen assassin. In his dying moments, Lundee confesses that he laundered the gun to mobster Kalecki, though Kalecki is reluctant to discuss Romero's ties. The confession links Jack's murder to broader criminal and political machinations.

The CIA plants a photo of Romero in Jack's apartment as bait and sends Dr. Bennett a fake file about Jack's activities. Hammer reads the forged file during a visit to the Northridge Clinic, fueling his suspicions. These manipulations show how intelligence operatives are shaping the investigation behind his back.

Hammer questions the sexual surrogate twins who worked with Jack and observes Dr. Bennett's sex therapy team at work. The clinic's operation becomes a tense backdrop as he pieces together the web of deception. The environment feels dangerous, with shadows of violence looming.

While Hammer watches, the sexual surrogate twins are attacked and killed by a psychotic killer. He arrives too late to prevent their deaths, underscoring Romero's reach and the ruthlessness of the conspiracy. The murders escalate the stakes for Hammer personally and professionally.

After these events, Hammer checks in on Dr. Bennett at her practice and the two become lovers. The relationship adds complexity to his investigation as personal and professional lines blur. It also deepens Bennett's involvement in the conspiracy.

Charles Kendricks, brainwashed by Romero, abducts Velda. Hammer races through Manhattan to stop him and rescue Velda, underscoring Romero's reach and the danger facing Hammer's allies. The pursuit intensifies the conflict and sets up a decisive confrontation.

Hammer captures Kalecki and forces him to drive back to the Northridge Clinic, where Romero has set up fortifications and death-traps. He fights his way through Romero's guards and breaches the main building to confront the mastermind. The stage is set for a final showdown.

Hammer defeats Romero in a brutal showdown, and Romero dies when his gun explodes due to a sabotaged barrel. In Romero's office, Hammer uncovers the black ops files that reveal the wider conspiracy. He then confronts Dr. Bennett at her home; she attempts to seduce and shoot him, but he shoots her in cold blood, delivering Spillane's closing line: It was easy.