Rockford: I don't know who you are but Nancy Hellman was blackmailing Eric Saunders. I want to know why.

Warde: I don't know what you're talking about.

Rockford: Two people are dead because they were dumb and because they were greedy. You're bucking to make it three.

Warde: I got nothing to say.

Rockford: You better have a lot to say. It just might save your life. Prentiss Carr was murdered by Eric Saunders because he was trying to shake him down. Nancy Hellman was dusted off for the same reason. Nancy walked in on her boyfriend, Prentiss, to help him count the money on him. She found him dead. She didn't want a murder investigation so she tried to make it look like Carr committed suicide. That means she knew why Saunders was being blackmailed. I think you know, too.

Warde: You're out of your mind. I don't know nothing.

Rockford: Okay, okay. I'm sure somebody called the cops. We'll just wait here and let you explain it to them.

Warde: Okay. Let's get out of here. Then we can talk There's a lot of money in this. I mean, plenty.

Rockford: You mean enough for both of us?

Warde: Yeah, if you want a deal. I can make you a lot of money, or I can keep my mouth shut.

Rockford: I like the part about making me a lot of money.

Warde: 75-25. It's my information.

Rockford: What, you'll never be able to spend it in jail? 60-40? You get the 60.

Warde: Okay, 60-40. You're right about Nancy. She was the one that faked that guy's suicide so she could blackmail Sanders herself.

Rockford: Blackmailed him with what?

Warde: Prentiss Carr was controlling that insurance company. He found out that Saunders was selling policies on things like the Houghton Bridge, the Muller Aqueduct, big things like that. Only Saunders never sent the policies back to the main office in New York. He put them away in a safe, collected the premiums for the money and his personal account. He's still collecting about a half a million a year. And we can get ours.

Rockford: A half a million a year? I can see where you could work up an appetite. Thanks a lot.

Warde: Going back to my car?

Rockford: No, I'm turning you over to the cops.

Warde: You said we had a deal.

Rockford: I lied.