- Chief William O. 'Bill' Gillespie: [Praying at Officer Rankin's graveside] Lord, I didn't know this child, and she didn't know me. But in her mind, I belonged to her, so I'm thinking it was your will. If only for one day.
- [pause]
- Chief William O. 'Bill' Gillespie: Serene in your presence, Lord, I do believe. And I'm here grieving , grieving for this child of mine. Help me with my sorrow.
- Officer Christine Rankin: It was always my Aunt Edie in Kenard. She's all I have, outside of all of you.
- Chief William O. 'Bill' Gillespie: All of us?
- Officer Christine Rankin: Yea, I always make a family wherever I go. Like the in school, in the academy, now here on the job - y'all.
- Chief William O. 'Bill' Gillespie: Well, I'd say you could do a whole lot worse than us. I think, as a family, we're decent enough. Sober without being stuffy and willing to stand by you.
- Harriet DeLong: Another murder? Why, we seem to be averaging over one of those a week.
- Chief William O. 'Bill' Gillespie: Well, Miss DeLong, that figure is countywide, isn't it?
- Harriet DeLong: What's the answer, chief? What do we do about murder?
- Chief William O. 'Bill' Gillespie: It's awful hard to stop it. You know, the man contemplating murder hardly ever advises us of his intentions.