- [discussing a high-profile murder investigation]
- Lincoln Evers: We're doing our job.
- Harkness: That's not good enough, Captain. And if this office can't handle this case, we'd better shake things up around here!
- Lincoln Evers: I'll tell you what, Councilman. You, ah, you just shake away - but if you stick that finger in my face one more time, you're going to shaking everything left-handed!
- Mayor Stoddard: What's happening with this case, Linc?
- Lincoln Evers: You sound like Harkness.
- Mayor Stoddard: It's the same thing that happens every time there's a Zodiac/Zebra/Strangler/Slasher. We overload the zone to stop the criminal the public and the press label most wanted and we drop the ball on a file cabinet of other crimes.
- Lincoln Evers: You've been there.
- Mayor Stoddard: We don't just pick up the ball and run with it. Some of those fumbles cost us leads that never turn up again. Evidence that we need to make a charge stick gets cold; gets lost.
- Lincoln Evers: You got a better plan, Mr. Mayor?
- Mayor Stoddard: A small group - specialists. Brainpower instead of manpower. Focus instead of force.
- Mayor Stoddard: Terrific.
- Lincoln Evers: What?
- Mayor Stoddard: Your cream's even worse than your coffee. You gonna get back with Jeanie or are you going to poison yourself?