Kiss Me, Deadly (1952) is Mickey Spillane's sixth novel featuring private investigator Mike Hammer.

Mike learns from Pat Chambers that the woman, Berga Torn, was the mistress of Carl Evello.

Velda's visit to Mike brings bad news: His PI licence was revoked by the Feds.

[2] Chapters 7-11: Mike seeks more info from Ray Diker of the Globe about the individuals Velda had reported, one of whom is Dr. Martin Soberin, Berga's former medical doctor who put her in the sanatarium.

Afterward, Mike goes home, and then is overpowered by two gangsters and made to drive them in his newly acquired car.

Mike has learned that Berga's former friend Nicholas Raymond (formerly Raymondo) was holding back $2 million from the gang.