When there is punctuation to get into quotes, there must be punctuation to get out. In other words, if there is a comma before the quote, there has to be some mark of punctuation at the end of the quote.
...He said to her, "I am not interested in your excuses," after she was late for the fourth time in four days.
...I replied, "I will not allow you to do this to me," and went straight to the supervisor.
...He asked, "Hotw much longer will I be here?" and began to cry.
Happy punctuating!
Margie