Where the Sidewalk Ends

New York City, 1950. Detective Mark Dixon is demoted by Inspector Foley due to his violent tendencies rooted in his father's criminal past. The demotion strains his standing on the force and sets him on a collision course with the very system he serves. This setback becomes the spark that drives his later actions.

At Scalise's hotel craps game, the visiting Texas tycoon dies under suspicious circumstances. Police arrive and include Dixon, who years earlier had arrested Scalise for murder but was acquitted. Interrogations reveal that newspaper columnist Ken Paine and model Morgan Taylor had left the game early, steering the investigation.

Dixon goes to Ken Paine's apartment to question him. During the confrontation, Paine's drunken belligerence escalates and Dixon defends himself with a blow that proves fatal, killing Paine.

To conceal the murder, Dixon borrows Paine's coat and patches his own face where Paine had injuries, creating a plausible false trail that Paine left town. He hopes to mislead investigators and avoid a charge. The deception marks Dixon's willingness to bend the truth to protect himself.

Dixon barely avoids being seen by Morgan Taylor's father, Jiggs Taylor, who arrives outside Paine's door after learning Paine had slapped his daughter. He noisily threatens Paine from outside and then leaves when there is no answer. Dixon remains unseen, unsettled by the near-miss.

Dixon transports Paine's corpse to the river and dumps it, hoping to dispose of the evidence. The body is soon discovered, forcing Dixon to improvise and suggest that Scalise murdered Paine as well as the Texas tycoon. This shifts the investigation toward Scalise's crime ring.

Detectives interview Morgan Taylor and Jiggs Taylor; it is revealed that Morgan is Paine's estranged wife. The night of the Scalise murder was the first time she had seen Scalise in months, adding a personal dimension to the case. The interviews begin to reveal underlying relationships behind the crime.

Dixon maintains that Scalise is the killer, despite mounting pressure. Meanwhile, Jiggs is arrested after being seen at Paine's apartment, tying more suspects to the case. The investigation widens beyond the obvious suspects and deepens Dixon's entanglement.

Dixon arranges a renowned murder-case lawyer to defend Jiggs, aiming to secure a solid defense. The attorney refuses the case, leaving Jiggs without representation and highlighting the difficulties faced by the accused. Dixon's maneuvering reveals the legal tightrope surrounding the case.

After a fruitless confrontation with Scalise, Dixon writes a letter addressed to Inspector Foley, marked 'to be opened in the event of my death.' He then arranges to meet Scalise again, fully expecting to be murdered but hoping Scalise will be held responsible. The letter foreshadows a grim accounting of the truth.

Scalise anticipates Dixon's trap and chooses not to kill him, shooting him in the arm instead. The confrontation ends with Dixon wounded but alive, complicating the plan to bring Scalise to justice. The injury slows Dixon while intensifying the race to the truth.

One of Scalise's men arrives with news that police have learned the truth about the tycoon murder from an informant. The gang tries to escape via a car elevator, but Dixon delays it long enough for the police to close in. The revelation tightens the net around Scalise and his crew.

Back at the precinct, Foley returns Dixon's letter unopened and then arrests him after reading it. Morgan is present, looking forward to a life with Dixon, and she declares that he will not be punished for the accidental death. The truth comes to light as Dixon faces accountability.

Morgan remains by Dixon's side, expressing unwavering love and stating that the accidental death should not define him. Her steadfast faith underscores the personal stakes and the cost of the case on their relationship. The ending emphasizes resilience in the face of a grim arrest.