Where the Sidewalk Ends Page #6

had something on my mind.

What happened to you?

A run-in with Scalise and his pals.

Shouldn't I call the police?

Let's leave the police out of this.

I made a big idiot out of myself tonight.

Bigger than usual. Did I bungle this one!

I'll fix your head. Come with me.

I suggest you use an axe.

Here, come and sit down.

What did they hit you with?

Various objects.

Why did you fight with Scalise?

Did it have anything to do with my dad?

In a way, yes.

You don't think Dad did it.

You don't think he's guilty, do you?

What I think doesn't matter

a roll of nickels.

Most important thing

is that you need a lawyer.

That's what I came here for.

You need a big-time lawyer.

Here, hold this.

One that can't lose.

- But if Dad's innocent, I don't...

- That doesn't always help.

Innocent people can get

into terrible jams too.

One false move

and you're in over your head.

How much money have you got,

you and your father, for a lawyer?

None.

No savings?

No.

Paine got 'em, huh?

Yes.

Thanks for the facial.

I feel a lot better now.

You go on back to bed. I'll be back

in the morning about 8:30.

You wait here for me.

You're not fooling me.

You do believe Dad didn't kill him.

Your dad never touched him. Good night.

Good night.

I'm sorry to wake you up, Paul.

I won't stay but a minute.

I need some dough.

Who stuck his finger in your eye?

I've got 700 in the bank.

That leaves me 300 shy.

It's for a lawyer.

Thought you wouldn't mind kicking in.

I want to get Norman Ackerman

to handle the Taylor case.

He never lost a murder verdict

in his life,

but you gotta slap down

one grand, minimum.

Be right with you.

Who is it, Paul?

Mark. He wants 300 bucks.

- For what?

- For a lawyer, for his girl.

Since when has that gorilla-head got...

Shh!

Please, Shirley, don't argue.

After the way he treated you,

to have the nerve to ask for money!

I told you:
no arguments, please.

You told me you were never

gonna talk to him again!

I don't know, Shirley.

Sometimes you really get me sore

with this kind of nagging.

$300 for a man you were gonna punch

in the jaw the next time you saw him!

I...

Take them to the Acme Loan

this time. You'll get more.

Who knows? I might even get

to wear them someday.

Yes?

'Detective Dixon is here

with a young lady.'

Have him come in.

Send off that cable, Mary,

I'll call you later.

- Hello, Mark.

- Hello, Gerry.

Well, what happened to you?

I'm just fine.

Oh, Mr Marsh, this is Miss Taylor.

- How do you do?

- How do you do, Miss Taylor?

- Sit down.

- Thank you.

I understand Ackerman's out of town.

When do you expect him back?

He's in Washington, he's due back

around five this afternoon.

I'd like to make an appointment

with him for Miss Taylor.

Her father's involved

in the Paine-Morrison case.

I read about it.

Thought you were on it, Mark.

I am. That's why I'm here.

I like stiff competition.

Here's your retainer

for Miss Taylor's father. It's $1,000.

I'll hold it. Come in around 5:30.

Mr Ackerman will see you, Miss Taylor.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I never heard of anything

so generous. What you just did.

Oh, my partner kicked in too.

You're an amazing man. You know something?

I could kiss you, right here.

I'll take a rain check on that.

I'll give you an alibi for your boss.

Tell him you're late

because of police questioning.

Mr Friedman has dispensed

with my services.

I'm the notorious

Miss Morgan Taylor: bad for buyers.

Might take their minds

off Mr Friedman's creations.

That mug! I'll run him in.

I bet you would.

All right. Goodbye.

Phone call for you, Mr Detective.

Do you want to answer it?

- No, I'm busy.

- That's what I thought.

I told him you weren't here.

It's wonderful how he looks at you.

He didn't even eat his ravioli.

He just eats you up with his eyes,

because you're so beautiful.

- Cut it out.

- What's the matter?

You don't know how to make love,

so I'm makin' love for you.

- Bye-bye, Martha.

- Bye.

It's a wonderful day.

No job, everybody against me,

my poor dad sitting in a cell,

and it's a wonderful day.

Isn't that amazing?

- Hey, Mark!

- Excuse me a minute.

- Hello, Mike.

- Where you been hidin', a manhole?

- What's up?

- Skipper's chewin' on the telephone.

Come on!

Do you mind going up to see Ackerman

alone? It might be better at that.

And wait for me at my hotel,

230a East 54th.

I'll be there, Mark.

And thanks for everything.

Let's go.

- You wanted to see me, Inspector?

- Come here, you.

Is this one of the men

who beat you up last night?

That was just a personal affair, sir.

Your personal affairs seem to be getting

in the way of the department, Dixon.

Take this man out and hold him

as a material witness.

You had no business going after Scalise.

You were asked not to. You were

told to lay off by your superior.

I thought I could get a statement

out of him.

Well, you didn't, and now

you've driven Scalise to cover

with your bull-headed tactics.

It'll take us days to find him now.

- I'll find him.

- You'll find nobody!

I'm not throwing you

out of the department, like I should,

but I'm inviting you to take

one week of your annual vacation,

beginning as of now.

I don't want to see or hear of you

for a week.

I want you go someplace

and get hold of yourself.

- Yes, sir.

- Look at you!

All bunged up like a barrelhouse vag.

First thing you'd better do is get

your head fixed up, inside and out.

That's all.

Yes, sir.

He's got a point.

You shouldn't have let Scalise go

until the Morrison job was cleaned up.

It looked certain

that Paine had done it, sir.

Get on this fella Steve. I got a hunch

he'll sing if you keep on him.

And try talking to him like Dixon would.

Yes, sir.

Sit down!

You are going to talk.

You were in that crap game with Morrison.

- Yeah, but I didn't see nothin'.

- Listen!

I want straight answers,

and I want them now.

Hello. Did you see Ackerman?

Yes.

You've been crying. What happened?

Mr Ackerman doesn't want

to take the case. He's too busy.

There are other lawyers.

I'll get in touch with Bill Cantwell.

He's as good as Ackerman.

It won't help.

It's no different than it was.

You felt all right this afternoon.

I didn't realise how serious it was,

but now I know.

I thought because Dad was innocent

nothing could happen to him.

- But it will.

- It won't.

It's already happened. He's in jail.

They'll try him,

and he didn't do anything.

Somebody else did it,

and he's got to pay for it.

- He won't be tried.

- Don't try and fool me.

Ackerman didn't take the case

because he was afraid of losing it.

That means they might find him guilty.

I'm not fooling you. Nothing

is going to happen to your father.

Why?

You didn't sound so certain before.

Now you're certain.

Because he didn't kill Paine.

But can you prove it?

- Yes.

- How?

Mark, you know something

you haven't told me.

That's right.

What?

What is it?

I'll tell you.

Please.

Oh, that's not fair,

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