first All-Americans, got a law degree at Harvard, came back, went to work as a lawyer for Chief,
married Doe Findley, and inherited the political power of the city, then ran for the state senate and
was elected, thanks in no little way to Stoney Titan. There it is in about two paragraphs, the story of
Harry Raines.”
“Nice merger,” I said, with more acid than I had planned.
Dutch?s eyebrows rose. Then he pursed his lips and said, “I suppose you could say that”
“So Chief picked him out, right?”
“I don?t know, that?s before my time. We ain?t exactly drinkin? buddies, Raines and me. I don?t know
the particulars.”
“How?d he get to be racing commissioner?”
“Gave up his seat in the state senate and stumped one end of this state to the other, selling the idea.
His big edge was that it would raise tax money for the school system. He also turned over the
operation of Findley Enterprises to his best friend, Sam Donleavy. That way nobody could accuse him
of any conflict of interest. Hell, he won?t even let his wife rice her Thoroughbreds. The man?s clean,
Jake.”
“Yeah, I know, he?s going to be governor one of these days soon.?,
“Probably, if this mess doesn?t blow him out of the water.”
“Anybody jealous of his success? The fact that he married a right girl and got richer?”
“I suppose so.”
“Anybody who might be out to destroy him?”
He stared hard at me.
“Lissen here, a lot of people in this town got rich in the boom and they thank Harry for that. If you
think he?s unpopular around here, think again. He?s the favourite son of Dunetown.”
“And the most powerful,” I added.
“1 would say that.”
“Because of Chief?s clout,” I went on.
“In the beginning maybe. Not anymore. He?s got his own power base; he doesn?t need a worn-out old
mar?.”
“He uses Titan.”
I realized that was a mistake the minute I said it. I was letting my own feelings intrude on the
conversation. Dutch shook his head and stared down into his drink.
“You?re gonna waste a lot of time if you try to stretch that one out,” he said. “Raines doesn?t use
Titan any more than Titan uses him. As far as the town goes, the people that run Doomstown don?t
