"Not by itself. We've formed a group of investors, individuals
and businesses, that would profit from having the
track built here."
He sat down in his red leather recliner and pointed her into
a chair. "During the oil boom, everybody got a taste of
wealth. They're greedy for it again."
"That's hardly a flattering assessment of the population of
Purcell--a group of avaricious carnivores waiting to gobble
up horseracing money."
"Not avaricious," he said. "Everybody would get his fair
share, starting with the major investors, and working down
to the guy who owns the self-serve filling station on the nearest
corner. It wouldn't mean just individual gain, either. Think
of the schools and hospitals and public facilities the town
could build with that increased revenue."
He leaned forward and curled his hand into a fist, as though
grasping at something. "That's why this racetrack is so
damned important. It would set Purcell back on its feet and
then some." His blue eyes sparkled with enthusiasm for his
argument. "Well, what do you think?"
"I'm not a moron, Mr. Minton, uh, Angus," she corrected.
"I realize what the track could mean to the county's
economy."
"Then, why don't you drop this ridiculous investigation?"
"I don't think it's ridiculous," she retaliated sharply.
Studying her, he absently scratched his cheek. "How could
you think that I killed your mama? She was one of Junior's
best friends. She was in and out of this house on a daily
basis. Not so much after she got married, but certainly before
then. I couldn't have lifted a finger to hurt that girl."
Alex wanted to believe him. Despite the fact that he was
a suspect in a criminal case, she admired him very much.
From what she had read and gathered through conversation,
he had started with nothing and built an empire.
His brusqueness was almost endearing. He had a persuasive
personality. But she couldn't let his colorful persona influence
her. Her admiration for Angus wasn't as strong as her need