After Jeff runs into Lonnie Drew, an old war buddy, and meets his wife Marie Drew, a former show girl with a business degree, the latter item of which Lonnie was unaware until after they married, she confides in Jeff privately that she is worried that Lonnie is getting into something shady, he who has had a history of gambling problems especially at the track. The Drews opened the Starting Gate, a restaurant on the Strip, to make their living. But Marie has noticed Lonnie hanging around three men, one who she knows, Vince Pool, a former lover who she is sure hates Lonnie and thus wouldn't be making nice with him unless he had it out for Lonnie in some way. Jeff learns the other two are well known people within the syndicate, Benny Hayt - supposedly having gone straight - and someone going by the name of Mr. Anton which is only an alias for his more well known name of Gus Borgia based out of Detroit. With the restaurant struggling, Lonnie is up front that he was looking for a little legitimate cash, and, on commission, will make bets with their money at the track, spreading the the total $100,000 over several bookies so as not to lower odds. Lonnie was unaware of Mr. Anton's true criminal identity but still figures his part in what is most-likely a race fixing scheme is still strictly a legitimate business deal with the syndicate. What Lonnie is unaware of is Vince's feelings about him for what he believes is stealing his girl, which may indeed place Lonnie's life at risk at the hands of the syndicate as a whole if Vince has his way.
—Huggo