Luke LaManna

He demanded to know what Haik would do if he was offered money to throw a case. Hake said he would report it to his division. Reedy kept pushing. He asked if Hake knew anyone who took bribes. Hake said no, but he didn't need a personal connection to know what was going on. He said it was no secret that people were taking bribes, but he didn't know who exactly.

He demanded to know what Haik would do if he was offered money to throw a case. Hake said he would report it to his division. Reedy kept pushing. He asked if Hake knew anyone who took bribes. Hake said no, but he didn't need a personal connection to know what was going on. He said it was no secret that people were taking bribes, but he didn't know who exactly.

He and other attorneys often speculated. After a long pause, Reedy stared straight at Hake and finally told him why the FBI had called him in. They wanted him to pose as a corrupt prosecutor and take bribes to drop cases, and they wanted him to wear a wire so that they could listen in. Haig's heart was racing. He'd never expected a request like this.

He and other attorneys often speculated. After a long pause, Reedy stared straight at Hake and finally told him why the FBI had called him in. They wanted him to pose as a corrupt prosecutor and take bribes to drop cases, and they wanted him to wear a wire so that they could listen in. Haig's heart was racing. He'd never expected a request like this.

Reedy told him the government had long suspected something was rotten in the Cook County courts. He said he had an entire folder filled with the names of judges, lawyers, and police officers who may be linked to corruption at the highest levels of the system. But to root out the bad actors, they needed someone honest on the inside.

Reedy told him the government had long suspected something was rotten in the Cook County courts. He said he had an entire folder filled with the names of judges, lawyers, and police officers who may be linked to corruption at the highest levels of the system. But to root out the bad actors, they needed someone honest on the inside.

Haik had been the only lawyer to make an official complaint about the corruption. Haik shifted nervously in his chair. He worried about what would happen to him if he took the job. He remembered the advice he had gotten one day outside the special prosecution's office. Don't ever rat on your colleagues. Besides, any corrupt lawyers surely had mob ties.

Haik had been the only lawyer to make an official complaint about the corruption. Haik shifted nervously in his chair. He worried about what would happen to him if he took the job. He remembered the advice he had gotten one day outside the special prosecution's office. Don't ever rat on your colleagues. Besides, any corrupt lawyers surely had mob ties.

What if the mafia found out and showed up at his house? Haik also knew he wouldn't be the only one in danger. He still lived with his parents, and he'd recently started dating someone that he was getting serious about. They could be in danger, too. Reedy promised Haik that the FBI would protect him, and they would keep the investigation tightly under wraps until it was time for him to testify.

What if the mafia found out and showed up at his house? Haik also knew he wouldn't be the only one in danger. He still lived with his parents, and he'd recently started dating someone that he was getting serious about. They could be in danger, too. Reedy promised Haik that the FBI would protect him, and they would keep the investigation tightly under wraps until it was time for him to testify.

They were calling it Operation Grey Lord, after a racehorse one of the FBI agents had gambled on and won. But Reedy did have a warning. If Haik agreed to go undercover, it would probably be the end of his career as a lawyer in Cook County. Their corruption went so deep that no matter who they put away, there would still be people who would see him as a rat.

They were calling it Operation Grey Lord, after a racehorse one of the FBI agents had gambled on and won. But Reedy did have a warning. If Haik agreed to go undercover, it would probably be the end of his career as a lawyer in Cook County. Their corruption went so deep that no matter who they put away, there would still be people who would see him as a rat.

Haik understood the risks of taking on this assignment. But at the same time, a jolt of adrenaline ran through him. He'd always dreamed of working for the FBI. He'd even applied for a position there while he was in law school. His mind was made up. He wanted to make a difference. But there was one person he needed to talk to first.

Haik understood the risks of taking on this assignment. But at the same time, a jolt of adrenaline ran through him. He'd always dreamed of working for the FBI. He'd even applied for a position there while he was in law school. His mind was made up. He wanted to make a difference. But there was one person he needed to talk to first.

That night, after work, Haik drove back to his parents' house in the suburbs. Reedy had agreed that since Haik was still living there, he could tell them about going undercover. Haik didn't want to reveal anything to his father, since he could never keep a secret, but he knew his mother could, so he told her what he was going to do. Her face fell. She was scared. Haik tried to reassure her.

That night, after work, Haik drove back to his parents' house in the suburbs. Reedy had agreed that since Haik was still living there, he could tell them about going undercover. Haik didn't want to reveal anything to his father, since he could never keep a secret, but he knew his mother could, so he told her what he was going to do. Her face fell. She was scared. Haik tried to reassure her.

He'd said he had dreamed of this moment ever since he was a kid, watching shows about the FBI on TV. Haik could see his mother understood, and reluctantly, she gave him her blessing. At his next meeting with the FBI, Haik gave Reedy his answer. He was in. Just a few weeks later, Haik was seated in a booth at a restaurant near the courthouse frequented by lawyers.

He'd said he had dreamed of this moment ever since he was a kid, watching shows about the FBI on TV. Haik could see his mother understood, and reluctantly, she gave him her blessing. At his next meeting with the FBI, Haik gave Reedy his answer. He was in. Just a few weeks later, Haik was seated in a booth at a restaurant near the courthouse frequented by lawyers.

He was having lunch with a man he'd never thought he'd be sitting in front of, Jim Costello. Costello had a reputation as a crooked defense lawyer. He'd earned the nickname Big Bird due to his height and unruly hair. Haig thought of him as a hallway hustler, always ready to prey on defendants from low-income backgrounds.

He was having lunch with a man he'd never thought he'd be sitting in front of, Jim Costello. Costello had a reputation as a crooked defense lawyer. He'd earned the nickname Big Bird due to his height and unruly hair. Haig thought of him as a hallway hustler, always ready to prey on defendants from low-income backgrounds.