Luke LaManna

Costello would promise he could make their cases go away and told them he had the judge's ear. The judge was Wayne Olson, who was rumored to be the most corrupt man in all of Cook County and maybe even the whole country. Haik really wanted to bring Olson down, but to get to him, he needed to go through Costello. The two lawyers had gone to the same university, but they made an odd pair.

Costello would promise he could make their cases go away and told them he had the judge's ear. The judge was Wayne Olson, who was rumored to be the most corrupt man in all of Cook County and maybe even the whole country. Haik really wanted to bring Olson down, but to get to him, he needed to go through Costello. The two lawyers had gone to the same university, but they made an odd pair.

Costello was from the South Side, a rough part of town, and he'd worked as a cop for years before becoming an attorney. That's where he'd learned how the justice system really worked. Haik was soft-spoken and had grown up comfortably middle class. Many of his colleagues joked that he looked like a choir boy with his rosy cheeks. The FBI had even suggested he grow a beard to look older and tougher.

Costello was from the South Side, a rough part of town, and he'd worked as a cop for years before becoming an attorney. That's where he'd learned how the justice system really worked. Haik was soft-spoken and had grown up comfortably middle class. Many of his colleagues joked that he looked like a choir boy with his rosy cheeks. The FBI had even suggested he grow a beard to look older and tougher.

Haig had taken their advice and sprouted a scraggly mustache, but he had just shaved it off. He figured he'd be a more confident mole if he felt comfortable in his own skin. As they waited for their food to arrive, Costello nodded towards some of the other prosecutors sitting in the restaurant.

Haig had taken their advice and sprouted a scraggly mustache, but he had just shaved it off. He figured he'd be a more confident mole if he felt comfortable in his own skin. As they waited for their food to arrive, Costello nodded towards some of the other prosecutors sitting in the restaurant.

He called them dorks and said, Costello took a swig of beer and told Haik he knew how to get things done, and it wasn't by following the rules. He said there were certain ways to make things easier for everybody. Haik was surprised at how openly Costello was talking about corruption.

He called them dorks and said, Costello took a swig of beer and told Haik he knew how to get things done, and it wasn't by following the rules. He said there were certain ways to make things easier for everybody. Haik was surprised at how openly Costello was talking about corruption.

Even without Haik admitting to any illegal activity of his own, Costello had alluded to his connections with fixers who collected bribes. He seemed to be inviting Haik into his shady world. It worked. Later that summer, Costello stopped by Haik's office and handed him two $50 bills. He said it was for all the favors Haik had done for him. Haik hadn't done him any favors.

Even without Haik admitting to any illegal activity of his own, Costello had alluded to his connections with fixers who collected bribes. He seemed to be inviting Haik into his shady world. It worked. Later that summer, Costello stopped by Haik's office and handed him two $50 bills. He said it was for all the favors Haik had done for him. Haik hadn't done him any favors.

So it was clear Costello was trying to buy his help in the future. Haik reminded himself this was the whole point of the operation. He put the bills in his pocket. He was officially a crooked prosecutor for Chicago.

So it was clear Costello was trying to buy his help in the future. Haik reminded himself this was the whole point of the operation. He put the bills in his pocket. He was officially a crooked prosecutor for Chicago.

A few days later, Haik used surgical tape to strap a recording device underneath his left arm. He wore a T-shirt under his dress shirt, hoping it would hide the awkward bulge. By the time he got to the courthouse, he was sweating and hoped it wouldn't drench the recorder. Haik tried to act casual as he approached Costello in the hall.

A few days later, Haik used surgical tape to strap a recording device underneath his left arm. He wore a T-shirt under his dress shirt, hoping it would hide the awkward bulge. By the time he got to the courthouse, he was sweating and hoped it wouldn't drench the recorder. Haik tried to act casual as he approached Costello in the hall.

He asked him to have lunch again, this time in the courthouse cafeteria. They loaded their trays with cheeseburgers and fries. After they sat down, Haik thanked Costello for the $100 he had given him. He said he had used it to take his girlfriend Kathy out over the weekend. Then he fished for information. He was shocked to hear Costello admit he paid off Judge Olson nearly every day.

He asked him to have lunch again, this time in the courthouse cafeteria. They loaded their trays with cheeseburgers and fries. After they sat down, Haik thanked Costello for the $100 he had given him. He said he had used it to take his girlfriend Kathy out over the weekend. Then he fished for information. He was shocked to hear Costello admit he paid off Judge Olson nearly every day.

Haik prayed his tape recorder was working. He tried to memorize everything Costello was saying in case it wasn't. The next day, Haik handed the tape over to his FBI contact, who told him he'd threaded the tape incorrectly in the recorder. But somehow, Costello's incriminating words had come through, loud and clear.

Haik prayed his tape recorder was working. He tried to memorize everything Costello was saying in case it wasn't. The next day, Haik handed the tape over to his FBI contact, who told him he'd threaded the tape incorrectly in the recorder. But somehow, Costello's incriminating words had come through, loud and clear.

In another conversation, Costello gave Haik a full rundown of how the system of fixers and payoffs worked. It was as if he were training a new employee. Costello explained he had a deal with Judge Olson. The judge would send him defendants and Costello would give him 50% of his legal fees in return. Every Friday, he dropped $500 or $1,000 into Olson's drawer.

In another conversation, Costello gave Haik a full rundown of how the system of fixers and payoffs worked. It was as if he were training a new employee. Costello explained he had a deal with Judge Olson. The judge would send him defendants and Costello would give him 50% of his legal fees in return. Every Friday, he dropped $500 or $1,000 into Olson's drawer.