People in Chicago spoke about Roman in lowered voices. Falco Holdings owned freight terminals, warehouses, construction companies, and half the commercial land along the river.

Newspapers called him a logistics magnate. Federal investigators had used less flattering terms, though no criminal charge had ever survived long enough to reach a courtroom.

Some said Roman controlled the unions. Others said he controlled the men who controlled the unions. Whatever the truth was, Connor’s confidence disappeared the moment he recognized him.

“Mr. Falco,” Connor said. “I didn’t realize you were attending.”

“That was obvious.”

Roman’s dark eyes moved to Paige, then Connor, before settling on Harper. Harper had seen him twice before, in courthouse corridors surrounded by attorneys who looked afraid to breathe incorrectly.