Pittsburgh City Hall, second basement level, records room.
The air was dry. Harsh, pale light from white fluorescent tubes glared down, illuminating hundreds of legal files and case law compilations piled high on long tables.
Leo sat at one end of a table.
His tie was loosened, his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and a thick volume of the United States Code lay open before him.
Ethan and three other legal advisors from City Hall were seated around him.
A mountain of documents half a meter high was stacked in front of each of them.
Ever since their falling-out with Morganfield, Leo had holed up with his team in this basement.
They were searching for a way out.
They were searching for a legal miracle—a clause that could circumvent Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Law and legitimize the port franchise agreement that had been accused of being an "illegal monopoly."
"Here."
A young legal advisor pointed at a computer screen, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
