mitch realizes he is now trapped, but after he learns four associates of the firm died under mysterious circumstances, he hires private investigator eddie lomax to learn the truth. lomax is shot in his office, which his secretary tammy witnesses. mitch is then approached by fbi agents who inform him that, while some of bl&l's business is legitimate, their biggest client is the morolto mafia family from chicago. the firm's partners, as well as most of the associates, are all complicit in a massive tax fraud and money-laundering scheme. the two associates who mostly recently died had learned about the firm's dark side and were killed to keep them from talking, while lomax was killed for asking questions. the fbi agents warn mitch that his house, car, and office have probably all been bugged. the fbi pressures mitch to provide the bureau with evidence they can use to go after the moroltos and bring down bl&l.