Chapter 18 - The Battle for Saint Mercy's|
Three days later.
Inside the grand chamber of the Chicago City Council, over two hundred reporters, lawyers, and city officials were assembled.
Sitting at the defense table was Naomi Hail, backed by a team of six top corporate attorneys funded by the Lockwood Foundation.
Standing beside her, wearing a immaculate dark suit, his broad frame casting a long shadow over the podium, was Raymond Lockwood.
Across the aisle sat the state prosecutor, holding Genovese’s signed deposition, demanding the immediate seizure and closure of Saint Mercy’s Hospital.
"The land was acquired through illicit mob funds thirty years ago!" the prosecutor shouted to the judge. "The state has every right to liquidate the property!"
Naomi stood up from her chair.
She didn't wait for her lead attorney. She walked steadily to the central microphone, her posture straight, her dark eyes clear and absolute.
"That land was purchased with legal grants established by Arthur Lockwood in 1995," Naomi announced, her voice echoing clearly off the high marble walls. "And here are the original, uncorrupted banking ledgers extracted from the Zurich vault yesterday morning."
She slammed a thick leather folder onto the judge's desk.
The judge opened the folder, scanning the blue official seals, his eyes widening in shock.
"These records were verified by the Swiss Federal Banking Commission three hours ago," Naomi added smoothly. "Saint Mercy's is fully private, fully clean, and fully protected under the Lockwood Charitable Trust."
The prosecutor went dead pale, sitting down in total defeat.
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The judge slammed his heavy wooden gavel onto the bench. "Case dismissed! Saint Mercy's Hospital remains open permanently!"
The gallery erupted into thunderous, standing applause.
