Chapter 5 — The Trial
Eight months later, the federal courthouse overflowed with reporters.
Marcus no longer wore campaign suits.
He wore a plain gray suit issued by his attorneys.
The prosecution presented weeks of evidence.
The dashcam footage.
Financial records.
Wire transfers.
Phone messages.
Hospital surveillance.
Witness testimony from nurses.
Former campaign employees.
Even two businessmen involved in the bribery scheme accepted plea agreements and testified against him.
Then Evelyn Bell took the stand.
She denied everything.
Until prosecutors played the hospital footage.
The courtroom watched in complete silence.
She lowered her eyes.
For the first time in decades...
she couldn't control the story.
The jury deliberated for less than four hours.
Guilty.
On every major count.
Bribery.
Conspiracy.
Public corruption.
Witness intimidation.
Assault.
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Marcus stared straight ahead as the verdict was read.
The man who once expected to become mayor left the courtroom in handcuffs.
