Bab 246: Chapter 246: Revenge
A few days later.
Giannini attended a local social event where a reporter asked, "Mr. Giannini, the California consortium has chosen to support Dewey, while the Hardy Group, a member of the consortium, has backed President Johnson. Can you comment on this?"
Giannini's previously cheerful demeanor shifted to seriousness. "Hardy decided to support President Johnson's re-election. This was not previously communicated. I want to emphasize that the California consortium remains committed to Governor Dewey."
"Does this mean the California consortium is severing ties with the Hardy Group?" the reporter pressed.
Giannini's expression darkened. "The consortium operates as a unified entity, working towards common goals. With such differences, we are currently evaluating whether the Hardy Group should remain a part of the consortium. This decision will be made by a majority of the members."
The reporter attempted further questions, but Giannini departed with a grave look.
The following day, The New York Times published a report titled, "California Consortium Divided: Hardy Group May Be Expelled."
The article detailed the split: while the consortium supported Dewey, the Hardy Group chose Johnson, a move deemed as betrayal. The report suggested that if consortium members acted independently of collective interests, there might be no need to keep them.
The story quickly spread, with many newspapers reprinting it. ABC, NBC, and Columbia TV covered the story, and talk shows dissected and ridiculed Hardy's decision. Commentators derided Hardy's gamble, labeling it as a misguided risk in a crowded field with little chance of success.
The media frenzy led to a drop in stock prices for Hardy Group's listed companies. Within the group, voices of dissent grew louder, questioning Hardy's investment strategy and its potential fallout.
President Johnson, aware of Hardy's difficulties, called him. Hardy reassured him, "Don't worry, Mr. President. I'm fully behind you and believe in your victory."
Johnson expressed his gratitude.
---
A few days later, Johnson's "Grand Tour Speech Activity" began in New York, Dewey's home turf. Despite this challenging environment, Johnson's team managed to gather over 2,000 attendees, a modest number for New York's large population.
To boost attendance, Johnson contacted Hardy, who promptly sent Johnny Fontaine, a popular singer, to New York.
The Global Times announced Fontaine's performance, drawing attention and generating buzz among New Yorkers. Hardy also arranged for ABC TV to broadcast the event live from Times Square, ensuring nationwide coverage.
The day of the speech arrived. Times Square was bustling with over 10,000 people, energized by Fontaine's performance and Johnson's appearance. Johnson, eschewing a prepared script, spoke freely and humorously, captivating the crowd and demonstrating a newfound charisma.
The live broadcast, a first for a U.S. presidential campaign, showcased the event's vibrant atmosphere, drawing enthusiastic responses from viewers across the country.
After the successful speech, Johnson moved on to the next city.
---
Meanwhile, Hardy decided to visit France. He had promised Elizabeth Taylor, the star of "Beauty and the Beast," he would visit before filming wrapped.
The B-29, with its impressive range, took Hardy from New York to Chambord Castle in France in a day. As the sun set, casting a warm glow over the castle, Hardy arrived to find Taylor on set, running through a scene.
Upon spotting Hardy, Taylor's face lit up. She ran to him, throwing herself into his arms, ignoring the crew's presence.
Hardy informed a guard to tell the crew they were free to party that night on his tab, which was met with cheers.
As Hardy and Taylor returned to their hotel, they spent time together, sharing stories and enjoying each other's company. That night, they embraced deeply, with Taylor nestled in Hardy's arms.
---
Back in the U.S., Dewey seethed with anger as a new poll showed Johnson's approval rating had surged to 41%, a significant increase from 32%. Dewey, feeling threatened, decided to take action against Hardy.
Dewey and his henchmen devised a plan to investigate Hardy's business dealings, aiming to uncover any illegal activities. The focus was on Hardy's hotel chain and its alleged illegal lottery operations. Dewey intended to expose Hardy publicly, aiming to damage his reputation and finances.
"Even if he doesn't face prison time, we can make him lose millions," Dewey declared.
The New York State Attorney's Office was instructed to launch a high-profile investigation into Hardy's operations, ensuring the process was as visible as possible.
Dewey was determined to use his prosecutorial expertise to undermine Hardy and diminish Johnson's support, seeing it as a necessary step to protect his own political aspirations.
Bab 247: Chapter 247: Prosecution
Hardy spent two days in France with Elizabeth Taylor before flying back to Los Angeles. He was immediately thrust into a whirlwind of tasks.
The films "Across the World," starring Ava Gardner and Cary Grant, and "Song in the Rain," featuring Judy Garland and Johnny Fontaine, were both ready for release. Hardy decided to launch a grand premiere for "Across the World" before its official debut.
He also had to address issues related to supermarket chains and logistics companies. He reviewed the site selection report for New York supermarkets and, after conducting an on-site inspection with Sam Wharton, found several locations that met his criteria.
The logistics company had successfully recruited numerous drivers and began handling transportation tasks. It had also established several large storage facilities across California, chosen for their logistical convenience.
Despite the busy schedule, Hardy felt things were progressing well. President Johnson's speech tour was gaining momentum, and Hardy saw that Johnson's approval ratings had improved significantly.
However, Hardy was unaware of a brewing challenge.
Dewey's assistant had been investigating the issue of "TV lottery betting," a matter that was straightforward to probe. With a large number of people participating in TV lotteries across the U.S., substantial evidence was quickly gathered.
Dewey reviewed the case file and frowned. "Is this the complete situation?"
"Yes," the assistant confirmed.
"Las Vegas casino lottery draws are broadcast live on TV. Players use proxy investment companies to place bets. Hardy's setup is remarkably clean. Even if we find the proxy investment company, it won't directly implicate Hardy."
"We've examined the law, and it's clear this method operates in a legal gray area. It's not explicitly covered by the lottery ban. The key issue is whether this constitutes casino betting, which hasn't been previously addressed. The only potential issue is phone betting across state lines, which is still debated."
"Convicting Hardy might be difficult," Dewey conceded.
Dewey decided to escalate the case to the Federal Supreme Court, aiming to sue the Hardy Hotel for violating the lottery ban through disguised lottery activities. If successful, the Supreme Court could issue an injunction, causing significant financial losses for Hardy's business. Even if Dewey couldn't secure a conviction, he wanted to make Hardy's life difficult.
The Federal Supreme Court issued a notice to the Hardy Group, which promptly informed Hardy of the prosecution. The charges focused on "violating the lottery ban through disguised lottery activities," specifically TV lottery draws in a casino setting.
Hardy immediately suspected Dewey's involvement. Dewey, who had previously worked in the New York prosecutors' office and harbored resentment due to Hardy's support for Johnson, seemed likely to be behind this.
Despite his concerns, Hardy was relatively untroubled. He had anticipated such challenges and had established a proxy investment company operated by a trusted associate from the Los Angeles Gang, who had been receiving psychiatric treatment. This setup was designed to shield Hardy from direct liability.
Hardy called Ross Baker and John McKenzie from his law firm. After briefing them on the lawsuit and the casino's operations, Hardy expressed his confidence in their handling of the case.
Ross Baker responded, "Given the details, it's clear this won't directly affect Hardy Hotel or you personally. You've prepared well in advance. Our main concern is whether the court will recognize this as a lottery act."
John McKenzie added, "The current ban terms don't clearly cover this situation. It's essentially a casino proxy model, which doesn't violate Nevada's gambling regulations. The only potential issue is whether placing bets across state lines could be deemed problematic."
"This litigation might drag on for a year or two," McKenzie noted.
Hardy smiled, "I don't mind the delay. It gives us time to accrue legal fees. Winning is crucial, though, given the potential financial impact on the casino."
He also requested that the court not suspend the business during the litigation, as it would result in significant losses.
Baker and McKenzie assured him they would vigorously address the lawsuit.
After their departure, Hardy contacted the old godfather, a major shareholder in the casino. The godfather, with his extensive connections, promised to use his influence in the judiciary to support Hardy.
"Good to know we have additional support," Hardy said.
Hardy then reached out to Giannini, a major shareholder in Hardy Hotel. Giannini, while concerned about the impact on the business, agreed to contact a judge he knew at the Federal Supreme Court for additional assistance.
With support from both the godfather and Giannini, Hardy felt more confident. Despite his frustration over Dewey's actions, he decided to enlist Henry's help.
Henry, now a proficient head of the intelligence department at HD Security, was briefed by Hardy. He was tasked with investigating the instigators behind the prosecution, identifying key individuals involved, and gathering incriminating evidence on Dewey and his associates.
Henry understood the assignment and began his work.
---
The lawsuit against the Hardy Group made headlines across major newspapers:
**The New York Times:**
"New York State Prosecutors Sue Hardy Group for Illegal Lottery Business; Hardy Group Receives Federal Supreme Court Subpoena."
**Los Angeles Times:**
"Will Hardy Group's CEO Face Jail Time?"
**Global Times:**
"Hardy Group Subpoenaed; President Andy Expresses Confidence in Outcome."
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