CHAPTER 2 Jeffrey Epstein: February 2005 man, he’s extremely fit. strong jawline. He’s never been a dr and he takes care good c It’s a magnificent min lations, abstract formulas math problems that woul fall into place for him, manipulate-and multip mathematician. As a you Then he became an inves philanthropist, like Bill G to give millions to acader ing mysteries of the brain lions to Harvard. And h Eliot Spitzer, of New Yor Mexico, where Epstein ov Epstein’s flown Bill the Gulfstream he owns own trading floor-so 1 his various and worthy ( Just for fun, Chris ] Kevin Spacey had tagge “Jeffrey is both a higl philanthropist with a in-depth knowledge of would say through a spe insights and generosity on democratization, em combating HIV/AIDS. J effrey’s morning routine is precise and unvarying. First he spends twenty-five minutes in silence, visualizing the day ahead as he digests the guava, banana, and Mueslix that his chef prepares for him-the same way every day-at six in the morning. Then Jeffrey walks a third of a mile up to South County Road, pausing once in a while to take deep, restorative breaths. It’s a slight slope that leads toward the ocean. Jeffrey’s home on the Intracoastal Waterway is behind him now. The morning’s not windy. The Atlantic is calm and glittery, and fishing trawlers bob gently on distant waves. Jeffrey’s partial to monogrammed sweatpants, monogrammed fleece pullovers, and hoodies. Casual attire offset by embroidered Stubbs & Wootton slippers-the kind that sell for hundreds of dollars a pair. His hair, which is thick, has turned silver. But Jeffrey Epstein does not have a paunch. For a fifty-two-year-old 6 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009061¶
FILTHY RICH man, he’s extremely fit. Six feet tall, 180 pounds, brown eyes, a strong jawline. He’s never been a drinker. He doesn’t smoke or take drugs, and he takes good care of his body as well as his mind. It’s a magnificent mind. His gift is for numbers: complex calculations, abstract formulas. Even as a child, Jeffrey could untangle math problems that would stump most smart adults. Numbers just fall into place for him, forming in ranks he can bend, twist, manipulate-and multiply. He could have been a scientist or a mathematician. As a young man, he taught calculus and physics. Then he became an investor-a very rich man. Then he became a philanthropist, like Bill Gates. His love for science has inspired him to give millions to academics and institutions committed to studying mysteries of the brain and the arcana of physics. He’s given millions to Harvard. And he’s given money to politicians: Governor Eliot Spitzer, of New York, and Governor Bill Richardson, of New Mexico, where Epstein owns the largest home in the state. Epstein’s flown Bill Clinton to Africa on a private jet-not the Gulfstream he owns but his Boeing 727, customized with its own trading floor-so that the former president could promote his various and worthy causes. Just for fun, Chris Tucker, the comedian, and Clinton’s pal Kevin Spacey had tagged along for the ride. “Jeffrey is both a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist with a keen sense of global markets and an in-depth knowledge of twenty-first-century science,” Clinton would say through a spokesperson. “I especially appreciated his insights and generosity during the recent trip to Africa to work on democratization, empowering the poor, citizen service, and combating HIV/AIDS.” 7 CHAPTER 2 15 ecise and unvarying. First he 1 silence, visualizing the day banana, and Mueslix that his way every day-at six in the d of a mile up to South County ake deep, restorative breaths. ward the ocean. Jeffrey’s home ehind him now. The morning’s d glittery, and fishing trawlers ied sweatpants, monogrammed asual attire offset by embroi- s-the kind that sell for hunhich is thick, has turned silver. paunch. For a fifty-two-year-old HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009062¶
JAMES PATTERSON But is Jeffrey thinking about that trip now? His first guest is due that morning at nine, and that leaves him enough time for a shower, a lunch, and a few phone calls before the second girl arrives. Sarah has scheduled that girl for one. For Jeffrey, it’s just part of the daily routine. But on this day, there’s a delicious twist. One of the girls is a first-timer. Mary: February 2005 Downstairs, the dc gruffly: “Ella está aqui “She’s here. Your frie Mary runs down the got the TV on. Her stepr sister has gone out, too, F “Going shopping,” sh Bubble into her mouth. “Dice quién?” “Says who?” Mary’s already halfw again, but on Sundays t Besides, Mary knows he she’s made. Real money 8 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009063¶
ERSON at trip now? ning at nine, and that leaves lunch, and a few phone calls r one. laily routine. us twist.¶
CHAPTER 3 Mary: February 2005 D ownstairs, the doorbell is ringing. Mary’s father shouts, gruffly: “Ella está aquí. Su amiga con el camión.” “She’s here. Your friend with the truck.” Mary runs down the stairs. It’s game day, and Dad’s already got the TV on. Her stepmom’s out running errands. Mary’s twin sister has gone out, too, Rollerblading with a few of her friends. “Going shopping,” she yells, and she pops a piece of Dubble Bubble into her mouth. “¿Dice quién?” “Says who?” Mary’s already halfway out the door. Her father calls out again, but on Sundays there’s no getting him out of his chair. Besides, Mary knows he’ll be happy when he sees the money she’s made. Real money, like Joe’s cousin Wendy Dobbs, is 9 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009064¶
JAMES PATTERSON making.* And it’s not like she’s running off to do something crazy. After all, Wendy’s assured her already that there’s nothing to worry about. Mary’s father is Cuban-an immigrant-a self-made man who runs a contracting business. He’s wise to the ways of the world and highly protective of his two daughters. They’re good girls, he knows. Almost angels. As far as he knows, they don’t drink. They’ve never tried drugs. They love clothes and, especially, music-Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado, Maroon 5, the boy band with that dreamy lead singer. Mary loves California, which she’s never seen but daydreams about. She just knows she’ll live there someday-a plan that’s okay with her father as long as Mary keeps up with her homework and chores. What he worries about, in the meantime, is the crowd that Mary runs with. Joe is a fine boy. More responsible than most American boys his age. But Joe’s cousin, Wendy, is another story. Mary’s father doesn’t like Wendy at all and would have liked her even less had he known about Wendy’s intentions. In just one hour, Wendy’s told Mary, she can make more money than her father makes in a day: “This guy in Palm Beach. He’s rich. Very rich. He has an airplane. He owns an island, you know?” Like a lot of kids who live inland, away from the Florida coast, Mary’s dreams reach way beyond the dull, scrubby flat-¶
- Wendy Dobbs’s name, some identifying details, and dialogue have been changed. 10 lands and strip malls s that she wants to do anc miles away, might as we “Yes,” she had said, v Then there was Joe t “Who is this guy?” Jc know a thing about him “Hundreds of dollar: quite look at Joe, but she Joe seemed to think conversation-some bac hadn’t even crossed Mar would become a regular “To rub his feet? Are it, why haven’t you told y “It’s your cousin, Joe! “The guy’s feet must l “Shut up!” “Tell your father.” “You know how D everything.” “I’m not going to som “That’s right. I am.” “And if I told your fatl “You’d never see me a Mary felt bad as she s She knew that it woul Wendy had told her th
ERSON unning off to do something er already that there’s nothing grant—a self-made man who wise to the ways of the world ughters. They’re good girls, he he knows, they don’t drink. love clothes and, especially, tado, Maroon 5, the boy band y loves California, which she’s She just knows she’ll live there th her father as long as Mary chores. e meantime, is the crowd that sible than most American boys is another story. Mary’s father ld have liked her even less had ns. old Mary, she can make more a day: “This guy in Palm Beach. rplane. He owns an island, you inland, away from the Florida beyond the dull, scrubby flatying details, and dialogue have been 0 FILTHY RICH lands and strip malls she’s grown up around. There’s so much that she wants to do and see. But for her the Gold Coast, twenty miles away, might as well be another country. “Yes,” she had said, without even thinking about it. Then there was Joe to contend with. “Who is this guy?” Joe had said, shaking his head. “You don’t know a thing about him.” “Hundreds of dollars,” Mary had whispered. She couldn’t quite look at Joe, but she was firm: “I can make that in one hour.” Joe seemed to think they were actually talking about it. A conversation-some back-and-forth. But the thought of not going hadn’t even crossed Mary’s mind. If anything, she hoped that it would become a regular thing. “To rub his feet? Are you kidding? If you’re not worried about it, why haven’t you told your dad?” “It’s your cousin, Joe! Some girls go three times a week.” “The guy’s feet must be killing him.” “Shut up!” “Tell your father.” “You know how Dad is. You don’t tell your parents everything.” “I’m not going to some freak’s mansion to rub his feet.” “That’s right. I am.” “And if I told your father? Or mine?” “You’d never see me again.” Mary felt bad as she said it. She felt bad for lying. She knew that it would be more than a foot rub. Wendy had told her that much, at least. 11 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009066¶