CHAPTER 5 Mary: February 2005 T he Dubble Bubble’s lost all its flavor, but Mary’s still chewing the gum as she shifts, nervously, in the backseat of Wendy’s big pickup truck. The girl sitting up front next to Wendy is a stranger to Mary. She’s chain-smoking menthols. The music is blaring; the seat is filthy and gross. Worried that her white jeans will get grody, Mary sits on her hands. Then, through the window, she sees a gigantic resort called the Breakers. It is resplendent, sun-drenched, not quite real-like something you’d see in the movies. It makes for an interesting contrast. “We’ll wait for her,” Wendy says to the girl in the passenger seat. “Then we can all go to the mall.” “Which one?” “The Gardens.” It’s like she’s not there. Mary wants to say something about it, but she doesn’t know if the dy’s always seemed so m other girl’s just a mystery. speak to Mary, her stare se girl. “Remember,” Wendy s davit filed by the Palm Bea are, say eighteen.” The light changes, anc looking at Mary in the rea “Got it?” Mary nods. “I mean it,” says Wend Who would believe her than that. “Okay,” she says. “I got Mary takes out her fli cousin is a BAMF. A badass motherfucker There’s no reply. “Or maybe she’s just a l Still no reply. Joe must still be in churc They pass El Bravo Wa Wendy’s driving slowly more, she says: “When the Mary nods again and : see her smiling. To know Wendy’s eyes are on the fr they walk past a guard. 14 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009069¶
FILTHY RICH but she doesn’t know if the other girls would even respond. Wendy’s always seemed so much cooler than kids Mary’s age. This other girl’s just a mystery. And when Wendy does turn around to speak to Mary, her stare seems to slice right through the younger girl. “Remember,” Wendy says, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Palm Beach police. “When he asks how old you are, say eighteen.” The light changes, and Wendy turns back around but keeps looking at Mary in the rearview mirror. “Got it?” Mary nods. “I mean it,” says Wendy. Who would believe her? Anyone can see that Mary is younger than that. “Okay,” she says. “I got it. Eighteen.” Mary takes out her flip phone and sends Joe a text: “Your cousin is a BAMF.” A badass motherfucker. There’s no reply. “Or maybe she’s just a bitch,” Mary texts. Still no reply. Joe must still be in church, Mary thinks. They pass El Bravo Way and turn onto El Brillo Way. Wendy’s driving slowly now, right at the speed limit. Once more, she says: “When the man asks your age, say eighteen.” Mary nods again and smiles, slightly. She wants Wendy to see her smiling. To know that she’s got it all under control. But Wendy’s eyes are on the front gate now. It opens, she parks, and they walk past a guard. CHAPTER 5 its flavor, but Mary’s still chewnervously, in the backseat of . The girl sitting up front next She’s chain-smoking menthols. filthy and gross. Worried that Mary sits on her hands. Then, gigantic resort called the Breakhed, not quite real—like somenntrast. says to the girl in the passenger nall.” wants to say something about it, 14 15 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009070¶
JAMES PATTERSON 1 “We’re here to see Jeff,” says Wendy. The guard nods—of course you are—and leads them to the side door. Then she sees the pictu All the girls in the pho just a baby. Much younger than Ma The girl’s smiling, bu else—some sort of anxiet face. And what she’s doin off to the side. Flashing or toward the camera. Mary gasps. She turns in front of her, wearing no They’re in the kitchen now. Mary, Wendy, some middle-aged man. The man has a long face, bushy eyebrows, and thick silver hair—and he’s fit. As fit as the jocks that Mary goes to school with. Not attractive, exactly. He’s way too old for that. But confident, in a way that makes an impression. Standing behind the man there’s a woman. She’s blond, very pretty, much taller than Wendy. What a strange scene, Mary thinks. She can’t shake the feeling that the man is studying her. Then he nods, and he and Wendy walk out of the kitchen. A little while later, they’re back. “Sarah,” the man says to the tall woman. “You can take Mary upstairs.” Sarah takes Mary up a wide winding staircase carpeted in pink. Together they walk down a hall that’s got photographs on the wall—naked women. Long curtains cover windows and don’t let in much light. In the air, there’s a strong lavender fragrance. Then they come to a room containing a green-and-pink sofa. There’s a large bathroom off to one side and doors on either side of the sofa. There’s a wooden armoire with sex toys on it. There’s a massage table, too, and a mural of a naked woman. “Wait here,” says Sarah. “Jeff will be up in a moment.” Mary’s too freaked out to do anything else. Fidgeting with her belt loops, she sits on the sofa, jumps up again. 16¶
FILTHY RICH ndy. are—and leads them to the Then she sees the picture. All the girls in the photos are young. But the girl in this one’s just a baby. Much younger than Mary herself. The girl’s smiling, but the smile’s mixed with something else—some sort of anxiety that’s out of place on such a small face. And what she’s doing is shocking: pulling her underwear off to the side. Flashing one of her tiny apple-round butt cheeks toward the camera. Mary gasps. She turns around. And there’s Epstein standing in front of her, wearing nothing but a towel. , Wendy, some middle-aged hy eyebrows, and thick silver cks that Mary goes to school vay too old for that. But confiession. ks. She can’t shake the feeling he nods, and he and Wendy ile later, they’re back. ll woman. “You can take Mary ling staircase carpeted in pink. that’s got photographs on the ains cover windows and don’t ‘s a strong lavender fragrance. ntaining a green-and-pink sofa. ne side and doors on either side loire with sex toys on it. There’s of a naked woman. will be up in a moment.” ) anything else. Fidgeting with a, jumps up again. 17¶