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.
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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 somentrast.
says to the girl in the passenger
nall.
wants to say something about it,
14
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