## CHAPTER 5

Mary: February 2005

The Dubble Bubble's lost all its flavor, but Mary's still chew- T ing 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 Break- ers. It is resplendent, sun-drenched, not quite real-like some- thing 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, and
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 slowl
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_009163
documents/HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009163.jpg
{"people":[]}