## CHAPTER 8

Officer Pagan's startin
uncharted waters. She's yo
this have been minor. Ro
used to the Gold Coast. Sh
to her, the less affluent to
well be somewhere in Gec
know that in the back.
whispering.

What's a guy with that out west? The women arour

Extortion?
The kid's fourteen. Wha
Have you seen the sho
things we've never dreamed
No, Pagan thinks. This
She's the one who's goi

## Michele Pagan: March 2005

O O [ ] n March 15, Palm Beach police officer Michele Pagan takes the first call from Mary's stepmother. "Ma'am," she says, "I'm going to have to ask you to

come down to the station."

"I don't want to say anything more until I speak with my husband."

"Ma'am, I appreciate that. But I'd urge you to come in. Let us find out what happened. Please."

"I'll get back to you."

"Please, ma'am. I'm here for the rest of the day. We're on South County Road."

At the station, Mary's father does most of the talking.

"There was an incident," he says. "At school. A fight between Mary and another girl. But please understand, our Mary's not like that."

22

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