## CHAPTER 7

Mary: March 2005

'f there's no traffic, Mary's hometown is less than thirty min- I utes away from the island of Palm Beach. But in economic terms it's a world away. Her high school is run by the county. Most of Mary's classmates are black. Thirty percent are Hispanic, as she is. The rest are white. The school has a C rating, and lots of students receive free or discounted lunches. Mary is one of those students. But inch by inch, she's working her way out of the crab barrel. A good kid, her teachers think. A kid with a future in front of her.

Weeks have gone by since her meeting with Epstein. She hasn't told anyone about the visit. Still, other kids at the high school have noticed a change.

"Yo, Mary," a friend says. "What's up with you anyway?"

This is a kid who veers from nice to mean, depending on who else is around.

Still, a friend.
"Nothing," says Mary.
"You got your period?
"Shut the fuck up," M:
There have been rui
Rumors started by a girl v
"Whore," her rival sho
"You're the whore," M:
Mary rushes the girl, w
twisting and tugging. Son
bell rings for next period,
She shakes her head i
feeling humiliated.
Then, in her wallet, th

Mary's too young and too :
are all twenties, not single
ents, her teachers sugges
Mary do drugs or deal thei
Mary's father knows be
chologist is called in. And
Once she does, she can
It's a wild story. Highly
A powerful man. This is al
It's definitely a matter for th
recommending a transfer,
troubled kids- - -ones with
Mary's a good girl, it's t
high school will not be tole

20

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{"people":["jeffrey epstein"]}