CHAPTER 7 Mary: March 2005 f there’s no traffic, Mary’s hometown is less than thirty caine utes away from the island of Palm Beach. But in economic terms it’s a world away. Her high school is run by the Comm 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 ac 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. 20 i4 {a ' < Still, a friend. “Nothing,” says Mary. “You got your period? “Shut the fuck up,” M: There have been rut Rumors started by a girl v “Whore,” her rival shc “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

CHAPTER 6 a bank president than a cop. of formality and discretion. But on the job. Decades earlier, he tsburgh. Then he rose, steadily, moving up from patrol officer tics, and organized crime, then ajor, and assistant chief—a job yecoming chief of police. Reiter hough chief of police in Palm s political skills as much as his e, things do happen. ire murders —though these are mbered for decades. »s to contend with, and, when the yt ee ah Ri Lie RT EE es 6 ee ee Pe, FittHy RicuH sea calms, human cargo washes up on the shore. Sometimes traf- fickers aim the bows of their boats at the glow of the Breakers resort, order their passengers to go overboard, then tell them to swim. Most of the passengers are Haitian—men, women, and children who stake all they have on a chance at a life in America. From time to time, Palm Beach cops have to retrieve their bodies from the surf. Things get busier during the wintertime, or, as the locals call it, the season. It’s when the very rich come to town, throw par- ties and balls, shop, and tangle traffic at the intersections around Worth Avenue. The population booms, and the men and women who work under Chief Reiter deal with fender benders, shoplift- ers, and snotty skateboarding teenagers. There are DUIs. Domes- tic disturbances. Choking victims and heart attacks. It’s routine stuff, but there’s always lots of it. Enough to keep the men and women who work for Reiter busy. Chief Reiter’s proud of the team he has built. And, the team

sea calms, human cargo ° fickers aim the bows of the : order their passengers to § : Most of the passengers who stake all they have or to time, Palm Beach cops | Things get busier dur CHAPTER 6 it, the season. It’s when | a ‘ ties and balls, shop, and t Worth Avenue. The pop | who work under Chief R { ers, and snotty skateboar Michael Reiter: March 2005 tic disturbances. Chokin ; stuff, but there’s always : women who work for Rei hief Reiter looks more like a bank president than a cop. Chief Reiter’s proud « He’s well built, with an air of formality and discretion. But twenty-four years on the job. Decades earlier, he steadily, B | the John F. Kennedy Sch knows, they’re lucky to hi he’s got for the job. If anything, h campus police officer in Pittsburgh. Then he rose, was a moving up from patrol officer through the ranks in Palm Beach, to detective, working vice, narcotic tain, major, and assistant chief —a job iS terrorist training at Quan s, and organized crime, then up often at cocktail partic hijackers lived in Palm Bi becoming a sergeant, Cap local airstrips. A few, inc! he held for three years—before becoming chief of police. Reiter = ie is what youd call seasoned, although chief of police in Palm | BE had been regulars at 251! Beach is a job that calls upon his political skills as muchas his 7% Ee There they had regaled made-up stories about the street smarts. i ; a But 251 Sunrise is shi Then again, from time to time, things do happen. Once in a

‘RSON ndy. -are—and leads them to the 7, Wendy, some middle-a ged hy eyebrows, and thick silver cks that Mary goes to school vay too old for that. But confi- >ssion. »s a woman. She’s blond, very iks. She can’t shake the feeling 1 he nods, and he and Wendy vile 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. ae side and doors on either side oire 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. FittHy Ricw 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. 17 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009072

James PATTERSON “We're here to see Jeff,” says Wendy. The guard nods—of course you are—and leads them to the side door. 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 confi- dent, 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 — . : ala POA Pa Awe 2") £5rr A, pe 7 . 7 ——- nahin, eee *

CHAPTER 5 its flavor, but Mary’s still chew- , nervously, 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, sigantic resort called the Break- hed, not quite real—like some- yntrast. says to the girl in the passenger nall.” wants to say something about 1f, Seen Cee et ee es ee te bed Fitruy RicuH but she doesn’t know if the other girls would even respond. Wen- dy’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 affi- davit 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. “| 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 wa

CHAPTER 5 Mary: February 2005 he Dubble Bubble’s lost all its flavor, but Mary’s still chew- 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 1s 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.” : irs like she’s not there. Mary wants to say something about it, 14 CU") A ey . _ tas Sin ak et 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 Bez are, say eighteen.” The light changes, anc looking at Mary in the rea “Got it?” Mary nods. “| 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 motherfucke1 There’s no reply. “Or maybe she’s just a Still no reply. Joe must still be in churc They pass El Bravo Wa’ Wendy’s driving slowh more, she says: “When the Mary nods again and : see her smiling. To know | Wendy’s eyes are on the fri a they walk past

CHAPTER 4 05 ite, has bought up several lots mansions, and built a grand, ys neighbors have blocked his | increase his holdings. ich is 358 El Brillo Way. Built in e-mill architect, the house has ibors’ homes. It’s big, with a big st you can say for it. Its totally a dead-end block, the last block ery secluded. lack Escalades will whisk him terminal at Palm Beach Interna- ht down to Little Saint James— nt Jeffs — the seventy-eight-acre lands. But for the moment, there - ee a — <9 eee Fittuy Ric# are still things to attend to in Florida. Business and pleasure although, in Epstein’s experi | er perience, the two have al — ways fit together He strolls through the gate, past the guard, up to the side a that leads to the kitchen. Inside, he ignores the maid doing dishes and climbs a wide, winding staircase to the second floor. He walks down a hallway, one that’s lined with photographs of naked women. Then, in his bedroom, he opens a closet. Inside there siiioiaais more photographs. Erotic photos, tacked to the wall, of girls who have come to the house. Familiar faces, familiar bodies. That’s what makes the first-timers so special. Epstein checks his watch before closing the door The Virgin Islands can wait. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009068

are still things to attend | although, in Epstein’s exp nicely. He strolls through th door that leads to the kitc : dishes and climbs a wide, CHAPTER 4 i He walks down a hallway ; naked women. Then, in h there are many more pho! wall, of girls who have cor Familiar faces, famil first-timers so special. Jeffrey Epstein: February 2005 4 Epstein checks his wat The Virgin Islands can ohn Kluge, the media magnate, has bought up several lots around here, torn down the mansions, and built a grand, sprawling estate. But Epstein’s neighbors have blocked his own efforts to buy more land and increase his holdings. Epstein’s address in Palm Beach is 358 El Brillo Way. Built in the fifties by a totally run-of-the-mill architect, the house has none of the elegance of his neighbors’ homes. It’s big, with a big swimming pool—that’s the most you cam say for it. It’s totally p bland. But it’s the last house on a dead-end block, the last block | of the street, and this makes it very secluded. Tonight, one of Epstein’s black Escalades will whisk him away, taking him to the private terminal at Palm Beach Interna- tional Airport. Then a short flight down to Little Saint James— or, as he likes to call it, Little Saint Jeff's—the seventy-eight-acre island he owns in the Virgin Islands. But for the moment, there tan - of mii x, i BS 12 { Ape “a HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009067

ERSON unning off to do something + already that there’s nothing grant—a self-made man who wise to the ways of the world ughters. They’re good girls, he he knows, they don’t drink. love clothes and, especially, ttado, Maroon 5, the boy band y loves California, which she’s She just knows she'll live there th her father as long as Mary chores. e meantime, is the crowd that sible than most American boys is another story. Mary’s father ld have liked her even less had ms. sid Mary, she can make more 1 day: “This guy in Palm Beach. rplane. He owns an island, you inland, away from the Florida ‘beyond the dull, scrubby {flat- ying details, and dialogue have been —_ Se PRS te FittTHY RicH lands and strip malls she’s grown up around. There’s so much that she wants to do and see. But for her the Gold Coast, twenty miles away, might as well be another country. “Yes,” she had said, without even thinking about it. Then there was Joe to contend with. “Who is this guy?” Joe had said, shaking his head. “You don’t know a thing about him.” , “Hundreds of dollars,” Mary had whispered. She couldn't quite look at Joe, but she was firm: “I can make that in one hour.” Joe seemed to think they were actually talking about it. A conversation—some back-and-forth. But the thought of not going hadn’t even crossed Mary’s mind. If anything, she hoped that it would become a regular thing. “To rub his feet? Are you kidding? If you’re not worried about it, why haven't you told your dad?” “It's your co

} bd | A oe James PATTERSON making,* And it’s not like she’s running off to do something crazy. After all, Wendy's assured her already that there’s nothing to worry about. Mary’s father is Cuban—an immigrant—a self-made man who runs a contracting business. He’s wise to the ways of the world and highly protective of his two daughters. They're good girls, he knows. Almost angels. As far as he knows, they don’t drink. They've never tried drugs. They love clothes and, especially, music—Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado, Maroon 5, the boy band with that dreamy lead singer. Mary loves California, which she's never seen but daydreams about. She just knows she'll live there someday—a plan that’s okay with her father as long as Mary keeps up with her homework and chores. What he worries about, in the meantime, is the crowd that Mary runs with. Joe is a fine boy. More responsible than most American boys his age. But Joe’s cousin, Wendy, is another story. Mary’s father doesn’t like Wendy at all and would have liked her even less had he known about Wendy’s intentions. In just one hour, Wendy’s told Mary, she can make more money than her father makes in a day: “This guy in Palm Beach. He’s rich. Very rich. He has an airplane. He owns an island, you know?” Like a lot of kids who live inland, away from the Florida coast, Mary’s dreams reach way beyond the dull, scrubby flat- * Wendy Dobbs’s name, some identifying details, and dialogue have been changed. 10 ee ae rt lands and str

ZRSON , ; | P at trip now? y 4 | KU | ning at nine, and that leaves lunch, and a few phone calls iT OnE. laily routine. us twist. | CHAPTER 3 | Mary: February 2005 ownstairs, the doorbell is ringing. Mary’s father shouts, gruffly: “Ella esta aqut. Su amiga con el camién.” “She’s here. Your friend with the truck.” Mary runs down the stairs. It’s game day, and Dad's already got the TV on. Her stepmom’s out running errands. Mary’s twin sister has gone out, too, Rollerblading with a few of her friends. “Going shopping,” she yells, and she pops a piece of Dubble Bubble into her mouth. | “éDice quién?” “Says who?” Mary’s already halfway out the door. Her father calls out again, but on Sundays there’s no getting him out of his chair. Pi Besides, Mary knows he'll be happy when he sees the money j ee she’s made. Real money, like Joe’s cousin Wendy Dobbs, is ? 9 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009064

JAMES PATTERSON But is Jeffrey thinking about that trip now? is due that morning at nine, and that leaves His first guest few phone calls him enough time for a shower, a lunch, and a before the second girl arrives. Sarah has scheduled that girl for one. | For Jeffrey, it’s just part of the daily routine. But on this day, there’s a delicious twist. One of the girls is a first-timer. Mary: February 200: ownstairs, the dc | gruffly: | “Ella esta aqui | “She’s here. Your frie Mary runs down the got the TV on. Her steprr sister has gone out, too, I “Going shopping,” sh | Bubble into her mouth. ‘ % “éDice quién?” - “Says who?” : Mary’s already halfv : et again, but on Sundays t. - Besides, Mary knows he she’s made. Real mone} i ee tee == Pe a wk* Sle i Setup te Fe —_ Win: 5 << Co } . 7 LN) a HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009063

CHAPTER 2 ecise and unvarying. First he 1 silence, visualizing the day banana, and Miteslix that his way every day—at six in the d ofa mile up to South County ake deep, restorative breaths. ward the ocean. Jeffrey’s home ehind him now. The morning's id glittery, and fishing trawlers 1ed sweatpants, monogrammed asual attire offset by embroi- s—the kind that sell for hun- hich is thick, has turned silver. paunch. For a fifty-two-year-old - Se WE ence FE ee ee ee eee Ln ae ee ee rc? Firtay RicH man, he’s extremely fit. Six feet tall, 180 pounds, brown eyes, a strong jawline. He's never been a drinker. He doesn’t smoke or take drugs, and he takes care good care of his body as well as his mind. It's a magnificent mind. His gift is for numbers: complex calcu- lations, abstract formulas. Even as a child, Jeffrey could untangle math problems that would stump most smart adults. Numbers just fall into place for him, forming in ranks he can bend, twist, manipulate—and multiply. He could have been a scientist or a mathematician. As a young man, he taught calculus and physics. Then he became an investor—a very rich man. Then he became a philanthropist, like Bill Gates. His love for science has inspired him to give millions to academics and institutions committed to study- ing mysteries of the brain and the arcana of physics. He's given mil- lions to Harvard. And he’s given money to politicians: Governor Eliot Spitzer, of New York, and Governor Bill Richardson, of New Mexico, where

——————————————— a CHAPTER 2 Jeffrey Epstein: February 2005 effrey’s morning routine is precise and unvarying. First he spends twenty-five minutes in silence, visualizing the day ahead as he digests the guava, banana, and Mieslix that his chef prepares for him—the same way every day—at six in the g. Then Jeffrey walks a third of a mile up to South County restorative breaths. mornin Road, pausing once ina while to take deep, It’s a slight slope that leads toward the ocean. Jeffrey's home on the Intracoastal Waterway is behind him now. The morning's not windy. The Atlantic is calm and glittery, and fishing trawlers bob gently on distant waves. Jeffrey's partial to monogrammed sweatpants, monogrammed and hoodies. Casual attire offset by embroi- hun- fleece pullovers, dered Stubbs & Wootton slippers—the kind that sell for dreds of dollars a pair. His hair, which is thick, has turned silver. But Jeffrey Epstein does not have a paunch. For a fifty-two-year-old i Jae a% <Diess man, he’s extremely fit. strong jawline. He’s never been a dr and he takes care good c It's a magnificent min lations, abstract formulas math problems that woul fall into place for him, manipulate—and multip mathematician. As a you Then he became an inves philanthropist, like Bill G to give millions to acader ing mysteries of the brain lions to Harvard. And h Eliot Spitzer, of New Yor Mexico, where Epstein ov Epstein’s flown Bill the Gulfstream he owns own trading floor—so | his various and worthy

ERSON dramatically in anticipation. of the earbuds: Britney Spears. starts to dance, moving her ig. She's twirling around and rab the clothes hanging up in thousand fans! Then she stops ly she’s become fourteen again. w is what she will wear to the in impression. This will be her ot want to look like a child on ‘white jeans, puts on a freshly r flat stomach bare. The cross angs from her neck. mey. Several weeks’ wages al some old man a massage? She nto the closet, sings along with c? y perfectly. She turns to check ig the scene with her fingers to pt 2" ae ete es 4 gee he ae Ce POA 4, ¥. et = ioe > to = i oe Sperone = - mm. eX 3 FittHy RicwH block out the Barbies behind her. Over on the Gold Coast, girls in big, high-ceilinged bedrooms have American Girl dolls. Dolls with natural smiles, perfectly vacant moon faces. American Girl dolls are beautiful. They’re expensive. But you have to have one if Mom and Dad are willing to pay. Over on the Coast, most mothers and fathers are. But out in the sticks, where Mary lives, you get Barbies—passed down from mother to daughter, from sister to sister. They’re rail-thin, missile-breasted. There’s a touch of knowingness to the curl of their otherwise innocent mouths. American Girl dolls are girlie, but Barbie’s like Britney Spears. Barbie’s dangling her long legs over the line that separates girls from women. Be like Barbie, Mary thinks. She can’t be nervous. Not now. Not today. What she tells herself, over and over again,

Se Sees Seed RRL ee ee i 1 Sai JAMES PATTERSON come up, and Mary’s head drops dramatically in anticipation. Then a loud, sexy throb spills out of the earbuds: Britney Spears. The bass line takes over, and she starts to dance, moving her hips as she lip-synchs the lyrics: With a taste of a poison paradise... Mary’s swept away by the song. She's twirling around and around, flinging her arms out to grab the clothes hanging up in her closet —it’s like embracing ten thousand fans! Then she stops and pulls out the earbuds. Suddenly she’s become fourteen again. Just a girl, jittery, nervous. What she’s thinking about now is what she will wear to the big fancy house. Mary desperately wants to make an impression. This will be her first trip to the house. She does not want to look like a child on this outing. She picks out a pair of skinny white jeans, puts on a freshly washed halter top that leaves her flat stomach bare. The cross that Joe gave her last Christmas hangs from her neck. Think of the money, she thinks. For Mary, it’s incredible money. Several weeks’ wages at Mickey D’s. And just for giving some old man a massage? She twists the earbuds back in, dives into the closet, sings along with Britney Spears: Don’t you know that you're toxic? The tight white jeans fit Mary perfectly. She turns to check herself out in the mirror, cropping the scene with her fingers to x os + = — 6343 add OT ee Cee ere — = anes ot ~ Sa ve wa ae 8 =~ a es oe a r ' \ na, ge AF el eee r

CHAPTER I ! Mary: February 2005 t's a typically slow South Florida Sunday, and Mary’s staring into the mirror, trying to wipe the morning cobwebs away from her dark, sleepy eyes. She's a pretty girl, tiny —just five feet three inches tall—but tanned and athletic, with curly black henna-streaked hair.* Her bedroom’s a playland of pinks and pastels, stuffed animals, and boy-band posters. But Mary’s a teenager now. Fourteen years old. | She even has a boyfriend. He’s cute and popular. Joet is the heart- throb of her school, and Mary’s feelings for him are new to her, powerful, hard to untangle. She’s thinking of Joe as she presses the Play button on her iPod. The MP3 player's on shuffle. There’s no telling what song will — > — * Mary’s name, some identifying details, and dialogue have been changed. Pa " Joe's name, some identifying details, and dialogue have been changed. a ea teat * os HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009058

Note air colleague Vicky Ward, we ' re-created brief scenes and based on interviews, police yurt filings. We changed the hoping to protect them from t Jeffrey Epstein was guilty. He secution agreement he agreed hat exactly was he guilty of? that question and many others is man. These days people all it and suspicious of the super frey Epstein is an object lesson t it simply, some people think {nd that’s what they do. >alm Beach, February 20, 2016 EEO bt Tear Tee tye eae SEE Ser PART I The Crime HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009057

Soe). & SFr. ree es = ef a ‘ ee Fe 3 - P ‘ AutrHor’s Note ve conducted by Connolly’s Vanity Fair colleague Vicky Ward, we ie began to put the pieces together. is In a few instances, we have re-created brief scenes and ee snatches of dialogue. These are based on interviews, police ne investigation documents, and court filings. We changed the ; a: | names and identities of the girls, hoping to protect them from : 4 more embarrassment and harm. : ‘ There never was any doubt that Jeffrey Epstein was guilty. He a, admitted as much in the non-prosecution agreement he agreed it to sign in 2007. The question is, what exactly was he guilty of? y This book attempts to answer that question and many others pr about this strange and mysterious man. These days people all Be around the world are angry about and suspicious of the super | ee rich and powerful. The story of Jeffrey Epstein is an object lesson < about why we ought to be. To put it simply, some people think > wk 2. 8 yes they can operate outside the law. And that’s what they do. —James Patterson, Palm Beach, February 20, 2016 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009056