Alleged Epstein‑Palm Beach trafficking network with links to Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew and local officials

A POWERFUL BILLIONAIRE, THE SEX SCANDAL THAT UNDID HIM, AND ALL THE JUSTICE THAT MONEY CAN BUY: THE SHOCKING TRUE STORY OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN 1426 Interviewer: "It's the too close to the sun." Jeffrey Epstein: "Did Copyright CO 2016 by James Patterson Excerpt from Cross the Line copyright © 2016 by James Patterson Hachette Book Group supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author's intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please con- tact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author's rights. 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The .rks of Hachette Book Group, Inc. )sites (or their content) that are not a wide range of authors for speaking tespeakersbureau.com or call (866) 6-31758-0 (large print) Interviewer: "It's the Icarus story—someone who flies too close to the sun." Jeffrey Epstein: "Did Icarus like massages?" —New York City, 2007 AUTHOR'S NOTE Late one afternoon, while taking a leisurely stroll on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Tim Malloy, a friend of mine and a col- laborator on this book, nearly ran into a trim, silver-haired neighbor of ours from Palm Beach. The man was walking down Madison Avenue, and several things about him were striking. For one thing, he was wearing slippers. Expensive, embroidered, monogrammed slippers. But slippers all the same. For another, he was accompanied by two attractive women. Even in Manhattan, an island that attracts beautiful women from all over the world, these women stood out. As the man half shuffled, half walked down the avenue, the women walked slightly behind him, as if they were attendants or staff. Tim followed, keeping a respectable distance, as the three- some made a right onto 71st Street and headed toward an enor- mous town house— a house that was almost a fortress—right vii AUTHOR'S NOTE in the middle of the block. The imposing residence had a stone facade and a fifteen-foot-high front door that wouldn't have looked out of place protecting a castle. And, like our neighbor's slippers, the house had a monogram: raised brass letters that spelled out JE. The house and, quite possibly, the two women belonged to Jeffrey Epstein, a rich and powerful man who was also a regis- tered sex offender with a strong taste for underage women. Not just sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds. But younger girls as well. Epstein was alleged to have abused dozens of young women, or, more accurately, girls. He'd settled potential lawsuits with some of them. He'd done a bit of prison time for his crimes. A bit of time. And now here he was, out in the world again. Accompanied by two beautiful young women. I had been hearing hair-raising stories about Jeffrey Epstein for a couple of years. Our interests could not have been more differ- ent, but Palm Beach, where we both live, is small and tightly knit, and we knew some of the same people. Epstein's arrest had made headlines in papers all over the world. But in Palm Beach, it caused a scandal that continues to set off aftershocks and leave a bad smell. So I had followed Epstein's case in the media and talked about it over dinners with friends. I wondered why it had taken so long for the Palm Beach police to catch up with Epstein. And, once they did, why he had served so little jail time. Those were the obvious questions, but there were others: How had Epstein made his money, possibly billions? No one viii seemed to know. And w about the underage girls had happened at the morn Epstein definitely Ilk( even three, young wom( island. He'd been operat who were these girls? WI find their way to his horn Epstein had powerful in his private jet and rubt Prize winners, any numl man sixth in line to the B Were any of these co now a free man? I wanted to know. Aft and Epstein's actions had where I lived. Stirred by t Tim Malloy and I began t We partnered with journalist who had once I following the Epstein sto: Working together, we the way back to his chil( tances, employees, neight with the families of his ment officers who'd wonl and lawyers on all sides which are still working ti Combining our inter from court filings and AUTHOR'S NOTE NoTE 'posing residence had a stone mit door that wouldn't have tstle. And, like our neighbor's ram: raised brass letters that , the two women belonged to ul man who was also a regis- ;te for underage women. n-year-olds. But younger girls ased dozens of young women, flied potential lawsuits with ison time for his crimes. A bit in the world again. tng women. ries about Jeffrey Epstein for a id not have been more differ- oth live, is small and tightly le people. Lanes in papers all over the :c1 a scandal that continues to smell. ase in the media and talked I wondered why it had taken o catch up with Epstein. And, ;o little jail time. tions, but there were others: ey, possibly billions? No one seemed to know. And while the news media had some details about the underage girls, reporters seemed only to know what had happened at the moment of his arrest. Epstein definitely liked his massages. He got them from two, even three, young women a day, right in his mansion on the island. He'd been operating on an almost industrial scale. But who were these girls? Where had they come from? How did they find their way to his home on a secluded street in Palm Beach? Epstein had powerful friends. He'd flown Bill Clinton around in his private jet and rubbed shoulders with heads of state, Nobel Prize winners, any number of billionaires. Prince Andrew, the man sixth in line to the British throne, had been a close friend. Were any of these connections the reason that Epstein was now a free man? I wanted to know. After all, our homes were a half mile apart, and Epstein's actions had had an undeniable impact on the town where I lived. Stirred by that sighting of Epstein up in New York, Tim Malloy and I began to investigate. We partnered with John Connolly, a tough, no-nonsense journalist who had once been a cop with the NYPD and had been following the Epstein story for close to ten years. Working together, we interviewed Epstein's friends, going all the way back to his childhood; we met with Epstein's acquain- tances, employees, neighbors, and business associates, and finally with the families of his victims. We interviewed law enforce- ment officers who'd worked on the investigation in Palm Beach and lawyers on all sides of the resulting court cases, some of which are still working their way through the court system. Combining our interview material with evidence obtained from court filings and other investigations, such as the one ix AUTHOR'S NOTE conducted by Connolly's Vanity Fair colleague Vicky Ward, we began to put the pieces together. In a few instances, we have re-created brief scenes and snatches of dialogue. These are based on interviews, police investigation documents, and court filings. We changed the names and identities of the girls, hoping to protect them from more embarrassment and harm. There never was any doubt that Jeffrey Epstein was guilty. He admitted as much in the non-prosecution agreement he agreed to sign in 2007. The question is, what exactly was he guilty of? This book attempts to answer that question and many others about this strange and mysterious man. These days people all around the world are angry about and suspicious of the super 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 they can operate outside the law. And that's what they do. —James Patterson, Palm Beach, February 20, 2016 x NOT E 'air colleague Vicky Ward, we : re-created brief scenes and based on interviews, police )urt 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 ,s man. These days people all it and suspicious of the super frey Epstein is an object lesson t it simply, some people think knd that's what they do. ?alm Beach, February 20, 2016 PART I The Crime 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. Joe' 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. Joe's name, some identifying details, and dialogue have been changed. 3 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 4 block out the Barbies bi in big, high-ceilinged b( with natural smiles, pei dolls are beautiful. The, if Mom and Dad are w mothers and fathers are you get Barbies— passe sister to sister. They're n- of knowingness to the c American Girl dolls are Barbie's dangling her lot from women. Be like Barbie, Mary t She can't be nervous. What she tells hersel a deal. But, of course, it is a big fancy house will bee police investigation— al the Palm Beach PD — ar the home's owner, Jeffrey ERSON FILTHY RICH dramatically in anticipation. )f the earbuds: Britney Spears. starts to dance, moving her She's twirling around and prab the clothes hanging up in thousand fans! Then she stops ly she's become fourteen again. AT 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. )ney. Several weeks' wages at 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 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, is: It's not that big a deal. But, of course, it is a big deal. Before long, Mary's visit to the big fancy house will become part of a months-long Palm Beach police investigation—an affidavit for probable cause, filed by the Palm Beach PD — and, finally, the arrest and conviction of the home's owner, Jeffrey Epstein. 5 CHAPTER 2 Jeffrey Epstein: February 2005 Jeffrey'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 Mileslix that his chef prepares for him— the same way every day—at six in the morning. Then Jeffrey walks a third of a mile up to South County Road, pausing once in a while to take deep, restorative breaths. 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 fleece pullovers, and hoodies. Casual attire offset by embroi- dered Stubbs & Wootton slippers— the kind that sell for hun- 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 6 man, he's extremely fit. strong jawline. He's never been a di and he takes care good c It's a magnificent min lations, abstract formu1a5 math problems that woul fall into place for him, manipulate—and multip mathematician. As a you Then he became an inve5 philanthropist, like Bill G to give millions to acadei ing mysteries of the brain lions to Harvard. And h Eliot Spitzer, of New Yor Mexico, where Epstein ON Epstein's flown Bill the Gulfstream he owns own trading floor—so 1 his various and worthy ( Just for fun, Chris 1 Kevin Spacey had tagge( "Jeffrey is both a higl philanthropist with a in-depth knowledge of would say through a spc insights and generosity on democratization, em combating HIV/AIDS." FILTHY RICH CHAPTER 2 ecise and unvarying. First he a silence, visualizing the day banana, and Mileslix that his way every day—at six in the .d of a 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 ied 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 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 Epstein owns the largest home in the state. Epstein's flown Bill Clinton to Africa on a private jet—not the Gulfstream he owns but his Boeing 727, customized with its own trading floor —so that the former president could promote his various and worthy causes. Just for fun, Chris Tucker, the comedian, and Clinton's pal Kevin Spacey had tagged along for the ride. "Jeffrey is both a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist with a keen sense of global markets and an in-depth knowledge of twenty-first-century science," Clinton would say through a spokesperson. "I especially appreciated his insights and generosity during the recent trip to Africa to work on democratization, empowering the poor, citizen service, and combating HIV/AIDS." 7 JAMES PATTERSON But is Jeffrey thinking about that trip now? His first guest is due that morning at nine, and that leaves him enough time for a shower, a lunch, and a few phone calls 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.f D ownstairs, the dc gruffly: "Ella estd aqui "She's here. Your friel Mary runs down the got the TV on. Her steprr sister has gone out, too, I "Going shopping," sh Bubble into her mouth. "Ace quien?" "Says who?" Mary's already half' again, but on Sundays t. Besides, Mary knows hE she's made. Real mone) 8 3RSON it trip now? fling at nine, and that leaves lunch, and a few phone calls 1r one. laily routine. us twist. CHAPTER 3 Mary: February 2005 ownstairs, the doorbell is ringing. Mary's father shouts, gruffly: "Ella estci aqui. Su amiga con el camiOn." "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. `2Dice quien?" "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. Besides, Mary knows he'll be happy when he sees the money she's made. Real money, like Joe's cousin Wendy Dobbs, is 9 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 lands and strip malls s: that she wants to do an miles away, might as we "Yes," she had said, v Then there was Joe ti "Who is this guy?" J( know a thing about him "Hundreds of dollar: quite look at Joe, but she Joe seemed to think conversation—some bac hadn't even crossed Mar would become a regular "To rub his feet? Are it, why haven't you told y "It's your cousin, Joe! "The guy's feet must I "Shut up!" "Tell your father." "You know how E everything." "I'm not going to som "That's right. I am." "And if! told your fat] "You'd never see me al Mary felt bad as she She knew that it wouli Wendy had told her RSON FILTHY RICH unning off to do something !.r 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, -tad°, 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 Lid have liked her even less had )ns. Did Mary, she can make more I 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 0 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 cousin, Joe! Some girls go three times a week." "The guy's feet must be killing him." "Shut up!" "Tell your father." "You know how Dad is. You don't tell your parents everything." "I'm not going to some freak's mansion to rub his feet." "That's right. I am." "And if I told your father? Or mine?" "You'd never see me again." Mary felt bad as she said it. She felt bad for lying. She knew that it would be more than a foot rub. Wendy had told her that much, at least. 11 CHAPTER 4 Jeffrey Epstein: February 2005 John 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 can say for it. It's totally 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 12 are still things to attend I although, in Epstein's exp( nicely. He strolls through th door that leads to the kitc dishes and climbs a wide, He walks down a hallway naked women. Then, in h there are many more phoi wall, of girls who have cor Familiar faces, famil first-timers so special. Epstein checks his wat The Virgin Islands can FILTHY RICH CHAPTER 4 05 ite, has bought up several lots mansions, and built a grand, neighbors have blocked his I increase his holdings. tch 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. It's totally a dead-end block, the last block ry secluded. lack Escalades will whisk him terminal at Palm Beach Interna- ;ht down to Little Saint James — [nt Jeff's— the seventy-eight-acre Lands. But for the moment, there are still things to attend to in Florida. Business and pleasure — although, in Epstein's experience, the two have always fit together nicely. He strolls through the gate, past the guard, up to the side door 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 are many 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. 13 CHAPTER 5 Mary: February 2005 The 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 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, 14 but she doesn't know if th( dy's always seemed so mi other girl's just a mystery. speak to Mary, her stare SE girl. "Remember," Wendy s davit filed by the Palm Bee 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 het than that. "Okay," she says. "I got Mary takes out her flu cousin is a BAMF." A badass motherfuckei There's no reply. "Or maybe she's just a 1 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 fn they walk past a guard. FILTHY RICH 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, gigantic resort called the Break- hed, not quite real—like some- mtrast. says to the girl in the passenger :nall." wants to say something about it, 14 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. "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. 15 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 Then she sees the pictu All the girls in the pho, just a baby. Much younger than Ivli The girl's smiling, bu else—some sort of anxiet face. And what she's doinl off to the side. Flashing or toward the camera. Mary gasps. She turns in front of her, wearing nol :RSON FILTHY RICH ndy. are—and leads them to the 7, Wendy, some middle-aged hy eyebrows, and thick silver cks that Mary goes to school vay too old for that. But confi- ssion. a woman. She's blond, very iks. She can't shake the feeling a he nods, and he and Wendy -ale later, they're back. .11 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. tataining a green-and-pink sofa. ae side and doors on either side Loire 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. 6 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 CHAPTER 6 Michael Reiter: March 2005 Chief Reiter looks more like a bank president than a cop. He's well built, with an air of formality and discretion. But he's got twenty-four years on the job. Decades earlier, he was a campus police officer in Pittsburgh. Then he rose, steadily, through the ranks in Palm Beach, moving up from patrol officer to detective, working vice, narcotics, and organized crime, then becoming a sergeant, captain, major, and assistant chief—a job he held for three years—before becoming chief of police. Reiter is what you'd call seasoned, although chief of police in Palm Beach is a job that calls upon his political skills as much as his street smarts. Then again, from time to time, things do happen. Once in a blue moon there are murders— though these are so rare that they tend to be remembered for decades. Sometimes there are hurricanes to contend with, and, when the 18 sea calms, human cargo fickers aim the bows of th( order their passengers to Most of the passengers who stake all they have cm to time, Palm Beach cops I Things get busier dur it, the season. It's when i ties and balls, shop, and Worth Avenue. The popt: who work under Chief R ers, and snotty skateboar tic disturbances. Chokin stuff, but there's always women who work for Rei Chief Reiter's proud ( knows, they're lucky to for the job. If anything, h the John F. Kennedy Sch( terrorist training at Quan up often at cocktail partil hijackers lived in Palm B( local airstrips. A few, inci had been regulars at 251 There they had regaled made-up stories about the But 251 Sunrise is sht 2004, after an avalanche oi Beach is as quiet and calm For the moment. FILTHY RICH CHAPTER 6 a bank president than a cop. Df 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 Or, and assistant chief—a job )ecoming chief of police. Reiter hough chief of police in Palm s political skills as much as his e, things do happen. tre murders — though these are mbered for decades. to contend with, and, when the 8 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 knows, they're lucky to have him. Reiter's extremely well qualified for the job. If anything, he's overqualified, with a certificate from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and anti- terrorist training at Quantico, courtesy of the FBI. It's not brought up often at cocktail parties in Palm Beach, but several of the 9/11 hijackers lived in Palm Beach County. They took flight lessons at local airstrips. A few, including the mastermind, Mohamed Atta, had been regulars at 251 Sunrise, a chic nightclub in Palm Beach. There they had regaled any woman who would listen with made-up stories about their adventures as pilots. But 251 Sunrise is shuttered now. The joint was shut down in 2004, after an avalanche of noise complaints. For the moment, Palm Beach is as quiet and calm as any place Reiter has dreamed about. For the moment. 19 CHAPTER 7 Mary: March 2005 J f there's no traffic, Mary's hometown is less than thirty min- 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 shc "You're the whore," M; Mary rushes the girl, vv twisting and tugging. Son bell rings for next period, It 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 b( 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 FILTHY RICH Still, a friend. "Nothing," says Mary. "You got your period?" "Shut the fuck up," Mary whispers. CHAPTER 7 n.etown is less than thirty min- Palm Beach. But in economic igh school is run by the county. ck. Thirty percent are Hispanic, school has a C rating, and lots ,unted lunches. Mary is one of 1, she's working her way out of r teachers think. A kid with a her meeting with Epstein. She sit. Still, other kids at the high rhat's up with you anyway?" m nice to mean, depending on !O There have been rumors going around, she knows that. Rumors started by a girl who has eyes for Joe. "Whore," her rival shouts in the hallway one day. "You're the whore," Mary shouts back. Mary rushes the girl, who shoves back, grabbing at Mary's hair, twisting and tugging. Someone yells, "Catfight!" By the time the bell rings for next period, Mary's sitting in the principal's office. She shakes her head in reply to the questions, stays silent, feeling humiliated. Then, in her wallet, they find the three hundred dollars. Mary's too young and too small to be stripping. Besides, the bills are all twenties, not singles or fives. When they call Mary's par- ents, her teachers suggest a more obvious explanation: Does Mary do drugs or deal them? Mary's father knows better than that. "No," he insists. A psy- chologist is called in. And then, Mary does start talking. Once she does, she can't stop. It's a wild story. Highly disturbing. A mansion in Palm Beach. A powerful man. This is all far from the principal's wheelhouse. It's definitely a matter for the police. In the meantime, the school's recommending a transfer, purely temporarily, to a facility for troubled kids—ones with "issues." Mary's a good girl, it's true. But further confrontations at the high school will not be tolerated. 21 CHAPTER 8 Michele Pagan: March 2005 0n 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 Officer Pagan's startin uncharted waters. She's yc this have been minor. Ro used to the Gold Coast. SI to her, the less affluent toi 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. Whu Have you seen the sho- things we've never dreamed No, Pagan thinks. This She's the one who's goi FILTHY RICH CHAPTER 8 a police officer Michele Pagan lary's stepmother. 'm going to have to ask you to ig more until I speak with my Lt I'd urge you to come in. Let us T the rest of the day. We're on does most of the talking. says. "At school. A fight between tase understand, our Mary's not 22 Officer Pagan's starting to feel as though she's swimming in uncharted waters. She's young, and the cases she's worked before this have been minor. Robberies, that sort of thing. Pagan's not used to the Gold Coast. She was educated in New York City, and, to her, the less affluent towns further in from the Coast might as well be somewhere in Georgia. Then again, she knows enough to know that in the back of the station, detectives are already whispering. What's a guy with that kind of money need with some girl from out west? The women around here could make a man cry. Extortion? The kid's fourteen. What would she know from extortion? Have you seen the shows these kids watch? They know about things we've never dreamed about. No, Pagan thinks. This is her case. She's the one who's going to work it. 23 CHAPTER 9 Mary: March 2005 ary's father and stepmother believe their girl. Officer Pagan believes Mary's parents. Ergo, Mary must be tell- ing the truth. The girl's got a sweet, high, halting voice. Pagan interviews her twice, and both times, she speaks with her chin buried deep in her chest. "Tell me, honey," says Pagan. "What happened?" In her notepad, Michele Pagan writes: While speaking to me, Mary became upset and started to cry. "This white-haired guy came into the room," Mary says. "Wearing only a towel around his waist. He took off the towel. And then he was all naked, and he lay down on a massage table. "He was a really built guy. But his wee-wee was very tiny." Mary tells Pagan that Epstein spoke only to give her instruc- tions, which he did in a stern voice. She tells Pagan that she was alone and didn't know what to do. 24 She removed her par writes in her incident rei She straddled his ba touching Epstein's expose( Epstein then turned tc up-and-down motion. Eps to massage Mary's vagina Mary's sure that Epst himself down as he got c That week, Pagan's as. tives. Five men, two won say. "This is different fro tor is a smart person, arm Within days, another a similar story. It's a tricky case, accordil investigation, because thi as bait in an attempt to cat even if they were willin strings that Chief Reiter's Two weeks later, on is, a controlled call to Wend. The first attempt goes The next time Mary c On the recordings m tiny and tentative, whil( grown, like the femme fat "Hey, what's up?" she FILTHY RICH CHAPTER 9 ,ther believe their girl. Officer arents. Ergo, Mary must be tell- got a sweet, high, halting voice. Doth times, she speaks with her "What happened?" in writes: While speaking to me, cry. ne into the room," Mary says. As waist. He took off the towel. he lay down on a massage table. at his wee-wee was very tiny." n spoke only to give her instruc- >ice. She tells Pagan that she was 10. 24 She removed her pants, leaving her thong panties on, Pagan writes in her incident report. She straddled his back, whereby her exposed buttocks were touching Epstein's exposed buttocks. Epstein then turned to his side and started to rub his penis in an up-and-down motion. Epstein pulled out a purple vibrator and began to massage Mary's vaginal area. Mary's sure that Epstein ejaculated. "He used a towel to wipe himself down as he got off the table," she says. That week, Pagan's assigned to the case, along with six detec- tives. Five men, two women. "A predator case," one of them will say. "This is different from someone who is stealing. This preda- tor is a smart person, and that's his desire. He can't stop." Within days, another victim comes into the station. She's got a similar story. It's a tricky case, according to a source closely involved with the investigation, because the girls involved are far too young to use as bait in an attempt to catch Epstein committing another crime — even if they were willing to play along. Still, there are other strings that Chief Reiter's team can start pulling. Two weeks later, on March 31, Officer Pagan has Mary make a controlled call to Wendy Dobbs. The first attempt goes straight to voice mail. The next time Mary calls, Wendy picks up. On the recordings made by Officer Pagan, Mary's voice is tiny and tentative, while Wendy sounds mature, gruff, fully grown, like the femme fatale in some old black-and-white movie. "Hey, what's up?" she says impatiently. 25 JAMES PATTERSON "Nothing," says Mary. "I talked to Jeffrey, and I'm going to his house tomorrow morning," says Wendy. "I'm going to set something up for you." "Cool. Like, what do you think?" "I don't know. I'm going to talk to him tomorrow morning when I go to his house about it." "Urn, how much would I get paid?" "Talk to him. I'll talk to him tomorrow, and then I'll bring you in the next day. You can talk to him about it." So far, so good, thinks Officer Pagan. But she needs more. She looks at Mary expectantly, but not too expectantly, she hopes. She can imagine how hard it must be for the girl. Or maybe she can't imagine it at all. But either way, Mary seems to have gotten the message. Straightening up in her chair, she begins to press Wendy. "I don't know," Wendy says in response. "I don't know. You're going to have to talk to him about it. I mean, I don't really work for him like that. I just bring girls to him and they work for him.. .. You can ask him, like, 'What can I do to make more money?" Mary keeps pressing. "The more you do, the more you get paid," Wendy says finally. "Want me to bring my sister for you? So that we can get paid more or something?" "Well, yeah. That's what I'm saying. I'm working tomorrow, and me and him are going to put a schedule together for you and your sister. So I'll call you tomorrow when I leave Jeffrey with a schedule." "Okay, well, I don't have a phone. So if you guys call me, I'd have to know what time so I could get the phone." "Okay. I'll leave you a message. That's fine. I'll leave you a message." 26 Noel St. Pierre: Mar Noel St. Pierre* Haiti. His old 1 jungle border Republic, and some of I kids would stay in the E of them never returned. say too much about it. Most of them didn't By the time he wa5 those kids. He'd leanr prostitutes. This was how Noel really were devils out ii * Noel St. Pierre is a compo: RSON ding to his house tomorrow o set something up for you." ))7 k to him tomorrow morning id?" :.omorrow, and then I'll bring d him about it." agan. But she needs more. She Do expectantly, she hopes. She or the girl. Or maybe she can't 4ary seems to have gotten the lair, she begins to press Wendy. response. "I don't know. You're •t. I mean, I don't really work for in and they work for him.. . . You D make more money?" yu get paid," Wendy says finally. Or you? So that we can get paid saying. I'm working tomorrow, a schedule together for you and row when I leave Jeffrey with a lone. So if you guys call me, I'd id get the phone." age. That's fine. I'll leave you a 6 CHAPTER JO Noel St. Pierre: March 2005 Noel St. Pierre* thinks of the kids he grew up with in Haiti. His old neighborhood was pressed up against the jungle border that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, and some of the kids he knew would slip over. Those kids would stay in the DR for a few days, sometimes weeks. Some of them never returned. But the ones who did come back wouldn't say too much about it. Most of them didn't talk much at all. By the time he was ten, Noel had learned the truth about those kids. He'd learned that they'd ended up working as prostitutes. This was how Noel St. Pierre had learned about evil. There really were devils out in the world. Flesh-and-blood devils, and * Noel St. Pierre is a composite character. 27 JAMES PATTERSON they were nothing like the demons he'd heard about in church. Noel had never forgotten the way those kids looked. The way they'd turned into old men and old women. They were like zom- bies trapped in children's bodies. And now, in America, Noel's been given a chance to help other kids. That's what the police have told him, at least. Noel is a sanitation worker. Still strong at fifty, and lucky enough to have found his way to Palm Beach, he gets in to work before anyone else and keeps his white compactor truck clean, almost glistening. His pickup route runs hot and cold with the seasons. But even in the summer, with much less to do, he's on the job early, braced for a six-hour shift that would break a lesser man's back. In the winter, the job gets even harder. The Estate Section gets especially busy. Some of the parties have hundreds of guests. They leave behind mountains of refuse. That garbage gets picked up daily, or twice a day when requested. It's carried by workers who slip, silently, under the porte cocheres. Then it gets whisked twenty miles away to a landfill that the garbage- men call Mount Trashmore. Noel's stretch of the Estate Section runs from the Everglades Club to the southernmost tip of the island. It encompasses Ban- yan Road, Jungle Road, El Bravo Way, and El Brill° Way. His per- formance record is spotless. As far as the Palm Beach PD is concerned, he's the perfect man for the job. Chief Reiter's authorized a "trash pull" —a legal way to collect discarded evidence. In this case, evidence culled from Jeffrey Epstein's garbage. But when the police call him, Noel St. Pierre simply assumes that another refugee boat has run aground on 28 the beach. A sad thing time to time. His home despots who line their Many of the refugee: Most of them speak "Eske ou ka ede nou, "Can you help us, pl The cops always ne€ help out before. But thi: impatient. "This time is differ, special. You don't have keep things to yourself, When he hears what "I'll do it," he says if address he's been morning, St. Pierre mov( kitchen window at the women, one of them qui The fourth silhouett€ The police have giv( unsavory, but so is the detectives want from hi numbers, along with toc wear. Anything that cou special truck on the El E aside in small trash bags end of every shift. RSON FILTHY RICH 1 he'd heard about in church. those kids looked. The way women. They were like zom- knd now, in America, Noel's ids. him, at least. :ill strong at fifty, and lucky aim Beach, he gets in to work khite compactor truck clean, .e runs hot and cold with the with much less to do, he's on shift that would break a lesser gets even harder. The Estate : of the parties have hundreds ntains of refuse. That garbage ty when requested. It's carried ier the porte cocheres. Then it to a landfill that the garbage- :don runs from the Everglades he island. It encompasses Ban- Vay, and El Brillo Way. His per- far as the Palm Beach PD is N the job. h pull" — a legal way to collect evidence culled from Jeffrey police call him, Noel St. Pierre fugee boat has run aground on 8 the beach. A sad thing, but something that does happen from time to time. His homeland, Haiti, is desperately poor. Run by despots who line their pockets while everyday people suffer. Many of the refugees are illiterate. Most of them speak only Creole. "Eske ou ha ede nou, souple," they ask. "Can you help us, please?" The cops always need a translator, and Noel's been asked to help out before. But this time the police officer's voice is raspy, impatient. "This time is different," the officer says. "Something very special. You don't have to accept. But if you do, you'll have to keep things to yourself, completely." When he hears what the story is, Noel accepts. "I'll do it," he says immediately. The address he's been given is 358 El Brillo Way. On his first morning, St. Pierre moves swiftly, sneaking a glance through the kitchen window at the four silhouettes standing inside. Three women, one of them quite short, with pigtails. The fourth silhouette is that of a tall man. The police have given him clear instructions. The work is unsavory, but so is the work Noel does every day. What the detectives want from him now are slips of paper with phone numbers, along with toothbrushes, condoms, discarded under- wear. Anything that could provide DNA. He's been told to use a special truck on the El Brillo run. Whatever he finds he's to put aside in small trash bags he'll deliver directly to the station at the end of every shift. 29 JAMES PATTERSON Jeffrey Epstein's garbage will never arrive at Mount Trashmore. As he drives to the police station, St. Pierre thinks about Epstein and what he's been told. It's a wonder to him that Ameri- can kids would do what the police say these kids have done. American kids are rich, after all. Some of them just don't know it, he guesses. Americans always want more than they have. Then again, children do stupid things. They don't know any better. And St. Pierre's trips to the house make one thing clear. These girls are young. Really young. "I hope you can stop this man," St. Pierre tells the cop. The detective shoots him a sharp look, and St. Pierre nods. "Please," he says, more softly this time. "Can we count on seeing you here tomorrow?" The detective looks antsy, impatient again. In his hand he's holding a scrap of paper that Noel St. Pierre has pulled from Epstein's trash. Wendy Dobbs's name is on it. Mary's name is on it as well. The detective can't wait to get it to Chief Reiter's office. "As long as it takes, sir," St. Pierre tells him. "Tomorrow, the next day. Whenever you need me." 30 Michael Reiter: Sep, There's a sense ir foundation. Fre residents will w How much more wot remarkably safe commi A tax write-off? Su. genuine gesture. One e the department's effort ciously, gratefully. In 2 Jeffrey Epstein— the ! Beach PD — for ninety generous standards of delivered personally, NN ulator. But that day Mic off about Epstein. ;.RSON er arrive at Mount Trashmore. Lion, St. Pierre thinks about ; a wonder to him that Amer-- :e say these kids have done. ome of them just don't know it, han they have. . things. They don't know any house make one thing clear. g. St. Pierre tells the cop. rp look, and St. Pierre nods. his time. iere tomorrow?" patient again. In his hand he's )el St. Pierre has pulled from ime is on it. Mary's name is on it to Chief Reiter's office. [erre tells him. "Tomorrow, the 77 0 CHAPTER II Michael Reiter: September 2005 There's a sense in which the Palm Beach PD functions as a foundation. From time to time, one of the town's wealthy residents will walk in with a check followed by an inquiry. How much more would the police force need to make this remarkably safe community feel even safer? A tax write-off? Sure. But why not? Coming from most, it's a genuine gesture. One of appreciation for all they have and for all the department's efforts to guard it. Donations are accepted gra- ciously, gratefully. In 2004, the department had taken one from Jeffrey Epstein—the second donation he'd made to the Palm Beach PD—for ninety thousand dollars. Generous, even by the generous standards of Palm Beach. The donation, which Epstein delivered personally, was earmarked for a firearms training sim- ulator. But that day Michael Reiter had thought something seemed off about Epstein. 31 JAMES PATTERSON Something an old cop would notice. Reiter's officers had told him about complaints they'd gotten a few months earlier—young women hanging around at the end of the block or coming and going at all hours from Epstein's house. "There was some follow-up to that," Reiter said in a depo- sition for B.B. vs. Epstein, a civil suit, brought by a victim, that Jeffrey eventually settled. "I think we may have encountered one or two of them. [We] may have done a little bit of surveillance or talked to neighbors as to whether or not they had seen that. I think we were of the general understanding that, yes, there were very attractive young women coming and going from Mr. Epstein's residence. "We did some level of further inquiry, and we were of the belief that they were all adults. And [we] were also of the belief that there was a possibility that there could be prostitution. But I mean that's just not something that we heavily pursued— prostitution in private residences; it's common everywhere in America. We didn't believe that they were underage at that point, and so we had no further interest in it." Reiter had recalled those complaints on the day Epstein had shown up with his $90,000 donation. And when Reiter had walked Epstein downstairs, he couldn't help but notice the tall, beautiful woman whom Epstein had brought with him to the station. It struck him as strange that she was standing so stiffly, eyes cast downward, as though she were afraid to speak. Not a kid. But not a woman, either. Epstein did not introduce or even acknowledge her. To Reiter, this, too, seemed odd. Indeed, the statuesque woman was Nadia Marcinkova, a 32 nineteen-year-old be described, by anothe tive Recarey, as one o In September, seven calls Reiter directly arms simulator yet? Cautiously, Reiter If the departmen happy to provide the) Reiter thanks hir now that Epstein kric Epstein's crimes in P knows, if the charge public. Cops like Reiter that they're no longe) helps to hold on to a to understand: you s, murders make a kin( tion. There's great so Epstein's been up to Who is this guy? Reiter's detective. him, they'll have to 1 to know the people ; Wendy. That's one pl What kind of per. ERSON FILTHY RICH )tice. pout complaints they'd gotten Len hanging around at the end g at all hours from Epstein's to that," Reiter said in a depo- lift, brought by a victim, that we may have encountered one ne a little bit of surveillance or r or not they had seen that. I Tstanding that, yes, there were :oming and going from Mr. :r inquiry, and we were of the Lnd [we] were also of the belief -iere could be prostitution. But I g that we heavily pursued— .',s; it's common everywhere in hey were underage at that point, t in it." aplaints on the day Epstein had Dnation. And when Reiter had :ouldn't help but notice the tall, a had brought with him to the she was standing so stiffly, eyes were afraid to speak. Not a kid. tein did not introduce or even >, too, seemed odd. ,man was Nadia Marcinkova, a 32 nineteen-year-old beauty who lived at Epstein's home and was described, by another girl, in a recorded interview with Detec- tive Recarey, as one of Epstein's "like, slaves." In September, several months into the investigation, Epstein calls Reiter directly and asks: Has Palm Beach bought the fire- arms simulator yet? Cautiously, Reiter tells him that they're still doing research. If the department needs more funds, Epstein says, he'll be happy to provide them. Reiter thanks him graciously and hangs up. But he's certain now that Epstein knows about the investigation. Thinking about Epstein's crimes in Palm Beach makes him shudder. And, Reiter knows, if the charges are true, things are going to get ugly and public. Cops like Reiter are family men, fathers. Some see so much that they're no longer surprised by the ways of the world. Still, it helps to hold on to a natural capacity for outrage. Thefts are easy to understand: you see something you need, so you take it. Even murders make a kind of sense once you understand the motiva- tion. There's great satisfaction in catching a murderer. But what Epstein's been up to is hard to explain. Who is this guy? Reiter's detectives will have to get into Epstein's head. To nail him, they'll have to know him. And to do that, they'll have to get to know the people around him. The police already know about Wendy. That's one procurer, but out of how many? What kind of person would bring children to a child molester? 33 JAMES PATTERSON And—Reiter can't shake the idea—other victims had to be out there. That lined up with what Epstein's neighbor reported: there were many girls. He needed to find them as quickly as pos- sible. It was a race against time. As long as Epstein was free in Palm Beach, more girls were sure to arrive at the side of the house on El Brillo Way. Alison: September 1] /t might start with th•covers charity balls, 1 Reporters there woul so juicy. On top of that, ( freelance paparazzi and : They'd kill for the stc Heat. Over at WPTV, the one day. It's a tip from a kid, sc from a local high school. There's a prostitution The tip gets brought the producers divvy up newscasts. 34 ERSON lea—other victims had to be t Epstein's neighbor reported: o find them as quickly as pos- Palm Beach, more girls were tse on El Brillo Way. CHAPTER 12 Alison: September 11, 2005 It might start with the Palm Beach Daily News, which usually covers charity balls, equestrian events, and gallery openings. Reporters there would kill to sink their teeth into something so juicy. On top of that, Chief Reiter knows, Palm Beach is full of freelance paparazzi and seasoned semiretired journalists. They'd kill for the story, too. For them, it'd be a real-life Body Heat. Over at WPTV, the local NBC affiliate, the phone rings one day. It's a tip from a kid, sounding nervous. Something about girls from a local high school. There's a prostitution ring out in Palm Beach, says the boy. The tip gets brought up in a midmorning meeting at which the producers divvy up ideas among the various reporters and newscasts. 35 34 JAMES PATTERSON "Where, exactly?" a producer asks. "He didn't say, exactly," an intern replies. "He said that a very rich man was involved." "Who?" "Didn't say." "Did he leave a call-back number?" "No. The kid sounded really young. Fourteen, fifteen years old." The producer thinks for a moment, makes a few scratches in his dog-eared notepad. "Okay," he says. "I'm not sure what we can do with that for the moment." At some point, some enterprising journalist will put enough pieces together to get a sense of the picture. Sooner or later, someone will talk. Maybe a parent. Maybe a cop's girlfriend gets giddy at lunch. The girlfriend's girlfriend mentions it to her hus- band, who says something to a golfing buddy in turn. Maybe the golfing buddy knows a reporter. Or maybe some lawyer goes off the rez, blitzed off those mar- tinis they serve at the Palm Beach Grill. Sooner or later, there's always talk. At that point, Chief Reit- er's job will get much, much harder —with Epstein on one side, the press on the other, and the chief taking flak from all sides. But right now, two months into Reiter's investigation, the press is still speaking in whispers. Right now, Reiter wants to keep it that way. And, in the meantime, new pieces of the puzzle keep falling into place. * * * 36 On September II, over by the police: The patrol officer] vehicle. But Alison she's cocky and from the dime bag remarkable story a ties with high sch( says. She's been g( was sixteen. At first the cop gation into Jeffrey burnout. But back been bullshitting I The investigati Alison's name e that have been pul a misdemeanor, si Chief Reiter's colle Jeffrey Epstein. The story Ails( Like Mary, sh( tells cops that Ep: although, she susr Recarey takes (transcribed from police), D stands "victim." * Alison's name, som( FILTHY RICH ERSON sks. :n replies. "He said that a very )er?" y.oung. Fourteen, fifteen years nent, makes a few scratches in what we can do with that for . sing journalist will put enough if the picture. Sooner or later, it. Maybe a cop's girlfriend gets ilfriend mentions it to her hus- )1fing buddy in turn. Maybe the )ff the rez, blitzed off those mar- h Grill. s talk. At that point, Chief Reit- .der —with Epstein on one side, chief taking flak from all sides. Reiter's investigation, the press •eep it that way. pieces of the puzzle keep falling 36 On September 11, a young woman named Alison gets pulled over by the police.* She's carrying a small amount of marijuana. The patrol officer handcuffs her and puts her in the back of his vehicle. But Alison's been in the back of a police car before, and she's cocky and canny enough to pivot the conversation away from the dime bag she's been busted with. She tells the officer a remarkable story about an older man engaging in sexual activi- ties with high school girls. Alison knows about it firsthand, she says. She's been going to the house on El Brillo Way since she was sixteen. At first the cop's skeptical. He hasn't heard about the investi- gation into Jeffrey Epstein's affairs. And, after all, Alison is a burnout. But back at the station, he finds out that Alison has not been bullshitting him. The investigation is real. Alison's name and cell phone number match up with messages that have been pulled from Epstein's trash. Instead of copping to a misdemeanor, she becomes another Jane Doe in the case that Chief Reiter's colleague, Detective Joe Recarey, is building against Jeffrey Epstein. The story Alison ends up telling is extremely disturbing. Like Mary, she says, she was recruited in high school. She tells cops that Epstein would call her his "number one girl" — although, she suspects, there were many others. Recarey takes her statement. In the excerpts that follow (transcribed from a tape recording made by the Palm Beach police), D stands for "Detective Recarey," and V stands for "victim." * Alison's name, some identifying details, and dialogue have been changed. 37 D: V: JAMES PATTERSON Well, ah, start from, like, how you met him, and then I'll — I'll take you through. Okay. Um, we [Alison and a female friend] worked at Hollister together in the Wellington Green mall, and I was mentioning to her how I wanted extra money to go to Maine ...I wanted to go camping for the summer, and I couldn't afford a plane ticket. And—she goes, "Oh, well, you can get a plane ticket in two hours." I said, "What are you talking about?" Like, what are you—that didn't make any sense to me, a plane ticket in two hours; what are you talking about? And she goes, "Oh, we can go give this guy a massage, and, um, he'll pay two hundred dollars for, like, forty-five minutes or an hour." And that's all she told me—no details, no nothing. She said that he wanted cute girls, so I looked cute, did my best. I didn't—I didn't think that it was what it was. I wasn't naive enough to think that he was gonna pay me two hun- dred dollars just for nothing—I, I don't know, like, I don't know what was going through my head. I absolutely don't know. And I— the back of my mind was thinking, oh, well, it could be legitimate, but I was also thinking, you know, at the same time, is she fucking crazy? Like, this guy's not gonna pay you money for not doing anything, not letting him cop a feel or nothing. You know? So I didn't know what to think, I was like, "Oh ... if he does something that I have a problem with, then I'll leave." D: Who were you introduced to? V: One of his girlfriends. One of his, like, slaves that he has live with him. And when I say "slaves," like, one of the girls that 38 he bought to, like, to one of them pro Sarah. Urn, that's hi but I don't know. Ur and she's the one v second. And from really—I didn't pa: So ... we were waiti um, Jeffrey comes He just introduced 'cause I was pissed was pissed off. He and says, "Thank )7( stairs," and I was lii And that's how I wa Urn. Hold on—I'm head. I wore a skin wore a skirt and ju5 his legs, and he ask' think I said no at f showing" — he tall< you're not showing even know. So I en goes— well, I thint top of me. So —and D: When you're sayir breasts? V: Yeah. And then he a my shirt, but I kepi ERSON FILTHY RICH you met him, and then I'll— ale friend] worked at Hollister m mall, and I was mentioning :y to go to Maine...I wanted to and I couldn't afford a plane Al, you can get a plane ticket in Tou talking about?" Like, what 1 sense to me, a plane ticket in g about? And she goes, "Oh, we and, um, he'll pay two hundred utes or an hour." And that's all )thing. girls, so I looked cute, did my that it was what it was. I wasn't le was gonna pay me two hun- I don't know, like, I don't igh my head. I absolutely don't iy mind was thinking, oh, well, was also thinking, you know, at ing crazy? Like, this guy's not t doing anything, not letting him mow? So I didn't know what to he does something that I have a 1) o? of his, like, slaves that he has live 'slaves," like, one of the girls that 38 D: V: he bought to, like, have sex with him. Urn, I was introduced to one of them probably, like ... Sarah. I was introduced to Sarah. Urn, that's his assistant, I think. I think they have sex, but I don't know. Um, I was introduced to his assistant Sarah, and she's the one who told me that he would be ready in a second. And from there I met various other girls. I don't really—I didn't pay attention to who they were, though.... So ... we were waiting on the couch in the bathroom, and, urn, Jeffrey comes up, and he's like, "Hey, I'm—I'm Jeffrey." He just introduced himself, and he hands—I remember this 'cause I was pissed off that she got paid to bring me. Like, I was pissed off. He hands her a wad of hundred-dollar bills and says, "Thank you," and she says, "I'll wait for you down- stairs," and I was like, "All right, I'll see you in a little while." And that's how I was brought to Jeffrey. Urn. Hold on—I'm remembering. I'm, like, picturing in my head. I wore a skirt. I remember specifically what I wore: I wore a skirt and just a regular T-shirt. And I was massaging his legs, and he asked me to take off my skirt. And I said—I think I said no at first. And he's like, "Come on, you're not showing" —he talked me into it, basically. He's like, "Oh, you're not showing anything," or [he] did something; I don't even know. So I ended up taking off my skirt, and then he goes—well, I think he just started touching, you know, the top of me. So—and then he asked me. When you're saying "the top of you," you mean your breasts? Yeah. And then he asked me to take off my shirt. So I took off my shirt, but I kept my underwear on. And I wouldn't take 39 JAMES PATTERSON my underwear off: I told him no. And he still paid me the same amount. And that was that. I went home. D: So, in other words, he — V: Finished with himself and that was it. Yeah, he ejaculated. Specifically. D: That was the first time you went there? V: Mm-hmm. D: And—I know, take a deep breath, I know, I can see it in your eyes already. From then on, you went there multiple times? V: I had problems with it. [With] what happened the first time. But three hundred dollars for forty minutes—that was a lot for a sixteen-year-old girl making six bucks an hour. D: So you're saying you're sure you were sixteen now? V: Urn, I don't want to say I'm sure of my age. I was under seven- teen, one hundred percent. D: Okay. Urn, when you—the first time you went, when he masturbated, did you see? V: [giggles] D: His member? V: Oh, I thought you were going to ask me if I saw, like, his come. D: No. V: I saw all of the above. D: You saw him naked, fully naked? Fully naked? V: Yeah, a hundred percent naked. He had a towel on for some of it, but that doesn't mean anything. Like, he was naked. D: He took off the towel? V: I saw everything, yeah. 40 I mean, I'm sorry, cised, a hundred a has some sort of bii it is [giggles]; I've n done anything whi it—out of the who his penis. Like, he- but I've never ever I or "I'm gonna do tF I don't know—do) I'm just really emb drop of water. It's r top, where it's attac Like, I just could t€ can obviously tell i: he wasn't. D: The next time you escalate more? Mm-hmm. I actuall: me to start workirq went there. But I sta he was in the coun him that I wouldn't was my rule. Nothir ing, absolutely noth three or four hundr, Um, I still never—I entire time I never, ERSON FILTHY RICH no. And he still paid me the it. I went home. it was it. Yeah, he ejaculated. at there? ath, I know, I can see it in your )11 went there multiple times? I what happened the first time. forty minutes—that was a lot cing six bucks an hour. au were sixteen now? re of my age. I was under seven- first time you went, when he , to ask me if I saw, like, his come. iked? Fully naked? ked. He had a towel on for some inything. Like, he was naked. 40 I mean, I'm sorry, he is circumcised, my bad. He's circum- cised, a hundred and ten percent sure. A matter of fact, he has some sort of birth defect. On his thing. I don't know what it is [giggles]; I've never really looked at it, because I've never done anything where I had to touch it. I've never touched it— out of the whole time I worked for him, I never touched his penis. Like, he—I'm pretty sure he rubbed it against me, but I've never ever been, like, "Okay, I'm letting you do this" or "I'm gonna do this to you." Um, it's really weirdly shaped. I don't know— do you want me to, like, tell you this? I'm just really embarrassed. Urn, it's like a teardrop, like a drop of water. It's really fat at the bottom and skinny at the top, where it's attached. And he never gets fully hard, ever. Like, I just could tell by looking at it—like, by looking you can obviously tell if you're hard or not, and I could tell that he wasn't. D: The next time you went, or as you continued to go, did it escalate more? V. Mm-hmm. I actually—I don't remember how long it took for me to start working for him regularly, from the first time I went there. But I started working every day. Every single day he was in the country I would be there ... And, urn, I told him that I wouldn't let him put anything inside of me; that was my rule. Nothing inside of me—no fingers, no, no noth- ing, absolutely nothing inside of me. He increased my pay to three or four hundred dollars as long as he could touch me. Um, I still never—I, I swear I never touched him, the whole t, entire time I never, ever touched him. Urn, but he, he- 41 JAMES PATTERSON D: How many times would you say you went? V: Hundreds. Hundreds. I was—he used to tell me I was his favorite. He bought me a car. He bought me — D: This Jeep that you're driving? V: No. I had a brand-new Dodge Neon. I got a plane—I got a plane ticket to New York; I got spending money whenever I wanted. Like, I was in there deep. I was—he asked my par- ents to emancipate me so I could live with him. Or he didn't ask my parents, he asked me to ask my parents, I'm sorry. He actually wanted me to come live with him. D: As, like, a girlfriend? V: Sex slave, whatever you want to call it. Yeah. Urn, but it escalated—he, he just increased my pay, as long as he could touch me. I wouldn't let him put anything inside of me. And then one day he just did, one day he just put his hand, like, his fingers—and, urn... D: How long, would you say, from the very first time you went? V: Months. Honestly, I never kept track, like, of, of what happened when. I just can tell you in which order things progressed. It was—it was, like, towards the middle and end of my school year. But I remember that for the last, like, six or eight weeks of high school, I didn't have a car 'cause I gave it back to him. Because he—he asked me to have sex with him and, like, like suck him and stuff [giggles], and I was just like, no. Definitely not. I was like, "I'll let you touch me, but I'm not gonna do that." Yeah, the car was a Dodge Neon 2005. He got it for me before the New Year, because I remember I got it—it was an edition 42 D: V: D: D: V: D: that was a year befc got it, I obviously , got a 2005 Neon in car was awesome [: I gave it back befor, for me. He wanted wanna — I didn't w have sex with him. to walk away from] that. And I'm glad t But I lied to him wF bridges, because h, Spectacular. Even i him. Until this day. to him in, like, a co would give me as rri know that I hate hi figured he used me that, but I figured if Okay. Let me bring Sure. When did things st when the massages They escalated wh( stand the question. Okay. The first time Are you asking for a Oh, no, no, no— EERSON FILTHY RICH ty you went? —he used to tell me I was his ie bought me— Neon. I got a plane—I got a ot spending money whenever I leep. I was—he asked my par- )uld live with him. Or he didn't to ask my parents, I'm sorry. He ive with him. ,nt to call it. Yeah. Urn, but it ased my pay, as long as he could put anything inside of me. And .e day he just put his hand, like, pm the very first time you went? )t track, like, of, of what happened hich order things progressed. trds the middle and end of my that for the last, like, six or eight n't have a car 'cause I gave it back ked me to have sex with him and, [giggles], and I was just like, no. let you touch me, but I'm not Neon 2005. He got it for me before member I got it—it was an edition 42 that was a year before they were supposed to come out. So if I got it, I obviously didn't get a 2006, 'cause that's this year. I got a 2005 Neon in 2004. Seven miles on it when I got it. The car was awesome [giggles]. I gave it back before I graduated. It got too—it got too sticky for me. He wanted more than I was willing to give. I didn't wanna — I didn't want to, um, suck his dick. I didn't want to have sex with him. I never did that, and I wanted to be able to walk away from this saying that I—saying that I never did that. And I'm glad that I did. But I lied to him when I gave it back. I didn't want to burn my bridges, because he was a spectacular connection to have. Spectacular. Even if I didn't—even when I didn't work for him. Until this day, he is so aw— he is so—I haven't talked to him in, like, a couple months, but if I called him today he would give me as much money as I asked him for. He doesn't know that I hate him the way I do. I kept that connection. I figured he used me, I'd be able to use him. Urn, I hate to say that, but I figured if I wanted to use him I could. D: Okay. Let me bring you back a little bit. V: Sure. D: When did things start to escalate as far as things happening when the massages were given? V: They escalated whenever he wanted. I don't clearly under- stand the question. D: Okay. The first time you went, you were naked — V: Are you asking for a date? D: Oh, no, no, no- 43 JAMES PATTERSON V: ... and the little steps that things progressed? D: Right. V: Well, I went and I wouldn't take off my panties at first. And then he got me to get naked. Then he got me to let him rub me. Then he got me to let him stick his fingers in me. Then he got me to let him go down on me. Then, um—that was pretty much the gist of it, except this one time, where he bent me over the table and put himself in me. Without my permission. And I flipped out. I'm sorry, I didn't ask you, but I don't count that as me having sex with him.... 'Cause I just told you that I never had sex with him. I never did. Even though, I don't know what you'd consider that. But he then—I go, "What are you doing?" He goes, "Oh, I just wanted [redacted] to see this." D: Okay. Let me back you up. When you were completely naked, the same things happened? You went in, you massaged him? V: Sometimes I didn't even do that. Sometimes he just asked me to take off my clothes and—he'd have to do work, he'd be sitting at his desk or something, and I'd just be naked there, watching television or reading a book, but I'd be naked. Or, um, sometimes he wanted to just watch TV or read, and he'd lay in his bed and ask me to take my clothes off and lay with him. And that's it. Not touch him or anything.... Sometimes he'd just invite me over for breakfast, for dinner, or just to use the swimming pool, and I'd get paid for that, too. I'd get paid just to hang out with him. That's it. And if the money wasn't there, I wouldn't have ever been in that house. D: Okay. When he started to touch you — V: I have a question. Before I say anything else. Urn, is there a possibility that I'm gonna have to go to court or anything? Like, that's a possibility, right? D: Well, here's the thin going to sit down, NA, he did to you is a cril V: Would you consider be rape, what he didi D: If he put himself insi V: I didn't say that, or ai is about, like, my hip D: That, that is a crime. V: I don't want my fan doesn't know any of t for two years, or how thinks I made phone ing my [unintelligibli know anything. D: Well, you're an adult done with this interv- decide the best coursE V: 'Cause Jeffrey's gonm He's gonna find—he's I'm not safe now. You - D: He is not this person t V: Well — D: Why do you say you'r( before? V: Well, I've heard him m yeah. Of course. D: You're gonna die? You') V: All the above! But that D: Who's he talking to? FILTHY RICH ER SON gs progressed? ke off my panties at first. And len he got me to let him rub me. his fingers in me. Then he got ie. Then, urn—that was pretty one time, where he bent me over Without my permission. And I ask you, but I don't count that as .ause I just told you that I never Even though, I don't know what m —I go, "What are you doing?" dacted] to see this." ben you were completely naked, (ou went in, you massaged him? hat. Sometimes he just asked me —he'd have to do work, he'd be king, and I'd just be naked there, Lng a book, but I'd be naked. Or, o just watch TV or read, and he'd take my clothes off and lay with h him or anything.... Sometimes breakfast, for dinner, or just to id I'd get paid for that, too. I'd get him. That's it. And if the money re ever been in that house. ouch you— say anything else. Urn, is there a have to go to court or anything? ght? 44 D: Well, here's the thing: When this is all said and done, we're going to sit down, we're going to discuss this. I mean, what he did to you is a crime. I'm not gonna lie to you. V: Would you consider it rape? Like, would you consider that to be rape, what he did? I/ If he put himself inside you, without permission — V: I didn't say that, or anything. I was standing up and the table is about, like, my hip length—he just put me down — D: That, that is a crime. That is a crime. V: I don't want my family to find out about this. My family doesn't know any of this. My mom thinks I was his secretary, for two years, or however long—a year and a half. My mom thinks I made phone calls for him and that's how I was mak- ing my [unintelligible] money. That's it. I don't want her to know anything. D: Well, you're an adult. You're an adult now.... When we're done with this interview, we'll discuss this further and we'll decide the best course. V: 'Cause Jeffrey's gonna get me. You guys realize that, right? He's gonna find—he's gonna figure this out. And he's gonna — I'm not safe now. You understand that, right? I'm not safe. D: He is not this person that he is portraying himself to be — V: Well — D: Why do you say you're not safe? Has he said he's hurt people before? V: Well, I've heard him make threats to people on the telephone, yeah. Of course. D: You're gonna die? You're gonna break your legs? Or — V: All the above! But that's not the point. D: Who's he talking to? 45 JAMES PATTERSON V: I don't know. I don't know, I heard those conversations, I mean, I've been in the room when he was on the phone and [unintelligible] threatened. Like, I witnessed lots of things. I just don't know what, specifically you all [want to know]. D: Everything. V: I used to go there every day, like I w —I don't, I don't know how many other girls he was saying, "You're my favorite, and I want you to live with me" to, but I was in about as deep as you can get. D: He had quite a few girls he would say that to. D: Do you have any formal massage training? V: [Giggles.] Hell, no. D: All right, I was just asking. V: He would kiss me and stuff, too. I remember that. And when he kissed me, if he was jerking off he would, like, rub him- self on my breasts. And I ... I was extremely uncomfortable. I would maneuver myself away from that activity. I'd get up and I'd move somewhere else, or I'd—I don't even remember. I would stop whatever was going on without saying, "Can you get the fuck off me?" I would stop it without saying stuff like that. D: Okay. V: I wouldn't let him put anything in me until one day he did just out of nowhere. And I said, "Wait a second: my boyfriend, you know, we had this thing, you can't do that. You know, I'm —I'm allowed to work here as long as you don't do that." And he said "okay." Well, a couple months later I guess he 46 assumed me and my it one day; he just did I said, "What are yo cool," and he goes, "C I said, "No, we did nc uh, and then he just c why don't I just give y out?" And I was like no to. I don't know if. ; Oh, Yeah. Well, if ye tries to control the sit out of your mouth, i going to say. Like, ti money is knowing wF pie are gonna do. D: What did he tell you h V: Well, there's a coupi. myself, things I looke cally told me when I a brain scientist." And I tist?" I was like, "Tha But anyway ... his expl people's brains work." means. Whatever. You ble....1" You know wfu held on so long is, he pi That I would get into waited, and I waited, al get 4.O—like, I did gre; fERSON FILTHY RICH D: V: . heard those conversations, I vhen he was on the phone and ke, I witnessed lots of things. I ally, you all [want to know]. like I w —I don't, I don't know saying, "You're my favorite, and o, but I was in about as deep as ould say that to. sage training? too. I remember that. And when Ling off he would, like, rub him- I was extremely uncomfortable. I vay from that activity. I'd get up ;e, or I'd—I don't even remember. 3 going on without saying, "Can would stop it without saying stuff 'thing in me until one day he did said, "Wait a second: my boyfriend, Ling, you can't do that. You know, here as long as you don't do that.' , a couple months later I guess he 46 assumed me and my boyfriend had broken up, and he just did it one day; he just did it without asking or anything. And then I said, "What are you doing?" I said, "You know that's not cool," and he goes, "Oh, I thought we did that last time." And I said, "No, we did not do that last time." And then he goes— uh, and then he just offered me more money. He's like, "Well, why don't I just give you something extra, and we can try this out?" Arid I was like [sigh], "All right." Very hard guy to say no to. I don't know if. any of you guys ever talked to him.... Oh, yeah. Well, if you talk to him, I mean, he straight up tries to control the situation. Every—every word that comes out of your mouth, it seems like, he knows what you are going to say. Like, that's his job; that's how he made his money is knowing what people are gonna say and what peo- ple are gonna do. What did he tell you he does for a living? Well, there's a couple of things. Things that I found for myself, things I looked up on the Internet. What he specifi- cally told me when I asked him the first time was, "Oh, I'm a brain scientist." And I said, "What the fuck is a brain scien- tist?" I was like, "That's not a real job—tell me the truth." But anyway ... his explanation was, "It's my job to know how people's brains work." And I said, "Whatever the fuck that means. Whatever. You're like some old guy who [unintelligi- ble... I" You know what he promised me? Here's the reason I held on so long is, he promised me that I would get into NYU. That I would get into NYU and he would pay for it. And I waited, and I waited, and I scored great on my SATs, I would get 4.0—like, I did great in school. I filled out my application 47 JAMES PATTERSON D: V: D: V: and he told me that it wasn't good enough. So I filled it out again, and it was like three times. So I'm pretty sure he wasn't checking into it, he was just telling me that he was. But I think that had a lot to do with the reason I stayed there so long, 'cause my dream was right in front of me, you know? And it's so far.... Aside from having been with [redacted], else that you brought to the house? I brought a few people.... Because it got Like, everyone at school knew. You know It was a circle, and— It was a little circle, yeah.... Not that I would want anybody to get involved. ... I brought girls I didn't like and, frankly, did not give a shit about. Girls that I knew were skanks. That would do anything. Girls that would just, like, suck dick in the bathroom at school. Like, not even people I was friends with. I'd just hear a rumor about a girl and be like, "Hey, I know a way you can make two hundred dollars. How about ..." I would tell them flat out, like, "This is what you've got to do. Are you cool with this? 'Cause I'm not gonna take you if you're not." So I told them. They all know that I got paid to bring them. It was actually [redactedl. She took off her shirt. She was a little overweight, so he didn't want any- thing to do [with herb She was my best friend. But, you know, she was another story. I did care about her. But, urn, she lost her house and stuff and really needed money. She had—she was homeless, she had nowhere to go. So she did it out of desperation. D: Did he ever hurt you? was there anybody out that I did this. , everyone talks— V: Sometimes he got vic D: Violent as in what? A V: He pulled my hair. pulled. Like, he— o" you're all, like, not- mean, like, if you're like, my ponytails— would pull it to whei my hair, and then so) throw me whichever just like use a toy ot penis, though, ever. little, so he could pu throw, obviously it's I mean, there's been• able to walk, urn, ft really—nothing spec can't really recall. Nothing that I went ti getting tore up a few i D: This is getting real pe V: What, like, had I had D: Okay. V: Urn. But honest, I me; three steady boyfrien( ever done anything w a year. So it's not like FILTHY RICH ERSON pod enough. So I filled it out es. So I'm pretty sure he wasn't telling me that he was. But I h the reason I stayed there so ght in front of me, you know? [redacted], was there anybody Duse? muse it got out that I did this. . You know, everyone talks— Not that I would want anybody girls I didn't like and, frankly, s that I knew were skanks. That at would just, like, suck dick in not even people I was friends about a girl and be like, "Hey, I ke two hundred dollars. How lat out, like, "This is what you've this? 'Cause I'm not gonna take them. They all know that I got actually [redacted]. She took off Terweight, so he didn't want any- & was my best friend. But, you ry. I did care about her. But, urn, .ff and really needed money. She le had nowhere to go. So she did it 48 V: Sometimes he got violent, yeah. D: Violent as in what? As in — V: He pulled my hair a lot harder than it should have been pulled. Like, he—okay, I can understand having sex, and you're all, like, not—not that we were having sex, but I mean, like, if you're all into it and you pull hair a little bit, like, my ponytails—just like a little bit, whatever. But he would pull it to where it would rip my hair out. it would rip my hair, and then sometimes he would pick me up and, like, throw me whichever way he wanted me, and then he would just like use a toy or, like, his hand or whatever. Never his penis, though, ever. I never had sex with him. But urn—I'm little, so he could pick me up. Like, if you pick me up and throw, obviously it's gonna hurt.... I mean, there's been nights that I walked out of there barely able to walk, urn, from him being so rough. But nothing really—nothing specific that he really got violent with. Like, I can't really recall. Nothing that I went to the doctor for, no. I mean, I remember getting tore up a few times, but it was nothing that— D: This is getting real personal, but were you active before him? V: What, like, had I had sex? Yeah [laughs]. D: Okay. V: Urn. But honest, I mean, I'm not—I'm not a ho. I've had only three steady boyfriends, and those are the only three that I've ever done anything with. And they were all with me for over a year. So it's not like I just go and hook up at parties. 49 only in me for, like could say that ion: whatever the fuck you doing?" [giggl "Oh, I just wanted JAMES PATTERSON Like, I've gotten thousands of dollars' worth of shit. Man, the underwear I'm wearing right now he gave me. Like, I'd—I'd go over there and there'd be a bag of Victoria's Secret under- wear, like, waiting for me, like, talking, like, fifteen hundred dollars' worth of stuff. I got a plane ticket from him once. I got a car, I got Christmas bonuses, I got movie tickets. Like, he'd buy me movie tickets— like, he'd say, "Hey, have you gone to the movies lately?" I'd be like, "I dunno, oh—not really," [and] he goes, "Do you want to go?" He'd give me, like, eight movie tickets. I got show tickets; I went and saw, like, David Copperfield. I had, like, VIP tickets or some- thing like that. I need to show you, like, what I'm talking about, like, the posi- tioning that we were—it was like, okay, here's the thing: there's the, like, little flower thing, then here's the massage table. I was right here, he was right here, [and] she was here. Urn. And I was standing up, and he just pushed me over the table, and he did his thing with me. D: Okay. Were you facing the table? Were you? V: I was. I was facedown on the table. Like, facedown, hands, like, on my head, holding—I don't, I don't mean—I wasn't fighting, really. So I don't know if he was holding me down to kinda stop me from fighting or what he was doing. He's just a really weird—he's into really weird stuff. Like, I was just bent over, and my face was on the table. I was facedown on the table. And then he did his thing. So. But anyway, [redacted] was right here, and I'm pretty sure she was naked, and the couch is, like, right behind, but, urn, that's how it happened. . .. He was 50 FILTHY RICH 1RSON ollars' worth of shit. Man, the ow he gave me. Like, I'd—I'd bag of Victoria's Secret under- talking, like, fifteen hundred plane ticket from him once. I uses, I got movie tickets. Like, like, he'd say, "Hey, have you 'd be like, "I dunno, oh—not Du want to go?" He'd give me, got show tickets; I went and I had, like, VIP tickets or some- I'm talking about, like, the posi- like, okay, here's the thing: there's Len here's the massage table. I was .and] she was here. Um. And I was hed me over the table, and he did able? Were you? :he table. Like, facedown, hands, —I don't, I don't mean—' wasn't -low if he was holding me down to or what he was doing. He's just a .ly weird stuff. Like, I was just bent the table. I was facedown on the ling. So. But anyway, [redacted] was 3ure she was naked, and the couch m, that's how it happened. . . He was 50 only in me for, like, a minute or two. I don't even know if you could say that long. He put it in, did a couple of pumps, or whatever the fuck you wanna call it, and I was like, "What are you doing?" [giggles] I go, "What are you doing?" He's like, "Oh, I just wanted [redacted] to see this." Then that was that. the Canopy Beach asked if she wanted have to provide a mi thought about the off Molly (Unknowi. name) picked [Dob[ house. Upon her arr Epstein in the kitch duced to a white fem, upstairs to the main bedroom. Sarah arranged t, with a sheet. She broi next to the massage informed [Dobbs] Jet the bedroom wearing He removed the table. He laid on the massage oil for [Dobb "He tried to touch m I asked how he tried tc grabbed her buttocks , "I'll massage you," Di to be touched." [Dobbs] stated she per elusion of the massage CHAPTER 13 Wendy Dobbs: October 3, 2005 Eti very chance he gets— and he gets lots of chances— Chief Reiter drills the same thing into his investigators' heads: they need to be careful. Patient. Methodical. Strategic. Or Epstein's lawyers will eat them for lunch. Inch by inch, they move their case toward the goalpost. But in October, Detective Recarey and his coworkers catch a break that moves the ball several yards down the field. On the first Monday of that month, they pick Wendy up at her house and, down at the police station, she starts to sing—like a bird. The detectives can hardly believe it or get it all down fast enough. Later on, in a probable-cause affidavit, Detective Recarey will write: Approximately two years ago, just after she turned 17 years of age, [Wendy] was approached by a friend named Molly at 52 FILTHY RICH CHAPTER 13 005 [ he gets lots of chances—Chief ng into his investigators' heads: 'atient. Methodical. Strategic. Or for lunch. .ir case toward the goalpost. But and his coworkers catch a break Es down the field. month, they pick Wendy up at her ttion, she starts to sing—like a bird. believe it or get it all down fast -cause affidavit, Detective Recarey p, just after she turned 17 years ched by a friend named Molly at 52 the Canopy Beach Resort in Riviera Beach. [Dobbs] was asked if she wanted to make money. She was told she would have to provide a massage and should make $200. [Dobbs] thought about the offer and agreed to meet with Jeffrey. Molly (Unknown last name) and Tony (Unknown last name) picked [Dobbs] up and she was taken to Epstein's house. Upon her arrival to the house she was introduced to Epstein in the kitchen of the house. She was also intro- duced to a white female known to her as Sarah. She was led upstairs to the main bedroom known to her as Jeff Epstein's bedroom. Sarah arranged the massage table and covered the table with a sheet. She brought out the massage oils and laid them next to the massage bed. Sarah then left the room and informed [Dobbs] Jeff would be in, in a minute. Jeff entered the bedroom wearing only a towel. He removed the towel and laid nude on the massage table. He laid on the table onto his stomach and picked a massage oil for [Dobbs] to rub on him. "He tried to touch me, and I stopped him," says Dobbs. I asked how he tried to touch her. [Dobbs] stated that Epstein grabbed her buttocks and she felt uncomfortable. "I'll massage you," Dobbs had told Epstein. "But I don't want to be touched." [Dobbs] stated she performed the massage naked. At the con- clusion of the massage, Epstein paid [Dobbs] $200. 53 JAMES PATTERSON After the massage Epstein stated to [Dobbs] that he understood she was not comfortable, but he would pay her if she brought over some girls. He told her the younger the bet- ter. (Dobbs] stated she once tried to bring a 23-year-old female and Epstein stated that the female was too old. (Dobbs] stated that in total she only remembers six girls that she brought to see Epstein. Each time she was paid $200. [Dobbs] said at the time she brought these girls to Epstein's house they were all 14 through 16 [years] of age. Wendy Dobbs keeps talking. What she says about Mary's visit lines up neatly with what Mary's already told the police. Wendy's own experience with Epstein syncs up, too. But Wen- dy's not a victim, as Mary is. After all, she's been playing on Epstein's team. Team predator. A police sergeant enters the room. What he wants to know is, does Wendy realize that she's implicated herself in Epstein's crimes? Beads of sweat form on Wendy's forehead, and now the police know they've really got her. She gives them phone numbers to go with the young girls she's named. She provides addresses. But no, Wendy doesn't quite get it. On the way home, in a police car, she brags in the backseat: "I'm like a Heidi Fleiss," she tells the escorting officers. 54 Wendy Dobbs, inter Sergeant Frick, Oct( video (excerpts) RECAREY: Okay. Your* of all, I know you're Okay? I want to thar door's closed, you're you know, it's only c DOBBS: That's fine. RECAREY: I understan, case that we're look brought you here tod untarily. You agreed I do want to talk yc thing. DOBBS: And I don't neec ERSON stated to [Dobbs] that he tble, but he would pay her if :old her the younger the bet- -ied to bring a 23-year-0ld it the female was too old. mly remembers six girls that eh time she was paid $200. ought these girls to Epstein's 16 [years] of age. What she says about Mary's Mary's already told the police. 4)stein syncs up, too. But Wen- kfter all, she's been playing on 700M. What he wants to know is, implicated herself in Epstein's dy's forehead, and now the police : gives them phone numbers to go aed. She provides addresses. But On the way home, in a police car, e tells the escorting officers. 54 CHAPTER 14 Wendy Dobbs, interview with Detective Recarey and Sergeant Frick, October 3, 2005, transcribed from video (excerpts) RECAREY: Okay. Your Pepsi's coming, my Pepsi's coming. First of all, I know you're freaking out. Don't freak out, just relax. Okay? I want to thank you for coming. All right? Though the . door's closed, you're free to go at any time. You're not here— you know, it's only closed for our privacy. DOBBS: That's fine. RECAREY: I understand that you may have information on a case that we're looking into, okay? That's the reason why I brought you here today. All right? And again, you're here vol- untarily. You agreed to come back with us and talk to us. But I do want to talk you about Jeff Epstein, and the whole... thing. DOBBS: And I don't need a lawyer, right? 55 JAMES PATTERSON RECAREY: It's up to you. If you wanted one, you can have one. I can't tell you yes or no on that. That's totally [up] to you, I'm only — DOBBS: I'm not gonna get in trouble for anything I say, right? RECAREY: Right now, you're just a witness. I'm talking to you as a witness.... That's totally up to you. You wanna talk to me? DOBBS: I have no problem telling you everything I know. I'm a very cooperative person. RECAREY: Okay. How did you first meet, um.— DOBBS: I first met Jeffrey—I was at a beach resort on Singer Island, and I was approached by this girl I went to school with. Her name was [redacted]. And she was asking me, you know, "Oh, you need extra money, I know this guy...." I thought about it and I finally gave her a call, and her and her friend [redacted] met up with me. I actually picked them up and we drove down to Jeffrey's house. She introduced me, whatever. RECAREY: Okay. Now, what [do] you mean by making money, how do you make money with Jeffrey? DOBBS: Um, there's two ways. There's two ways you can make money. He'll, all right — RECAREY: That's all right. Talk to me. Talk to me like, like nothin'. DOBBS: How do I say— this is going to sound really sleazy, but RECAREY: No. Go ahead. Talk to me. DOBBS: Every girl that meets Jeffrey starts off with giving him a massage. The more you do with him, the more you make. Basically, if you take off your clothes, you're gonna make more. If you let him do things to you, you're gonna make more. RECAREY: Like "do things" you mean, touch you? 56 DOBBS: Yeah. Touch yoi RECAREY: Okay. Does I DOBBS: He uses his hand I guess it's like a ma that refused to do th but I wouldn't let hirr that he's like, "You l you $200 for every don't want you to ma: girls to me...." So th; For every girl that yc that I brought to Jeffri there. RECAREY: Just to bring DOBBS: Yeah. Just to brir RECAREY: Okay. And t: would have to massag DOBBS: She knew ever)/ one of Jeffrey's rules. the house that didn't would tell me, you knc expect, make sure the I get in that room I di need to know." And, everything she was get RECAREY: Okay. What di DOBBS: I told her the sam Jeffrey --she came to r I basically told her at "What do you have to TERSON wanted one, you can have one. it. That's totally [up] to you, I'm ble for anything I say, right? a witness. I'm talking to you as to you. You wanna talk to me? tg you everything I know. I'm a irst meet, um— vas at a beach resort on Singer by this girl I went to school .!.d1. And she was asking me, you I money, I know this guy...." I y gave her a call, and her and her th me. I actually picked them up 'rey's house. She introduced me, dol you mean by making money, •ith Jeffrey? . There's two ways you can make 'alk to me. Talk to me like, like going to sound really sleazy, but k to me. Jeffrey starts off with giving him a lo with him, the more you make. ur clothes, you're gonna make more. you, you're gonna make more. ,ou mean, touch you? 56 FILTHY RICH DOBBS: Yeah. Touch you in inappropriate places. RECAREY: Okay. Does he use his hand? Does he — DOBBS: He uses his hands and, I really wouldn't call it a vibrator — I guess it's like a massager? But urn—I was one of the girls that refused to do that. I did it basically my—I did it naked, but I wouldn't let him touch me or anything like that. So after that he's like, "You know what?" He's like, "Listen, I'll pay you $200 for every girl that you bring to me." He's like, "I don't want you to massage me anymore, you know, just bring girls to me...." So that's the other way you can make money. For every girl that you bring to the table—so, for every girl that I brought to Jeffrey—I would make $200. Flat. Just right there. RECAREY: Just to bring a girl. DOBBS: Yeah. Just to bring a girl. RECAREY: Okay. And the girl that was going knew that she would have to massage him. DOBBS: She knew everything. She knew everything. That was one of Jeffrey's rules. He had a problem with girls coming to the house that didn't know what they were getting into. He would tell me, you know, "Make sure these girls know what I expect, make sure they know what they want, because when I get in that room I don't want them to—you know—they need to know." And, as far as [redacteas case, she knew everything she was getting herself into. It was all volunteer. RECAREY: Okay. What did you tell her that she was gonna do? DOBBS: I told her the same thing. I told her, you know, this guy Jeffrey—she came to me saying she needed money, da da da. I basically told her about it. She was like, urn, you know, "What do you have to do?" I told her. I was like, "The more 57 DOBBS: The more she'd RECAREY: The more sh DOBBS: Yeah. RECAREY: So, she had i DOBBS: Urn, I don't kni ent stories on that. But when I was first who introduced me slept with him and r or secretary—told plays around with ti RECAREY: So, when yo happened between y DOBBS: Nothing. I woul RECAREY: Okay. Did h( DOBBS: I wouldn't say he pointed. But I'm not- let him—I let him lo the question for him. kind of down-promoi bring girls." But as far RECAREY: Okay. How aside from [redacted DOBBS: Oh. Urn. A lot. RECAREY: A lot? DOBBS: Urn, let's see, th RECAREY: And all thest DOBBS: Every one of th( JAMES PATTERSON you do, the more you make. That's it. In order to make money, you're gonna have to go up there. You're gonna take your clothes off. But the more you do, is the more you make." She walked out of there with $300. So she obviously and evi- dently let him do a little more. Plus, on our way home, she kinda told me what she did. RECAREY: Which was? Give the massage.... DOBBS: She gave the massage, and she basically let him, like, touch her, down there. Basically. RECAREY: Did he touch her with his hands? DOBBS: All with his hands. And then he brought out the mas- sager. From what she told me. RECAREY: How old were you when you were approached to see Jeffrey? DOBBS: Um, I think I was seventeen? RECAREY: Seventeen. DOBBS: Sixteen or seventeen. RECAREY: Okay. When was the last time you talked to him? DOBBS: It's been a while. I can honestly say it's probably been about close to a year. About a year. I actually stopped work- ing for him. RECAREY: Who was the last girl you brought over? DOBBS: The last girl I brought over was [redacted[.... RECAREY: Okay. You got paid two hundred bucks for taking her over? DOBBS: Yes. RECAREY: Okay. [Redacted] knew... DOBBS: She knew everything. RECAREY: That she'd have to massage him, and the more she did- 58 TERSON FILTHY RICH aat's it. In order to make money, there. You're gonna take your do, is the more you make." She So she obviously and evi- re. Plus, on our way home, she massage.... and she basically let him, like, ally. .h his hands? .d then he brought out the mas- e. Alen you were approached to see ateen? Le last time you talked to him? n honestly say it's probably been it a year. I actually stopped work- ;irl you brought over? over was [redacted]. . two hundred bucks for taking her knew... aassage him, and the more she did 58 DOBBS: The more she'd make. RECAREY: The more she got paid. DOBBS: Yeah. RECAREY: So, she had intercourse with him. DOBBS: Urn, I don't know about the intercourse. I heard differ- ent stories on that. I've never asked him "Oh, you know ..." But when I was first introduced to him, my friend [redacted] who introduced me to him, told me that she knew a girl who slept with him and made $1,000. But from what his intern— or secretary—told me, is that he doesn't do that. He just plays around with them. So I heard two different stories. RECAREY: So, when you went and you massaged him, nothing happened between you two. DOBBS: Nothing. I wouldn't let him. RECAREY: Okay. Did he become forceful? Did he get upset? DOBBS: I wouldn't say he became upset. I think he was a little disap- pointed. But I'm not—I didn't care. I knew I was getting paid. I let him—I let him look, but I never let him touch. It was out of the question for him. And I think that's pretty much why he just, kind of down-promoted me? He was just kind of like, "You can bring girls." But as far as working, you know— RECAREY: Okay. How many girls have you brought to him, aside from [redacted]? DOBBS: Oh. Urn. A lot. RECAREY: A lot? DOBBS: Um, let's see, there's [several redacted names].... RECAREY: And all these girls knew what they had to do? DOBBS: Every one of them. 59 JAMES PATTERSON ti RECAREY: How long have you been working for him? DOBBS: Um ...I probably worked for him for a year. RECAREY: Okay. And out of all these girls... DOBBS: Those were all the girls I brought. But you have to remember, those girls brought other girls, too. RECAREY: Oh, okay. DOBBS: So it's like—it's like a train. It's like, I introduced him to all my friends, and then ... it goes on and on, like that RECAREY: Okay.... [Redacted] being fourteen or fifteen at the time—' think [redacted] was fourteen when this happened who else was underage? Out of all these? DOBBS: Underage, what do you mean? RECAREY: Under eighteen. DOBBS: Under eighteen? All of 'ern RECAREY: All of them? DOBBS: All of them.... RECAREY: Okay. Did Jeff know anybody's real true age? Or he didn't care. DOBBS: I don't think he cared. He told me the younger the better. RECAREY: The younger the better. All right. DOBBS: Pretty much. That's how it worked. He didn't—let me just put it this way: I tried to bring him a woman who was twenty-three, and he didn't really like it. RECAREY: Didn't go for it. DOBBS: It's not that he didn't go for it. He just didn't care for it. And he likes the girls that [are] between the ages of, like, eighteen and twenty.... But some of them, I think, lie about their age. I know that when 1 started off young, I think he knew better [than] to believe me. I think he knew that I was 60 younger—like, sev teen. Most of those RECAREY: Let's talk at DOBBS: Okay. RECAREY: [Mary] at tl DOBBS: Mm-hmm. RECAREY: Okay. She she know you work DOBBS: I told her. RECAREY: You had tol DOBBS: Mm-hmm. RECAREY: Did you tell DOBBS: She knew ever RECAREY: Okay. So sh some kind of— DOBBS: Contact. Prett) what his expectatio girls that go up thei I was like, "If you you go in that room know he was goin4 right now, he's exp€ RECAREY: Basically, tt DOBBS: Fondling — RECAREY: Fondling — DOBBS: Or whatever. A Just like, "Just rem make. But that's—I brought up, told he] FILTHY RICH EERSON en working for him? for him for a year. aese girls... s I brought. But you have to t other girls, too. tin. It's like, I introduced him to goes on and on, like that. being fourteen or fifteen at the fourteen when this happened— of all these? mean? em. v anybody's real true age? Or he le told me the younger the better. tter. All right. ow it worked. He didn't—let me to bring him a woman who was • really like it. go for it. He just didn't care for it. tt [are] between the ages of, like, it some of them, I think, lie about en I started off young, I think he ,.ve me. I think he knew that I was 60 younger—like, seventeen—but I told him I was, like, eigh- teen. Most of those girls lie when they go in there. RECAREY: Let's talk about [Mary] for a minute. DOBBS: Okay. RECAREY: [Mary] at the time was dating your cousin, right? DOBBS: Mm-hmm. RECAREY: Okay. She told you she needed to make money. Did she know you worked for Jeffrey? DOBBS: I told her. RECAREY: You had told her you worked for Jeffrey. DOBBS: Mm-hmm. RECAREY: Did you tell her what it entailed? So she knew that? DOBBS: She knew everything before she even agreed to it. RECAREY: Okay. So she knew that there was going to have to be some kind of— DOBBS: Contact. Pretty much. Yeah. I told her. I told her exactly what his expectations were. I told her what goes on with the girls that go up there. I told her—it was like, "It's your call." I was like, "If you want to do this, fine. If not, fine. But when you go in that room, I don't want to hear you say, 'Oh, I didn't know he was going to do all that.' Because I'm telling you right now, he's expecting it." RECAREY: Basically, this is touching— DOBBS: Fondling— RECAREY: Fondling — DOBBS: Or whatever. And I told her when she went on her own. Just like, "Just remember, the more you do, the more you make. But that's—that's up to you." And she asked me, and I brought up, told her I wouldn't do more. 61 JAMES PATTERSON RECAREY: Okay. You made that clear, you wouldn't do more. DOBBS: No. Screw that! RECAREY: But as far as Mary] is concerned. What did she tell you that happened in that room? DOBBS: Exact words? If I can recall, when she came downstairs from—when she came downstairs, me and her and [redacted we all walked out. We got into the car. And I was like, "How much did you make?" She's like, "Three hundred dollars." And I looked at [Mary] and I just knew right then she did more. RECAREY: Than just a massage, right? DOBBS: Yeah. And I asked her. I was like, "Well, what'd you do?" She's like, "Well, I started giving a massage, and then my clothes came off and, you know, he put his fingers inside me. And then he brought out the massager." And that's basically what she said. RECAREY: It's all right. You can talk to me. It's all right. DOBBS: It's kind of incredible talking about it, now that I—I can't believe I worked for him. RECAREY: But it's okay. You know what, we all go through things in life, you know what I mean? It's an experience. And you can put this experience behind you. Do girls that—people that you brought over—how did you approach them? That they were going to have to do this... Like, if they wanted to work, how did you approach them? Say, "Listen, I got this guy in Palm Beach?" DOBBS: Urn. .. Two of them were my friends. The others were, like, my acquaintances. It was a little more easier talking to them about it, 'cause, like, I knew them. 62 RECAREY: Take a de see you're workir can see it, and I d DOBBS: I, urn, pretty RECAREY: Straight u DOBBS: "If you're loo down in Palm Be have to give him Then, if they were I'd go into detail they told me, "Ye: I'd tell them, "01( you have to do, th RECAREY: Did you te from bringing the DOBBS: Most part? I were open about I was making mone RECAREY: Okay. Gil Gimme two secon • • • All right, I talked FRICK: —Which is NN DOBBS: Okay. FRICK: Obviously I at this point you cl You've taken girls prostitution. Mon those girls was fou significant second TERSON :lear, you wouldn't do more. s concerned. What did she tell m? :all, when she came downstairs tairs, me and her and [redacted], o the car. And I was like, "How e, "Three hundred dollars?' And I w right then she did more. right? was like, "Well, what'd you do?" ;tying a massage, and then my ow, he put his fingers inside me. !. massager." And that's basically talk to me. It's all right. talking about it, now that I—I m. know what, we all go through at I mean? It's an experience. And : behind you. you brought over —how did you were going to have to do this... irk, how did you approach them? in Palm Beach?" /ere my friends. The others were, was a little more easier talking to I knew them. 62 FILTHY RICH RECAREY: Take a deep breath. Take a deep breath. 'Cause I can see you're working up again. You're working up the tears, I can see it, and I don't want to get you like that. DOBBS: I, urn, pretty much I just would ask them — RECAREY: Straight up? DOBBS: "If you're looking for extra money, let me know; this guy down in Palm Beach, he's really, really, really wealthy. You have to give him a massage." That's all I would tell them. Then, if they were interested or told me, "Yes, I want to do it," I'd go into detail with them before they'd actually agree. If they told me, "Yeah, that sounds good, I'm interested," then I'd tell them, "Okay, well I'm gonna let you know, this is what you have to do, this is what's gonna go on." RECAREY: Did you tell them that you were going to make money from bringing them over? Or.—. DOBBS: Most part? I believe they knew.... Most of the girls, we were open about that. We didn't—they pretty much knew I was making money under the table. So... RECAREY: Okay. Gimme two seconds. Let me get the soda.... Gimme two seconds. All right, I talked to my boss a little bit — FRICK: —Which is why I'm here. DOBBS: Okay. FRICK: Obviously I was listening to what you were saying. And at this point you clearly implicated yourself on a crime, okay? You've taken girls to somebody's house for the purpose of prostitution. More importantly, more significantly, one of those girls was fourteen at the time, okay? Now that's a pretty significant second-degree felony, okay? I'm not going to kid 63 JAMES PATTERSON you, that is— it's a significant thing, okay? Now, you came in, you cooperated with us. The question we have for you now is, do you want to continue cooperating with us and try and help us make a case against Jeff? DOBBS: I don't think that's really going to help me in the long run, though. I've already admitted to a second-degree felony, right? FRICK: Yeah, you have. DOBBS: Okay, so there you go. What's going to keep me out of trouble? It's not going to keep me out of trouble. I've already admitted committing a crime. FRICK: I'm not going to argue with that.... DOBBS: So basically I just fucked myself. I can go two ways. I can agree not to cooperate, which is going to put me at — well—now you can use the second-degree felony against me. Or you can help and work with it and maybe get myself some slack.... FRICK: We're still talkin' here. What would the odds be of you contacting Jeff at this point? Have you had any contact with him at all? DOBBS: I have not had any contact — FRICK: How about with — DOBBS: No, none of 'em. None of 'em.... I had a phone call about four or five months ago, and I told my parents. Look, I swear to you I'm not anywhere—like, no connection with him at all. That's why I pretty much got my number changed. I have not made any communication with him. It stopped. FRICK: Okay. Well, I mean, that's good. That's good that you stopped.... 64 This is what we'd some of your ex- Now, the questior working for Jeff, i. to Jeff? Or can w you make a call a know, these guys everything?" Our right? RECAREY: With youi FRICK: Let me, let thing, okay? Then leading to the de second-degree fel( demeanor.... First not going to take y DOBBS: Not today. FRICK: Well, you're — ate and if we can- not—that's not ur would do is if we I meanor, we'd give in, you know." RECAREY: You sign it FRICK: That's our pr forthright with us, RECAREY: Very truth. FRICK: Do you want I deal with it, or do• FILTHY RICH rERSON t thing, okay? Now, you came The question we have for you ue cooperating with us and try 1st Jeff? y going to help me in the long Lilted to a second-degree felony, What's going to keep me out of p me out of trouble. I've already ith that.... ed myself. I can go two ways. I which is going to put me at — second-degree felony against me. ith it and maybe get myself some What would the odds be of you ? Have you had any contact with "act— of 'em.... I had a phone call about d I told my parents. Look, I swear —like, no connection with him at ch got my number changed. I have lion with him. It stopped. that's good. That's good that you 64 This is what we'd like to do: We would like to reach out to some of your ex-friends and [unintelligible] talk to them. Now, the question is, do we think that they are currently still working for Jeff, in which case they would make a phone call to Jeff? Or can we just kinda show up and, you know, have you make a call as we're standing outside and say: "Hey, you know, these guys wanna talk to you, and I've already told 'ern everything?" Our goal is to make a better case against Jeff, all right? RECAREY: With your cooperation. FRICK: Let me, let me get back to—past--the cooperation thing, okay? There are lesser charges that can easily be filed: leading to the delinquency of a minor, as compared to a second-degree felony. You know what I mean? That's a mis- demeanor.... First of all, I'll tell you straight up, okay, we're not going to take you to jail today.... DOBBS: Not today. FRICK: Well, you're—And here's the other thing: If you cooper- ate and if we can—If you cooperate, whether we pull it off or not— that's not up to you, that's up to us, okay? So what we would do is if we ended up charging you with like a misde- meanor, we'd give you a call, we'd say: "Hey, you gotta come in, you know." RECAREY: You sign it.... FRICK: That's our preference. You come in, you've been very forthright with us, you've been very up front — RECAREY: Very truthful. FRICK: Do you want us to call your parents, or do you want to deal with it, or do you —As far as we're concerned you're an 65 JAMES PATTERSON adult, okay? You're nineteen. You do what you do. You know, we can drop you off at the end of the block if you'd like. Or we can cushion the blow beyond what—but again, you're helping us at this point. We've been pretty forthright with you on what is going on, our options for your future. And what we'd like you to do obviously is make a couple of calls with us this evening to talk to a couple of your, you know, these other girls. DOBBS: I'm not really on a ...Me and my parents really don't get along right now.. FRICK: So you'd prefer that — DOBBS: If they found out that I was—If they found out that I was into some other stuff.... I'm actually stripping now.... So they're not exactly happy with me at the moment, and I don't want to do anything that's going to piss 'ern off even furthermore. Michael Reiter: Oc Chief Reiter sifts underage girls - cured for Epste on El Brillo. An arre caught with a dime bo She'd told Detectiv very much like a rape Soon Reiter will a5 more footwork to do, his office. Later that day, De arrive at the home of * Jenny's, Francine's, an( dialogue have been cha TERSON fou do what you do. You know, id of the block if you'd like. Or yond what—but again, you're 've been pretty forthright with r options for your future. And iously is make a couple of calls to a couple of your, you know, and my parents really don't get I was they found out that I I'm actually stripping now.. .. So .th me at the moment, and I don't t's going to piss 'em off even 66 CHAPTER IS Michael Reiter: October 3, 2005 Chief Reiter sifts through the evidence: information about underage girls—six of them—whom Wendy Dobbs pro- cured for Epstein. Phone numbers pulled from the trash on El Brillo. An arrest report for Alison, the girl who'd been caught with a dime bag of weed. She'd told Detective Recarey about an encounter that sounded very much like a rape. Soon Reiter will ask a judge for a warrant. But not yet. There's more footwork to do, and Reiter calls Detective Joe Recarey into his office. Later that day, Detective Recarey and Sergeant George Frick arrive at the home of a girl named Jenny.* An older woman greets * Jenny's, Francine's, and Kristina's names, some identifying details, and dialogue have been changed. 67 JAMES PATTERSON them at the front door and invites them inside. She introduces them to her husband and daughter. Jenny is sixteen years old. Sitting down at the dining room table, they see that she's ner- vous. In between biting her lip and fidgeting, she tells them that yes, she's been to Jeffrey Epstein's house. Wendy took her there once. But nothing much happened. She met Epstein's chef and spent some time in the kitchen is all. Then she left. "I get what you're asking," she says. "But really, I just want to put the whole thing behind me." "Okay," the officers tell her. "You have our numbers. But Jenny, if you remember anything else, you'll find that we're very good listeners." One down. Five to go. Detective Recarey and Detective Michael Dawson have better luck the next day with Francine, a girl who tells them that a year earlier, Wendy Dobbs—someone she knew from high school— drove her to the house on El Brillo Way. Francine would have been seventeen at the time. Now she's willing to make a sworn statement. The officers noted: She was told she could make money working for Jeff. She was told she would have to provide a massage for Jeff. . She was brought to the kitchen area by (Dobbs]. They met with the house chef who was already in the Kitchen area. Francine stated [Wendy] would wait for her in the kitchen. Just as she did wit Francine upstairs and the room, wearing onl She kept her clothi sometime during th, and pulled her clos, uncomfortable by ti sion of the massage "Do you have any cers ask. "No," says Francine But she does have c Sarah's been callirq It could mean any r that Epstein's caught IN he's doing something responsibility. This tr( day, they get one more her parents around she It turns out that Jenny's And, it turns out, kitchen. Without her p talk about it. The first time she'd says, Epstein had tried FILTHY RICH FERSON :s them inside. She introduces her. Jenny is sixteen years old. table, they see that she's ner- id fidgeting, she tells them that house. But nothing much happened. some time in the kitchen is all. e says. "But really, I just want to "You have our numbers. But g else, you'll find that we're very ve Michael Dawson have better a girl who tells them that a year ne she knew from high school — illo Way. 3eventeen at the time. a sworn statement. The officers money working for Jeff. She was de a massage for Jeff. . . . She was by (Dobbs]. They met with the ly in the Kitchen area. Francine for her in the kitchen. 68 Just as she did with Mary, a woman named Sarah had taken Francine upstairs and into a bedroom. Then Epstein had entered the room, wearing only a towel. She kept her clothes on during the massage. She advised sometime during the massage, Epstein grabbed her buttocks and pulled her close to him. Francine said she was [made] uncomfortable by the incident involving Jeff. At the conclu- sion of the massage she was paid $200.00 for the massage. "Do you have any formal training in massages?" the offi- cers ask. "No," says Francine. But she does have one more thing to tell them. Sarah's been calling Francine's cell phone. It could mean any number of things. The police know already that Epstein's caught wind of their investigation. Now it appears he's doing something about it, or at least he's delegating the responsibility. This troubles the cops. But then, on that same day, they get one more break: Jenny calls and says that without her parents around she's willing to make a sworn statement. It turns out that Jenny's visited with Epstein several times. And, it turns out, she'd done much more than sit in the kitchen. Without her parents around, she's much more willing to talk about it. The first time she'd gone to the house on El Brill° Way, she says, Epstein had tried to take off her shirt. She'd become upset, 69 JAMES PATTERSON and this had led to a fight— a "verbal disagreement" —with Epstein. • She'd left without getting paid. Gone down to the kitchen and told Wendy, "Let's go!" "If you're uncomfortable," Wendy had told her, "tell him to stop, and he will." On the other hand, Wendy had also told her, "The more you do, the more you get paid." A few weeks later, she agreed to return to the house on El Brillo. Once again Sarah had taken Jenny upstairs and into the mas- ter bedroom. Sarah had set up the massage table, laid out the oils that Jenny would use. Then Epstein had entered the room wearing only a towel. Jenny had been wearing tight jeans. She had a tight belt on. She kept the jeans on, though Epstein still made a grab for her buttocks. Then he rolled onto his back and grabbed for her breasts. Jenny became upset yet again. But this time, she was paid two hundred dollars before leaving. She never did go back to the house. But, like Francine, she has one more thing to tell the detectives. Another girl from her high school had been there on the day of her second visit with Epstein. Kristina. And later, Kristina told Jenny that she also had "a problem" with Epstein. Girls seemed to be turning up all the time. And the detec- tives were just getting started. One girl leads Chief Reiter's team to another. And every time, they hear the same story. The girls are approached by Wendy 70 A 1 Dobbs. They drive ove: the kitchen—maybe sc they're walked upstair towel. Sometimes witl; mend their friends, anC None of the girls cc been trained as a mass1 become a licensed mas: eighteen years old, at or GED. 7ERSON FILTHY RICH "verbal disagreement" —with d. Gone down to the kitchen .ndy had told her, "tell him to ad also told her, "The more you d to return to the house on El •enny upstairs and into the mas- e massage table, laid out the oils e room wearing only a towel. :it jeans. She had a tight belt on. Epstein still made a grab for her his back and grabbed for her et again. But this time, she was -e leaving. She never did go back e, she has one more thing to tell school had been there on the day An. Kristina. And later, Kristina problem" with Epstein. g up all the time. And the detec- team to another. And every time, Le girls are approached by Wendy 70 Dobbs. They drive over to Epstein's house. After a short wait in the kitchen—maybe some milk and cereal, if they feel hungry— they're walked upstairs. Epstein's there, waiting, wearing his towel. Sometimes with a vibrator. Sometimes the girls recom- mend their friends, and for this they receive a commission. None of the girls comes from money. And none of them has been trained as a masseuse. Then again, how could they be? To become a licensed massage apprentice in Florida, you need to be eighteen years old, at least, and have a high school diploma or GED. She considered Epstei further and further ur telling him she had a I CHAPTER 16 Cynthia: October 6, 2005 Three days after meeting with Francine, the police drive to Boca Raton. They're there to see Cynthia Selleck, who's eighteen years old.* But according to the probable-cause affidavit that the Palm Beach PD is preparing in order to obtain an arrest warrant for Epstein, Cynthia was sixteen when Wendy Dobbs first took her to meet him. During a sworn taped statement, she tells the police that she'd met Wendy at her high school. She says that Wendy had recruited her and prepped her for her first visit to Epstein's house. And she says she'd ended up going to the house "a lot of times to provide massages over the past two years." The affidavit .-1 -- states: * Cynthia SeHeck's name, some identifying details, and dialogue have been changed. 72 Only recently, Cynt clothes in the course of "Jeff would try to get sage," she tells the cops. Still, Sarah had Cyi would call whenever E1 appointment for "work." Each time she went, . door area. She woulo massage table. [Cynt, questions about hers4 player and would be al The cops want to kno [Cynthia] stated Epstei massage she provided 1 October 1. That's less than a wee What the cops know i What they're about to FILTHY RICH She considered Epstein a pervert, and he kept pushing to go further and further until [Cynthia] explained she would keep telling him she had a boyfriend. CHAPTER 16 rith Francine, the police drive to re to see Cynthia Selleck, who's according to the probable-cause ) is preparing in order to obtain ynthia was sixteen when Wendy El. ement, she tells the police that chool. She says that Wendy had T for her first visit to Epstein's :d up going to the house "a lot of the past two years." The affidavit itifying details, and dialogue have been 72 Only recently, Cynthia says, did she begin to remove her clothes in the course of giving Epstein massages. "Jeff would try to get away with more and more on each mas- sage," she tells the cops. Still, Sarah had Cynthia's cell phone number, and Sarah would call whenever Epstein was in Palm Beach to make an appointment for "work." Each time she went, Sarah would meet her at the kitchen door area. She would bring her upstairs and prepare the massage table. [Cynthia] advised Epstein would ask her questions about herself Epstein knew she was a soccer player and would be attending [a nearby] university. The cops want to know: Did Epstein know her real age? [Cynthia] stated Epstein did and didn't care. The most recent massage she provided was on October 1, 2005. October 1. That's less than a week ago. What the cops know now is that Epstein's still at it. What they're about to learn seals Epstein's fate. 73 CHAPTER 17 Alison: October ii, 2005 After speaking with Cynthia, Detectives Recarey and Daw- son meet up, once again, with Alison. It's been exactly one month since her arrest, and once again, she's willing to talk. They have no trouble obtaining her sworn taped statement. Alison is eighteen, but she's been going to Epstein's house since 2002. Things got off to a slow start, she says. She received two hundred dollars for her first session, during which she had her bra off but her underwear on. Still, at the end of the session, Epstein had asked for her number. Then the sessions got heavier. Much heavier, as Detective Recarey already knew. [Alison] stated that during her many visits a routine was established between her and Epstein, he wrote in his report. She would enter the house and get naked in the bedroom. She would then start with a back massage. Epstein would roll on 74 to his back and allow he stated Epstein would the the same time would ii masturbate her with his [Alison] explained 1 until he ejaculated. He sager on her vagina unti that during her frequen age, [and Alison] stated not to tell anyone her re escalated within the how, [Alison] to have interco Marcinhova [sic. 1. [Alisor using strap on dildos, devices that Epstein had them have intercourse ( ally, Epstein would then intercourse and provide cinkova. This occurred d years of age. [Alison] advised thi.! years. The routine becc assistant Sarah would tel in the Town of Palm Be( for her to visit and won. new was introduced, ad( offered for [Alison] to all( sented to perform all the. was an understanding wi tion would occur with FILTHY RICH CHAPTER 17 hia, Detectives Recarey and Daw- , with Alison. It's been exactly one tnd once again, she's willing to talk. her sworn taped statement. e's been going to Epstein's house slow start, she says. She received Lrst session, during which she had on. Still, at the end of the session, ['her. r. Much heavier, as Detective Recarey at during her many visits a routine was em, he wrote in his report. and get naked in the bedroom. She ch massage. Epstein would roll on 74 to his back and allow her to massage his chest area. [Alison] stated Epstein would then begin to masturbate himself and at the same time would insert his fingers in her vagina and masturbate her with his fingers. [Alison] explained Epstein would continue this process until he ejaculated. He would then utilize a vibrator/mas- sager on her vagina until [Alison] climaxed. [Alison] advised that during her frequent visits, Epstein asked for her real age, [and Alison] stated she was sixteen. Epstein advised her not to tell anyone her real age. [Alison] advised that things escalated within the home as Epstein would instruct and pay [Alison] to have intercourse with his female friend, Nada Marcinkova [sic]. [Alison] explained the intercourse included using strap on dildos, large rubber penisIsic] and other devices that Epstein had at his disposal. Epstein would watch them have intercourse and masturbate himself. Occasion- ally, Epstein would then join in during the female on female intercourse and provide oral sex to both [Alison] and Mar- cinkova. This occurred during the time [Alison] was sixteen years of age. [Alison] advised this continued to escalate during two years. The routine became familiar to [Alison]. Epstein's assistant Sarah would telephone her every time Epstein was in the Town of Palm Beach and would place appointments for her to visit and work for Epstein. Each time something new was introduced, additional monies were produced and offered for [Alison] to allow the acts to happen. [Alison] con- sented to perform all these acts but was adamant that there was an understanding with Epstein that no vaginal penetra- tion would occur with his penis. [Alison] explained that 75 JAMES PATTERSON Epstein's penis was deformed. [She] explained that his penis was oval shaped. [She] claimed when Epstein's penis was erect, it was thick toward the bottom but was thin and small toward the head portion. [She] called Epstein's penis "egg-shaped." [She] stated Epstein would photograph Mar- cinkova and her naked and having sex and proudly display the photographs within the home. [Alison] stated during one visit to Epstein's house in which she provided a massage to Epstein, his female friend, Nada [sic] Marcinkova, was also present. [Alison] provided the massage in which Marcinkova and her would fondle each other's breasts and kiss for Epstein to enjoy. Towards the end of this massage, Epstein grabbed [Alison] and turned her over onto her stomach on the mas- sage table and forcibly inserted his penis into her vagina: [Alison] stated Epstein began to pump his penis in her vagina. [She] became upset over this. She said her head was being held against the table forcibly, as he continued to pump inside her. She screamed "No!" and Epstein stopped. She told him that she did not want to have his penis inside of her. Epstein did not ejaculate inside of her and apologized for his actions and subsequently paid her a thousand dollars for that visit. [Alison] stated she knows he still displays her pho- tographs through out the house. What happened to Mary had been bad enough. But what hap- pened to Alison was on a whole other level. She'd been caught with some pot, sure. But that was hardly a felony offense. It didn't make her a liar. And, in important respects, Alison's statement had aligned with Mary's and with statements they'd been given 76 by other girls, including Probably not. Almost ce also in line with what di Detective Recarey az on the investigation that It was enough, Reit( search warrant. CERSON FILTHY RICH ihe] explained that his penis d when Epstein's penis was Atom but was thin and small ;he] called Epstein's penis tein would photograph Mar- ving sex and proudly display qe. [Alison] stated during one :h she provided a massage to la [sic] Marcinkova, was also massage in which Marcinkova breasts and kiss for Epstein :his massage, Epstein grabbed onto her stomach on the mas- ted his penis into her vagina: m to pump his penis in her ver this. She said her head was rcibly, as he continued to pump 1" and Epstein stopped. She told o have his penis inside of her. de of her and apologized for his lid her a thousand dollars for knows he still displays her pho- ise. been bad enough. But what hap- ole other level. She'd been caught vas hardly a felony offense. It didn't Drtant respects, Alison's statement with statements they'd been given 76 by other girls, including Wendy Dobbs. Could Wendy be trusted? Probably not. Almost certainly not. But again, what she said was also in line with what the police had heard from other girls. Detective Recarey and his team had done exceptional work on the investigation that Officer Pagan had started. It was enough, Reiter decided, to cause a judge to issue a search warrant. 77 CHAPTER 18 Michael Reiter: October 2005 0 n October 20, Palm Beach police officers execute a search warrant, signed by Judge Laura Johnson, at Jeffrey Epstein's home on El Brillo Way. Inside the house, an employee is on the phone with Epstein. They ask him, politely, to hang up. Then, guns drawn, they walk up the winding stairs to the home's second story. Detective Recarey remains outside and reads the warrant, out loud, to Epstein's houseman while another officer videotapes them. "This is your copy," Recarey says as he hands over the war- rant. "When we are concluded, I will leave a list of what items we've taken, okay? I would ask that you don't answer your tele- phone. I know that the gentleman was having a conversation with Mr. Epstein at the time. So I'm sure he's trying to call and find out what's going on. He will be told what was going on as soon as we're done. Okay?" 78 Inside the house, del that Mary and other gir naked young girls—in sc Epstein. They also find n names, dates, and numbe Sometimes there are hers: "I have girls for him These notes are signe Epstein's house has ; the bedrooms look alma off Epstein's bedroom, ti holding strange machin( find in a dermatologist's ( In a wood-colored ai bottle of peach-flavored soaps shaped like penis( more Joy Jelly, and boxes The officers find stacl and other B-list movies. They also find receipi SlaveCraft: Roadmaps for On the first floor, det hidden in clocks. On th photographs of Wendy come from the camera in The officers know wl install them—in 2004, had stolen a gun and $: investigated that case. man, Juan Alessi, for the CHAPTER 18 05 :h police officers execute a search Laura Johnson, at Jeffrey Epstein's Inside the house, an employee is .ey ask him, politely, to hang up. p the winding stairs to the home's putside and reads the warrant, out ile another officer videotapes them. says as he hands over the war- I will leave a list of what items k that you don't answer your tele- Leman was having a conversation So I'm sure he's trying to call and will be told what was going on as 78 FILTHY RICH Inside the house, detectives see the pink-and-green couch that Mary and other girls had described. They see photos of naked young girls—in some cases, girls they've spoken to about Epstein. They also find message pads on which are written first names, dates, and numbers for the girls. Sometimes there are notes to go with the names and num- bers: "I have girls for him." Or "I have 2 girls for him." These notes are signed by one Sarah Kellen. Epstein's house has a strangely antiseptic quality. Some of the bedrooms look almost like doctors' offices. In the bathroom off Epstein's bedroom, there's a massage table as well as stands holding strange machines, which looked like something you'd find in a dermatologist's office. In a wood-colored armoire beside Epstein's bed, they see a bottle of peach-flavored Joy Jelly. In the bathroom, there are soaps shaped like penises and vaginas, bottles of Mango Mist, more Joy Jelly, and boxes of tampons. The officers find stacks of UFC videos and DVDs of Rock Star and other B-list movies. They also find receipts for books bought on Amazon, such as SlaveCraft: Roadmaps for Erotic Servitude. On the first floor, detectives are drawn to two secret cameras hidden in clocks. On the computer hard drive, they see several photographs of Wendy and other girls. These images appear to come from the camera inside the clock behind Epstein's desk. The officers know where the cameras are because they helped install them—in 2004, when Epstein complained that someone had stolen a gun and $2,700 from him. Detective Recarey had investigated that case. But before he could arrest Epstein's handy- man, Juan Alessi, for the theft, Epstein contacted a captain in the 79 JAMES PATTERSON Palm Beach PD and prevailed upon him to have the investigation called off. Epstein had met Alessi at a luncheonette, he explained, and Alessi had agreed to pay back the money. At the time, it made no sense to prosecute: Epstein was a busy man. He was going to get his money. But he did invite the police into his home to install the cameras. This was a service that the Palm Beach PD provided (though Epstein would be the only one with access to the foot- age). But while they were there, the police had noticed a group of attractive young women who seemed to be camped out at the house. The group included Sarah Kellen and Nadia Marcinkova. None of the girls was a relative of Epstein— that fact had caught the cops' attention. And now, as the search continues, the cops see photographs of the very same girls. On Epstein's desk, the officers find Alison's high school transcript. The thing is, the detectives can't shake the feeling that the Epstein house has been tidied up for their arrival. Shelves look as though they've been emptied, and several photographs appear to have been removed from the walls. "[Judging] by the condition of the place to be searched," Chief Reiter will say in his deposition for B.B. vs. Epstein, "some- one probably had cleaned it up a bit." Maybe there's nothing too surprising about this. After all, Reiter's team knows that Epstein's gotten wind of their investiga- tion. What is surprising is that for a house that's been scrubbed, there's so much left lying around. In fact, the oddest thing about the search is that someone,* 80 appears to have gone nating materials, but It was as if the th ister as wrong. There's another feelii that they themselves First Reiter hears yers have hired prii checks. A public-records Reiter's own records. Detective Recare) and that his trash ha. In his entire car( that Reiter's seen or ing his investigators. ey's doing great wonl and for good reason Right now, more vic. now that the warra) interviewing Epstein FILTHY RICH ERSON him to have the investigation icheonette, he explained, and noney. At the time, it made no 3u5y man. He was going to get )olice into his home to install at the Palm Beach PD provided ly one with access to the foot- Le police had noticed a group of rned to be camped out at the Lien and Nadia Marcinkova. tive of Epstein— that fact had .nues, the cops see photographs .cers find Alison's high school can't shake the feeling that the ap for their arrival. Shelves look , and several photographs appear walls. ,n of the place to be searched," psition for B.B. vs. Epstein, "some- a bit." surprising about this. After all, in's gotten wind of their investiga- for a house that's been scrubbed, ad. about the search is that someone 80 appears to have gone through the house, gotten rid of incrimi- nating materials, but left many clues behind. It was as if the things the police were seeing didn't even reg- ister as wrong. There's another feeling the cops can't shake: the nagging sense that they themselves are being investigated and tailed. First Reiter hears through the grapevine that Epstein's law- yers have hired private investigators to perform background checks. A public-records demand has been filed in an effort to obtain Reiter's own records. Detective Recarey tells Reiter that he, too, is being surveilled and that his trash has been picked through. In his entire career as a police officer, this is the first time that Reiter's seen or heard of such a thing: a suspect investigat- ing his investigators. But for the moment, he puts it aside. Recar- ey's doing great work on the investigation. He's deeply invested, and for good reason: the detective's got four kids of his own. Right now, more victims are coming out of the woodwork. And now that the warrant's been executed, there's no downside to interviewing Epstein's servants. 81 CHAPTER 19 Detective Recarey, Probable-Cause Affidavit: May 2006 On November 21, 2005 I interviewed Jose [sic] Alessi, a for- mer houseman for Jeffrey Epstein. Alessi stated he was employed for eleven years with Mr. Epstein, from approxi- mately 1993 through 2004. Alessi stated he was the house manager, driver and house maintenance person. It was his responsibility to prepare the house for Epstein's arrival. When asked about cooks or assistants, Alessi stated they traveled with Epstein on his private plane. I asked Mr. Alessi about the massages that have occurred at. Epstein's home. Alessi stated Epstein receives three massages a day. Each masseuse that visited the house was different. Alessi stated that towards the end of his employment, the masseuses were younger and younger. When asked how young, Mr. Alessi stated they appeared to be sixteen or seventeen years of age 82 at the most. The m( or bathroom. He kr sage tables. I asked massage. Alessi sta of his employment sager/vibrator and sink after the mass( almost always have On January 4, man, Mr. Alfredo I ment, Mr. Rodrigu Epstein for approxii through May of 20C included being the b run errands for Ep asked Rodriguez Rodriguez stated E, Epstein would have massage in the aft Rodriguez stated h( and make them co Epstein would meet masseuses would or kitchen area and of) would then be encou They would be taker Rodriguez if any of Rodriguez stated th too young to be mass direction, he deliver, FILTHY RICH CHAPTER 19 -Cause Affidavit: -viewed Jose [sic] Alessi, a for- 42stein. Alessi stated he was th Mr. Epstein, from approxi- Oessi stated he was the house laintenance person. It was his e house for Epstein's arrival. assistants, Alessi stated they Private plane. I asked Mr. Alessi ye occurred at Epstein's home. three massages a day. Each luse was different. Alessi stated mployment, the masseuses were ri asked how young, Mr. Alessi ixteen or seventeen years of age 82 at the most. The massages would occur in Epstein's bedroom or bathroom. He knew this because he often set up the mas- sage tables. I asked if there were things going on other than a massage. Alessi stated that there were times towards the end of his employment that he would have to wash off a mas- sager/vibrator and a long rubber penis, which were in the sink after the massage. Additionally, he stated the bed would almost always have to be made after the massage. On January 4, 2006 I interviewed another former house- man, Mr. Alfredo Rodriguez. During a sworn taped state- ment, Mr. Rodriguez stated he was employed by Jeffrey Epstein for approximately six months, from November 2004 through May of 2005. His responsibilities as house manager included being the butler, chauffeur, chef, houseman [and to] run errands for Epstein and provide for Epstein's guests. I asked Rodriguez about masseuses corning to the house. Rodriguez stated Epstein would have two massages a day. Epstein would have one massage in the morning and one massage in the afternoon everyday he was in residence. Rodriguez stated he would be informed to expect someone and make them comfortable until either Sarah Kellen- or Epstein would meet with them. Rodriguez stated once the masseuses would arrive, he would allow them entry into the kitchen area and offer them something to drink or eat. They would then be encountered by either Sarah Kellen or Epstein. They would be taken upstairs to provide the massage. I asked Rodriguez if any of the masseuses appeared young in age. Rodriguez stated the girls that would come appeared to be too young to be masseuses. He stated one time under Epstein's direction, he delivered a dozen roses to [Mary's high school] 83 JAMES PATTERSON for one of the girls that came to provide a massage. He knew the girls were still in high school and were of high school age. I asked Rodriguez about the massages. He felt there was a lot more going on than just massages. He would often clean Mr. Epstein's bedroom after the alleged massages and would discover massagers/vibrators and sex toys scattered on the floor. He also said he would wipe down the vibrators and sex toys and put them away in an armoire. He described the armoire as a small wood armoire which was on the wall close to Epstein's bed. On one occasion Epstein ordered Rodriguez to go to the Dollar rent a car and rent a car for the same girl he brought the roses to, so that she could drive her self to Epstein's house without inci- dent. Rodriguez said the girl always needed rides to and from the house. Rodriguez produced a green folder which contained doc- uments, and a note with Mr. Epstein's stationery with direc- tion to deliver a bucket of roses to (Mary's] High School after fa] high school drama performance. . . . During the course of the investigation, subpoenas were obtained for cell phone and home phone records from several victims and witnesses along with the cell phone records of Sarah Kellen. An analysis of these records was conducted which found numerous telephone calls were made between Sarah Kellen and the victims. These records indicate the dates the calls were made are consistent with the dates and times the victims/witnesses stated they were contacted. Spe- cifically, the phone records showed Kellen called [Wendy Dobbs] during the exact times and dates when [name redacted] advised the incident occurred. Kellen also coordi- 84 nated the encounters frame the girls stated Pursuant to a vate plane records fi records show arrivai Palm Beach Internati pared to the cell phon4 ison found that all th and the victims were arrival or during the Therefore, as Jeff incidents was fifty on course either with i redacted], who were n is sufficient probable four counts of Unlawft lation of Florida State ony. As Epstein, who a years of age, did use a of [name redacted], a j cient probable cause ti ous Molestation, in vio (5), a second degree fel FILTHY RICH ERSON 9rovide a massage. He knew and were of high school age. ;sages. He felt there was a lot s. Epstein's bedroom after the liscover massagers/vibrators floor. He also said he would toys and put them away in armoire as a small wood close to Epstein's bed. On one guez to go to the Dollar rent a girl he brought the roses to, so Epstein's house without inci- always needed rides to and en folder which contained doc- Epstein's stationery with direc- s to [Mary's] High School after nance.... investigation, subpoenas were 9me phone records from several with the cell phone records of ).1 these records was conducted phone calls were made between ms. These records indicate the re consistent with the dates and stated they were contacted. Spe- showed Kellen called (Wendy times and dates when (name nt occurred. Kellen also coordi- nated the encounters with [name redacted] during the time frame the girls stated they occurred. Pursuant to a lawful subpoena I obtained Epstein's pri- vate plane records for 2005 from Jet Aviation. The plane records show arrival and departure of Epstein's plane at Palm Beach International airport. These records were com- pared to the cell phone records of Sarah Kellen. This compar- ison found that all the phone calls Kellen made to [Dobbs] and the victims were made in the days just prior to their arrival or during the time Epstein was in Palm Beach. Therefore, as Jeffrey Epstein, who at the time of these incidents was fifty one years of age, did have vaginal inter- course either with his penis or digitally with [names redacted], who were minors at the time this occurred, there is sufficient probable cause to charge Jeffrey Epstein with four counts of Unlawful Sexual Activity with a Minor, in vio- lation of Florida State Statute 794.05(1), a second degree fel- ony. As Epstein, who at the time of the incident was fifty two years of age, did use a vibrator on the external vaginal area of [name redacted], a fourteen year old minor, there is suffi- cient probable cause to charge him with Lewd and Lascivi- ous Molestation, in violation of Florida State Statute 800.04 (5), a second degree felony. 84 85 PART II The Man Wit