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The depth and breadth of data available never ceases to aovernns to each American shortly after birth Yet even without a Social Security nu him in a snare of co where and how to look and I know I had been taught by a South Korean coenius named Kim Her massive tip sheetwith other helpful hints on what to look for and how Yet even without the an individual’s history

By ten fifteen I had learned nearly everything that was public record about Merodie Davies and Priscilla St Ana, and a few phone calls gave ed the information in a file folder and then made appointive her an update when the phone rang

A recorded voice told me: Qwest has a collect call from Merodie Davies, an inmate at the Anoka County Correctional Facility To refuse this call, hang up If you accept this call, do not use three-way or call-waiting features or you will be disconnected To accept this call, press 1 now Thank you

I pressed 1

"Hello? Merodie?"

"Hi, McKenzie Yeah, it’s ot done with treath treatment in here and--G K said I could talk to you Can I talk to you?"

"Sure, but, Merodie, you need to be careful what you say They tape these phone conversations, and anything you say can be used against you"

"I don’t care"

"Maybe this isn’t such a good idea"

"McKenzie--your first name is Rushmore, isn’t it? What kind of name is Rushmore?"

"My parents once took a vacation in the Badlands of South Dakota They told e near Mount Rushmore, so they named me after the monument But it could have been worse It could have been Deadwood"

I’ve told that story h She said, "I’m so sorry"

"No, no, no--"

"It musta been hard on you"

"It’s not that bad--"

"I understand what you’ve been through because, well, because of my name"

"Merodie?"

"Yeah I’m probably the only woman in the world who has it At least I hope so"

"Why’s that?"

"Merodie is the name of a man’s underwear manufacturer I don’t even know if it exists any"

"Uh-uh My mom, she saw the name on a box in a store somewhere in South Dakota--same place your name comes froo when she saw the nairl, and when I was born"

"I don’t believe it"