10. The Marshals provided minimal guidance to the Hills, including the children
As new residents, the Hills would undoubtedly face the question, ‘Where are you from’? Being natives of Brooklyn, they possessed the well-known and easily distinguishable accents of the region. The Marshals instructed the Hills to adopt Stamford, Connecticut as their former home. The Marshals felt that Midwesterners were unlikely to distinguish between a Southern New England accent and that of Brooklyn. Gregg knew as little about Stamford as he did about Omaha, though he attempted to comply. The Marshals also recommended the family keep a low profile and draw as little attention as possible to themselves, though Henry’s drinking and subsequent behavior was anything but discreet. And both Gregg and Gina Hill encountered difficulty maintaining the lies they were forced to tell whenever they met someone new, or as relationships developed.
Gradually, the family settled into a new life in Omaha, with Henry frequently absent due to his court appearances or grand jury interrogations. From relatives and family, with whom they were not supposed to have contact, the Hills learned of contracts on their father’s head. Other relatives of the Hills were offered bribes to reveal their whereabouts. Just as Gregg Hill was about to start his high school career as a freshman in Omaha, the US Marshals pulled the plug. Concerned over a suspected breach in security, the entire family repeated the quick departure from their Brooklyn home. Once again, their destination was kept from them until they were on their way to it, in protective custody. It proved to be Lexington, Kentucky. After Henry Hill pointed out the proximity of federal prison to their new home, it was changed to Independence, a suburb of Cincinnati.