Acts of Violet(8)

I can’t imagine what you’ve been through since your sister went missing, how difficult it must be to find meaningful closure … I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been frustrated that law enforcement didn’t do more. Last year, I decided to start researching your sister’s case myself. I hope getting it more exposure with this podcast will generate some new leads.

This isn’t merely an intriguing story I’m chasing. I grew up (and still reside) in Finchley. Being ten miles from Willow Glen, our town thought of Violet as an adjacent local hero. On a personal note, I’m a great admirer of your sister’s work. A friend gave me a copy of You Are Magic when I was in a dark place in my life, and the book inspired me to make positive changes. When that friend became terminally ill, the only thing that comforted her was watching Violet’s TV specials with me, and after she died, those shows were the only thing that comforted me.

Look, I’ll level with you. Sidecar has a respectable listenership, but we’re not NPR or anything. If you decided to speak on the record, you could surely have your pick of any media outlet. But I’m still asking you to say yes to me.

On Strange Exits, I intend to approach your sister’s disappearance with utmost respect and an open mind, examining all possibilities and various aspects of her life. There are likely many sides of your sister still hidden from the public. While I’ve secured interviews with some of her friends and associates, I believe you’d illuminate other aspects of Violet better than anyone. My hope is that these accounts will not only pay tribute to her, but may even help us find her. It can also be an opportunity for you to share your story. If VV was such a compelling character, I have no doubt her sister is, too.

I’m sure you’re a busy woman, and I will gladly accommodate your schedule if you’re willing to speak with me. Since I’m local, I could meet you in person, at your salon or anywhere else that might be convenient.

I hope you’ll give my offer serious consideration.

Best regards,

Cameron Frank



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Date: January 13, 2018, at 3:05 PM

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: Attn: Sasha Dwyer-PLEASE READ



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Cameron,

I don’t recall any prior emails from you—could be a smart spam folder kept them out of my inbox. Normally, I’d reply a simple “thanks but no thanks” to your request, like I typically do when I get these (if I reply at all). Normally, I also wouldn’t take time to research the sender. But in your case, I made an exception on both counts. Something about your pseudo-earnestness got me curious. And now that I know more, I can’t dismiss you with a polite form letter.

A quick online search revealed there are already rumors flying that I’m gonna be on your podcast. You wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would you?

I also found your numerous contributions to blogs as well as the podcast you cohosted before this one. What a goodie bag of paranoia and paranormal Theory X was. But nowhere near as popular as I expect Strange Exits will be, so I understand the branding pivot. I may just be a small-town hairdresser with an infamous sister, but I’m also a business owner married to a marketing smarty-pants, and I’ve learned a lot from him over the years.

Let me guess: aliens and Bigfoot don’t bring in sponsors like the dead and the missing. Hitching your wagon to the true crime train is a much more lucrative bet, isn’t it? Now you’ve got a chance to get the mattress companies and fancy toothbrushes and meal-kit delivery services on board. Do you personally get a cut of the ad revenue? Even if you don’t, you’ll surely make something off your merchandise sales. While Stand Out/Don’t Disappear is hardly the catchiest slogan, I’m guessing you’ll still sell quite a few tees, totes, and mugs. And how industrious for you to set up an online shop before the first episode has even aired!

At first glance, it would be easy to assume you’re using other people’s tragedy for your personal profit. But you donate 10 whole percent of those merch sales to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children! How ever does NCMEC function without your generous support? Then there’s your insistence on bringing attention to unsolved cases in the hopes that new info will provide answers to heartsick families. Wow. How goddamn touching. Tell me, Cameron, are you officially eligible for sainthood? If not, you must be so close.

Oh, but that’s not all. If you’re lucky and Strange Exits really takes off, you can take the show on the road, have hundreds—thousands?—of people pay to sit and listen to you speculate about my sister in real time. Though the ultimate goal is, of course, a TV deal. Right? I bet you get a little hard just thinking about the day some cable network or streaming service comes knocking. A book deal wouldn’t be bad, either, but TV is more lucrative. Meanwhile, more listeners means selling more merch, perhaps expanding the line—you gotta think big here: branded body bags, coffins …

I wonder how many new listeners I could help bring in. What a coup it would be, convincing Violet’s sister to say yes to you when she said no to everybody else. According to EntertainmentWhenever, I’ve pretty much already said yes! And you wouldn’t be exploiting my sister to make all this money, oh no. You’d be super respectful. After all, it’s not like you have any interest in conspiracy theories or sensational speculations, right?