Guess Again

by Charlie Donlea

“I founded an online file storage and sharing company. It started out primarily as files but expanded to include photos and videos and basically anything you want to store securely in the cloud, share with other users, and have access to across all your devices.” Ethan squinted his eyes. “Like CramCase?”

“Give me some details, maybe it’ll ring a bell.” “Girl’s father was a wealthy businessman turned state senator. She was a star volleyball player about to enter her senior year of high school. Pretty, charming, was gonna be a doctor. Had the world by the balls. Then, during the summer of 2015, she disappeared.”

Oh, I’ve finally decided my future lies beyond the yellow brick road.

Maddie Jacobson had been sixteen years old when she narrowly escaped becoming the Lake Michigan Killer’s next victim. For thirty-two years Maddie had carried the burden of being the sole survivor and only woman to keep her life after being abducted from the Milwaukee area during the summer of 1993.

“It won’t be six months, Ethan. You’ll come back to talk sooner than that.”

“Callie Jones.” Francis grinned. “The governor has asked you to work his daughter’s case. You’ll want to talk with me about Callie much sooner than six months, Ethan. I’ve got lots to tell you about what happened to her and where she is.”

Since I was young, I’ve always had a knack for computers and coding. And I applied that background to the first generation encryption prototype we now use across the country. For those clients wishing to stay anonymous, they utilize an online filter that hides both their face and their voice. Our therapists will sometimes ask specifics about the client, such as gender and age, but it’s entirely up to the client how much they wish to share. The encrypted, anonymous filters are managed by a third party to ensure our clients’ privacy.

“When I was in high school, my best friend went missing.” “Callie Jones,” the reporter said.

Callie’s mother, sadly, was never able to overcome that grief and took her own life.

“I’ll try.” Blake Cordis was a first-year coach. He graduated from UW Madison in May and was about to start his first year teaching history.

Blake Cordis stood up straight, but his hand remained on her back. She didn’t mind. If he were a boy from her school, she’d think about kissing him.

As he headed down Milwaukee Avenue, he came to the address Christian had provided and saw a Planned Parenthood clinic on his right.

Years before, Eugenia had fallen under the spell of a man convicted of kidnapping and raping a teenage girl. Eugenia had started a relationship with the man in prison, writing him letters and visiting him frequently. She had even agreed to marry him. When the convict sent Eugenia a letter instructing her to kidnap a girl and share photos with him, Eugenia had broken out of the spell long enough to go to the authorities. The convicted man was charged and tried for conspiracy to commit abduction and sex trafficking, found guilty, and sentenced to another two decades in prison.