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Hey, it's Carl here.

Just letting you know that this episode contains descriptions of a coercive and controlling relationship. Emily Sugarman is working out at her gym in New York City.

She's in the zone.

Until she gets pulled out of it by an incoming call.

It said Spokane County Jail on my phone, and I was like, is this what I think it is?

Emily is a senior reporter at The Daily Beast, a national news website.

I like ran into this vestibule between the entrance and the check-in counter.

Maybe the quietest place where they're not, you know, pumping workout music.

And I answered the call and, you know, there's this voice that said,

Hello, this is a free call from

Ron.

An incarcerated individual at Spokane County Jail.

To accept this free call, press, one.

I am, like, sweaty and in the middle of a workout.

To refuse this recall, press two.

But it's now or never.

I don't think this guy's gonna call me back.

Emily says that in her experience, now or never. I don't think this guy's going to call me back.

Emily says that in her experience, people who are being prosecuted don't want to talk.

So this call is a huge deal. It's for a story Emily's editor had assigned her.

...