Let $ x = -1 $ and $ x = 2 $ be the critical points of the function $ f(x) = x^3 + ax^2 + b \log|x| + 1 $, where $ x \neq 0 $. Let $ m $ and $ M $ be the absolute minimum and maximum values of $ f $ in the interval $ \left[-2, -\frac{1}{2}\right] $. Then, $ |M + m| $ is equal to: