Page 20 of Guess Again
Francis’s smile dissipated. When he spoke again his tone was vile.
“Youquit. You quit because you couldn’t live up to your father’s expectations. You quit because you couldn’t handle the things you saw. You quit, Ethan, to play doctor and save people. Do you really think daddy is proud of you now?”
Ethan’s Adam’s apple rose and fell as he swallowed.
“How do I know all of this? I’m stuck in a cell twenty-four hours a day with no access to the outside world. But you see, the guards here offer certain information in exchange for . . .favors. Sometimes those favors leave a bad taste in my mouth, but this last time was worth it. I heard all about Henry Hall’s son, who ran away from the DCI with his hands over his ears to pursue medicine. But Doctor Hall has been rehired by the DCI to look into a cold case, recruited by the governor himself. So it seems you’re in such high demand that you hardly have time to come all the way out to Boscobel to let me know that you’ll be at my next parole hearing in two years. Really, Ethan, don’t you have more pressing work to do?”
Ethan forced a smile. “Time’s up, Francis. But don’t worry, I’ll be back in six months. Plenty of time for you to service the guards simply to learn that I went to medical school. Nowthatseems like time well spent.”
Ethan hung up the phone and stood. Francis stayed seated and kept the phone to his ear. He stared at Ethan and continued to talk. Ethan should have walked away. He should have turned his back on Francis Bernard and returned in six months, but there was something in Francis’s eyes that prevented him from doing so. Francis pointed to the phone and nodded. Reluctantly, Ethan lifted the phone again.
“It won’t be six months, Ethan. You’ll come back to talk sooner than that.”
“I doubt it.”
Ethan was about to hang the phone on the wall again when he heard Francis utter a name. Ethan’s eyes shrunk to slivers, and he put the phone back to his ear.
“What did you say?”
“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.”
PART III
Best Friends
CHAPTER 23
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 16, 2025
DR. LINDSAYLARKIN WALKED INTO THE OFFICE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWNMilwaukee that acted as the Midwest hub for her booming online therapy and counseling business. She had started her company out of Milwaukee, butThe Anonymous Clienthad expanded nationwide and was growing nearly faster than Lindsay could keep up with demand. She managed by putting the right people in charge of business growth and development while she concentrated on the clinical side. She was making a name for herself by seamlessly combining psychology and business. So much so that she’d made theForbes30 Under 30 list.
The Anonymous Clientoccupied two full floors of the 100 East Wisconsin Building in downtown Milwaukee. Lindsay stepped off the elevator and pushed through the glass doors, where her assistant, Beth, met her with a cup of coffee and the day’s calendar.
“Morning, Dr. Larkin.”
“Good morning. What’s the day look like?”
“You have a very busy Wednesday.”
Beth handed over the day’s schedule as they walked the hallway toward Lindsay’s office. “Gayle Kirk fromThe New York Timesis here for the interview at nine. I blocked your whole morning. Then you have a meeting with Dr. Ramón. She’s the potential new hire. And then a full afternoon of client sessions.”
Lindsay looked through the printed schedule as she walked into her office and sat behind her desk.
“Gayle Kirk?”
“It’s been scheduled for weeks. TheTimeshas wanted to run an exposé for a while. We agreed on this morning.”
Lindsay said nothing as she stared at the schedule.
“I mentioned it the other day before you left,” Beth said.
“No, no. I’m sure you did. It just slipped my mind. Where are we doing it?”
“The interview? In the conference room.”
“Give me five minutes.”
CHAPTER 24
