Page 55 of Guess Again
“Tell me about it. But there’s even more to the story. Somehow the son of a bitch claims to have information about my daughter’s case. And he’s willing to hand over what he knows only after he’s transferred. I’d consider this a personal favor, Ari, if we can make this happen quickly.”
“Quick isn’t the issue, Mark. I can send him up to Columbia today. The problem is the liability. If I approve the transfer and Bernard gets dumped into general population at Columbia and then kills someone, I’m on the hook.”
“I’ll make sure you’ve got immunity from any liability.”
“That’s a nice promise, but your signature will be on the transfer order below mine. So if something breaks bad up at Columbia, you’ll be in as much shit as me.”
“I’m calling in a favor, Ari. Not only for this missing girl, but for my daughter as well. What will it take to make this transfer happen on Monday?”
The warden looked up at the ceiling as he thought. “I’d at least need Bernard to undergo a psych eval and have the doc confirm that he’s mentally fit to associate with other inmates. If we can get that, there’d be a layer of protection in place just in case something goes wrong up in Columbia. We can blame it on the shrink.”
“How quickly can you facilitate a psych eval?”
“I’ll make some calls. But scheduling the eval is not the problem. The sociopath passing it will be.”
CHAPTER 52
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 30, 2025
ETHAN WAS OUT TO DINNER WITHMADDIE AND DOING HIS BEST TOkeep his mind occupied until he heard back from Mark Jones about the governor’s progress with pulling strings to make the transfer happen on Monday.
“Do you think he’ll be able to get it done in a week?” Maddie asked.
“If he believes Francis and his threats,” Ethan said, “he doesn’t have a choice but to get it done.”
“Has Francis given you a reason not to believe him yet?”
Ethan shook his head. “Unfortunately, no.”
His phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket.
“Ethan Hall.”
“Hi. It’s Lindsay Larkin.”
“Yes?”
“Something’s come up, and I need you to come to my office right away.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I need you to see something. And it can’t wait.”
Ethan looked at Maddie, who squinted her eyes to ask who was calling. Ethan held up a finger.
“It has to do with the case?” he asked.
“It does,” Lindsay said.
“How pressing is it?”
“I need you to see this now. Tonight.”
Ethan looked at his watch. “I’m in the city. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
CHAPTER 53
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 30, 2025
