Page 3 of Guess Again

Madison, Wisconsin Thursday, May 22, 2025

THE MAN LIMPED THROUGH THE HALLS OF THE HOSPITAL.

THE FLACCID leg was new and had come on quickly.

Despite the doctor’s warning that such symptoms were imminent, the deterioration still came as a surprise.

There was no pain, just the refusal of his right leg to follow what his mind commanded it to do.

So he limped and used whatever was around to help with balance—the door he pushed through to gain access to the ER. A gurney in the hallway. And, on his final approach to the nurses’ station, a patient’s vitals monitor, the pole of which he grabbed at the last minute when he was sure he was about to topple over.

“Sorry about that,”

he said to the patient lying in the bed and waiting to be transported somewhere.

He made it to the nurses’ station and placed both hands on the countertop.

“Did you check in at registration?”

a nurse asked.

“They told me to just come back here.”

“No.

They need to collect your insurance information and put you in the queue.”

He wasn’t surprised by her confusion.

He looked like any other injured Joe gimping into the ER.

“I’m not a patient.”

He reached into the breast pocket of his sport coat and produced his badge.

“Special Agent Pete Kramer with Wisconsin’s Division of Criminal Investigation.

I’m looking for Ethan Hall.”

The nurse hesitated a moment.

“Tall, good-looking guy.

Mid-forties.

Works out and stays in annoyingly good shape.”

“I know who Dr. Hall is.”

“Ah, perfect.

He around?”

The nurse tapped on her computer.

She took a quick moment to read the screen.

“Dr.

Hall’s shift ended at seven this morning.”

“He finished work at seven in the morning?”

“Yes.

He was on overnights this week.

Eleven to seven.”

“So he’ll be back here at eleven o’clock tonight?”

“No.

He’s gone for a few days now.

On vacation for the Memorial Day holiday.”

“When will he be back?”

The nurse paused, and Pete saw the suspicion on her face.

“Don’t worry.

The good doctor’s not in trouble.

We’re old friends and he owes me a favor.”

Pete put the badge back into his pocket.

The nurse offered a reluctant smile.

She double-checked the schedule on the computer.

“Dr.

Hall will be back next Wednesday.

The twenty-eighth.”

“Thanks.

Have a good weekend.”

Pete Kramer limped out of the ER.

He’d come back next week.