Page 54 of Guess Again

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 30, 2025

“I NEED THE NAME OF THE CLIENT,”

ETHAN SAID.

“I can’t give that to you.”

“I’ll get a warrant.”

“I don’t think you understand.

I can’t give you the name of this client because I don’t have it to give.

I don’t know the client’s name, or anything about him.

Or her.

They used the encrypted anonymous filter.”

“Give me a break.

This whole thing is a gimmick.

A very lucrative one, for sure.

But I don’t believe for a second that there’s no way to find out who this guy is.

How did he pay for the session? Judging by the looks of this place, you’re not giving out free therapy.”

“Our anonymous portal is handled by third party vendors, payments included.

I can’t get this person’s name, even if I decided to break my ethical pledge in order to do so.”

“The DCI has IT guys.

They’ll get through the encryption.”

“I don’t think so.

When I created this company I did so with something like this in mind.

And I started college as a computer engineering major before pivoting to psychology.

I hired the best people to set up the anonymous features of the business because the entire company is based on the promise that the privacy and security I’ve put in place will protect my clients’ identities.

So, no, I don’t think government-employed tech guys making sixty grand a year will be able to get through my encryption, even if I agreed to let them try.”

“And you’re telling me you won’t?”

“No, I’m not going to allow the DCI to hack into my system publicly and expose my client.

My livelihood is based on my company’s reputation of keeping our clients anonymous.

I’ve built this company quickly in just the last few years.

Its explosive growth has happened exactly because I won’t compromise my ethical obligations for any reason.”

“Even to find Callie’s killer?”

Lindsay took a deep breath.

“Look, if I attempt to go behind the scenes to learn the identity of this client by pulling aside the security curtain I’ve put in place, and word gets out that I did so, my business would crumble.

No one would trust my platform any longer.”

“So why show this to me?”

“Because Callie was my best friend.

And someone just admitted to killing her.”

Ethan walked around to the other side of the desk.

“So if you won’t allow me to hack your encryption, then what’s your plan?”

“I want to keep meeting with the client.

I think if I do, I’ll get them to tell me who they are.

It might take a while.

Maybe a few sessions, but I’ll be able to do it.”

“I don’t doubt it.

From everything I’ve read about you, you’re a very skilled psychologist.

The problem with that plan is that we don’t have that kind of time.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s been a development with my investigation, and I’ve found myself up against the clock.

I need to know who this client is, and I don’t have time for you to pull it out of them over the course of several therapy sessions.”

“What have you found?”

Ethan nearly told her about Portia Vail and that the girl’s life was in his hands.

He nearly told her about Francis Bernard and the man’s impending transfer, which Mark Jones was racing to arrange for Monday.

A transfer that Ethan might be able to stop if he could learn the identity of this anonymous client.

“Is it something about Callie?”

Lindsay asked.

“It’s related to her case.

That’s all I can tell you for now.

But the bottom line is that we don’t have time for you to meet with this client to learn their identity.

That could take several sessions, and we can’t do it.

You’ll just have to take my word for it.”

Lindsay stood up and they faced each other across the desk.

“I’ll let you look,”

she said.

“I’ll give you what I have on my end and see if your guys can get through the encryption.

But I need you to promise me you’ll do it quietly.”

“I’ll do better than to keep it quiet.

I’ll keep it off the grid.”

“How do you plan to do that?”

“I know a guy who can help.”

“At the DCI?”

“No.

Just a friend.”