Page 8 of Guess Again

Madison, Wisconsin Thursday, May 29, 2025

THE DAY AFTER PETE KRAMER SHOWED UP IN HIS ER, ETHAN ENTERED the Edgewater Hotel in downtown Madison.

He had no idea what he was walking into, only that he had agreed to meet his old partner and hear him out about the Callie Jones case.

Had Pete not mentioned the ALS diagnosis noosed around his neck, Ethan wouldn’t have entertained the idea of helping him with a ten-year-old cold case.

But here he was, partly intrigued, mostly annoyed, and still racked with guilt over his broken friendship with Pete Kramer.

He walked into the lobby and saw Pete sitting on a couch.

It took effort for Pete to stand.

Ethan thought about suggesting a cane, but knew his hardheaded former partner would rather bathe in lava than be seen using a cane.

“What are you wearing there, sport?”

Pete asked as Ethan approached.

Ethan looked down at his scrubs.

“I just finished my shift.”

“We’re meeting someone, kid.

Couldn’t you have put on some real clothes?”

“Your message was pretty cryptic, Pete.

All it said was to meet at the Edgewater.

I was running late so I came right over.

Want me to go back and change?”

Pete shook his head.

“No, but do me a favor? Be an investigator today and give up the save-the-world doctor thing for just this one meeting? Can you do that for me?”

“Pete, I’m giving you some leeway to be an asshole only because I still carry some irrational guilt for deciding to make my life better by leaving the DCI.

You’ve been dealt a shitty hand with the ALS thing, and I’m trying my hardest to help you out here in any small way I can.

But I’m not going to say this again.

Get off my ass about my life and my career or I’m walking out the door and you’re not going to see me again.”

Pete began clapping.

“Well, lookie there! It’s my old partner.

Took you long enough to show up.

That’s the attitude I need you to have for this morning.

Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Upstairs.

We’ve got a room reserved.”

“Let’s just talk here, Pete.”

Pete limped off toward the elevator.

“It’s not me you’ll be talking with. Come on.”