Never Lie Chapter 23 (Chapter 22) Summary and Analysis

Spoiler Warning: This page contains detailed plot points and analysis for Chapter 23 (Chapter 22) of Never Lie. If you haven’t read the chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

Tricia finishes listening to the recorded session between Dr. Adrienne Hale and a patient named EJ. The recording suggests that EJ was blackmailing Dr. Hale into continuing therapy. Tricia finds EJ’s voice deeply unsettling and believes him to be evil. Suddenly, her husband Ethan knocks on the office door. Tricia quickly hides the tape recorder in the desk drawer and claims she is working on her résumé. Ethan enters, having retrieved his laptop from the car. He tells Tricia that she doesn’t need to work, especially now that she is pregnant, and offers to support her. Tricia feels warmed by his devotion, even though her friends have warned that such behavior is controlling. She defends Ethan internally. Ethan decides not to use the office because it lacks natural light; he goes upstairs to work. Once alone, Tricia opens the bottom drawer and finds a cassette tape labeled “LUKE,” Dr. Hale’s boyfriend. She inserts the tape and presses play.

Key Events

Tricia finishes the EJ recording, which hints that EJ blackmailed Dr. Hale.
Ethan interrupts, and Tricia hides the recorder, claiming she is updating her résumé.
Ethan offers to support Tricia financially and suggests she focus on their upcoming baby.
Tricia reflects on her friends’ skepticism about Ethan’s control but dismisses it.
Ethan decides to work in a different room and leaves the office to Tricia.
Tricia discovers a new cassette tape marked “LUKE” and begins to listen.

Character Development

Tricia: Her obsession with unraveling Dr. Hale’s past deepens. She lies to Ethan without hesitation, prioritizing the tapes over transparency. Her internal monologue reveals a conflict between her trust in Ethan and the warnings from her friends, hinting at possible denial.
Ethan: He appears supportive and loving, yet his offer to fully support Tricia financially and his eagerness for her to stop working fit the pattern her friends have warned about. The lack of locks in the house and his casual entry underscore a subtle dynamic of surveillance.
Dr. Adrienne Hale: Though absent, the EJ recording portrays her as a victim of blackmail, adding layers to her disappearance.
Luke (introduced only as a tape label): The boyfriend appears as the next piece of the puzzle, suggesting his relationship with Dr. Hale may hold key information.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Secrets and Deception: Tricia’s lie about her résumé and her secret listening to the tapes mirrors the hidden truths in Dr. Hale’s therapy recordings. The locked (yet unlockable) office symbolizes the elusive nature of the truth.
Control and Dependency: Ethan’s financial offer, while framed as generosity, hints at a desire to control Tricia’s independence. Tricia’s internal rebuttal of her friends’ warnings shows how love can blur judgment.
The Search for Truth: Tricia’s addictive need to know what happened to Dr. Hale drives the chapter. The tapes become a symbol of buried secrets that demand excavation.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the mystery of Dr. Hale’s disappearance by introducing the concept of blackmail and adding a new person of interest: Luke, her boyfriend. Tricia’s growing obsession and her deception of Ethan heighten the tension. Ethan’s seemingly benevolent control contrasts with the danger implied in the recordings, setting up a potential conflict. The switch to the LUKE tape promises new revelations and moves the plot forward.

Study Questions and Answers

What does Tricia claim she is doing when Ethan enters the office?
She says she is working on her résumé.
What does the EJ recording suggest about EJ’s relationship with Dr. Hale?
It suggests that EJ was blackmailing Dr. Hale, forcing her to continue therapy sessions with him.
What does Tricia find after Ethan leaves the office?
She finds a cassette tape labeled “LUKE” and begins to play it.