They all looked at each other, then back at the camera, and shrugged.

“Let’s just say karma is a bitch. Especially when you mess with our friends.”

Charles leaned in. “Please rest assured. They won’t be harming anyone ever again.”

A robust “Amen!” came from the group.

Nikki spoke up next. “Charlotte, we are going to start a class-action suit against their holdings. It’s a civil suit. As long as we can show damages, the judge will most likely rule in our favor. It might take a while, but I don’t think any of the doctors will object.”

Fergus eyed Charles. Nope. They certainly wouldn’t be around to object. And lawyers wanted to get paid, which they wouldn’t. And since it would be a civil action lawsuit, there would be no court-appointed attorney or public defender. “According to our calculations, their entire net worth is around thirty million.”

Charlotte gasped. “Thirty million? That much?”

“Yes. We have been able to find a hundred and sixty-seven of their previous patients. Victims. That sum would probably be enough for everyone to be reimbursed,” Nikki added.

“The insurance company is going to pay Marjorie Brewster’s family a reward for the return of the stolen cars. It’s around four hundred thousand dollars. That should help her recovery. Speaking of which, she has turned a corner and is able to smile and acknowledge people in the room. They’re hopeful she will continue to improve,” Myra said.

“My head is spinning.” Charlotte chuckled. “What about the diamonds?”

“We’re throwing those into the overall fund,” Annie said. “The other piece of good news is that Norma Marcus’s check for the kennel club cleared before they froze the account!”

Everyone applauded, and the pups howled their approval.

After a bit more conversation, they signed off, but not before promising to speak again in a few days.

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

During the arrests, none of the officers in any of the raids spoke except to give the prisoners instructions. “Sit down.” “Shut up.” The officers remained indifferent, despite the demands and screams of those they had arrested. For two days, Corbett and Steinwood were kept in isolation. Steinwood had been arrested in New Jersey and Corbett in New York, and both were taken to an undisclosed location. Each was incarcerated in a solid concrete cell. Each cell was soundproof. Neither of them knew of the other’s whereabouts or what was to come next. Steinwood demanded his one phone call but was told it would have to wait. Corbett received a similar denial. Neither could get anyone to talk to him, creating panic and fear in both men. Marcus lay in a semi-comatose state in a hospital in London. He was probably better off than the other two.