The lobby, which had looked so spacious, all of a sudden looked crowded as everyone skidded to a stop and stared at Myra, Annie, and Nikki, who all were holding up their gold shields for inspection. The questions that were about to erupt died in the staff’s throats.

“What’s the meaning of this intrusion? Who are you people, and what are you doing here?” a distinguished man dressed in a white lab coat barked.

“Dr. Mattison, I presume. We ask the questions, we don’t answer them. Sit down and don’t move until I tell you to move. And do not speak.”

Nikki looked at the staff. “Gather up your things and leave the building. Listen to me very carefully now. You are not to speak to anyone about what you’ve just seen and heard. If you do, you will be arrested and held for seventy-two hours without the aid of an attorney. That means you are not to speak of this to your family, your friends, your spouses, or your partners. Raise your hand to indicate you understand what I just said.” Every hand in the room shot in the air. “If you do speak and mention this, you will need to engage the services of an attorney at the end of the seventy-two hours, and that will cost you, bare minimum, fifty thousand dollars. I doubt very much that your boss, Dr. Mattison, will want to spring for your retainers. Raise your hands to tell me you all understand what I just said.” Again, every hand in the room shot up in the air.

“Before you leave, each of you write your name, address, phone number, cell-phone number, the make of your car, the license-plate number, and make a photocopy of your license and one credit card. Hop to it, ladies. You too, gentlemen,” she said, addressing the new young associates.

Dr. Mattison started to mutter and mumble. Myra raised her index finger for silence as she watched the staff scurrying about under Annie’s and Nikki’s watchful eyes.

The two associates, both young men, kept glancing at their boss to see his reaction and wondering if they would have a job the following day. One of them looked at Nikki and asked if they should report to work in the morning. Nikki laughed out loud. The associate’s face turned red as he shot an ugly glare at his boss.