Stonewalled

Your intrepid reporter is being stonewalled.

Two years ago, her favorite cardiologist, a senior partner in his firm, disappeared into thin air.  One day he was there, and the next day he was "no longer associated with the firm," and supposedly no one knew what had happened to him.  Fiorella, being the loyal sort, decided to trace him down, but he had not opened his own office or joined another firm, was not dead, had not run off with a receptionist, and had not retired.  He was just . . . gone.

The only clue Fiorella has came from her old PCP, who told her that the only time he'd ever heard of a disappearance like that, a lawsuit had been involved.

Bingo.  It makes sense that the other partners would buy anyone out if he threatened a lawsuit, maybe about mishandling of money--and that they would present a united front of  wide-eyed ignorance.

Except it's TOO wide-eyed.  Fiorella has questioned two members of the firm, and they have both given her the friendly smiles now taught in med school, lifted their hands, and said "I wish I knew."

They know.