A man in a lab coat

.Just as Kelly thought maybe they were in the clear to leave, the sound of large, heavy locks being undone within the door was heard. Both the girls froze in place and stared at the door, their curiosity refusing to let them budge. The door finally slowly swung open, grating along the frame and floor.

Rebecca had expected a very suspicious-looking person to be opening the door, but instead from the shadowy inside appeared a kindly, if not nervous, elderly man. He smiled when he saw Rebecca, but gave Kelly a concerned glance.

"Ms. Williams, I am so very glad you accepted my offer!" The man excitedly exclaimed, "But, uh, is this other young woman with you? Can she be, erm, trusted?" The man seemed like he was in a hurry for an answer. Kelly answered the question for him. She was equally relieved that the man didn't seem like much of a threat, but a little offended that he considered HER to be one. "Yeah, I'm with her. What is all this, anyway, some kinda joke?"

"Oh, no, no, no! My, no", the man rapidly stated, "No joke at all. But, please, come inside, come inside! There are many people who would want to interfere with my operations, and we must keep a low profile, hmm? Right this way." The man stepped to the side of the door, and gestured for the women to head inside. Rebecca had been too stunned to say anything up to this point, and she gave Kelly an unsure look. "We've come THIS far, may as well go all the way..." Kelly stepped past Rebecca and walked past the man. Rebecca decided she was right, and walked into the building as well, into a dimly-lit hallway. The man seemed delighted that they were inside, and closed the heavy door, flipping various switches and bolts on the backside, presumably to lock it. "Can't be too careful! No, we certainly can't be too careful. But you're here, Ms. Williams, and that's what matters. Now the real plan can commence! And of course, I'm sure we can put your friend here to good use, as well... Please! Follow me!" The man seemed to have much more energy than you would expect for how old he appeared, and he hurriedly walked over to the door at the end of the hallway, and produced a key from his lab coat pocket. Unlocking the door, he walked in, and Rebecca and Kelly cautiously followed him inside.