I signed the receipt book, tucked the check into my coat pocket, and walked back out to my car.

At four thirty p.m., I pulled into the loading zone behind Oak Street Dental.

The main lobby lights were dimmed, but the light in the office manager’s room was shining bright.

Dr.

Bennett stood near the reception counter with Paige and our three dental hygienists.

“Come in, Natalie,” Dr.

Bennett said.

She took off her reading glasses and held up a printed audit summary from our practice database.