Ms. White was slightly stunned by their outburst and since she did not show any immediate sign of departing the office, both men rushed around from behind their desks and collided in the narrow aisle leading to the other doorway. They immediately began apologizing to each other for their own clumsiness, at the same time trying to sidle toward their client with their bellies pressed tightly against each other and their bottoms rubbing along the edges of their respective desks as they edged toward the door.

As they reached the relatively empty area just behind the partially opened door, they popped apart, turned toward where Ms. White was still leaning precariously into the office, attempted to straighten their jackets and ties and brushed back their wisps of grey hair.

"Please, do come in," the detective in front stated calmly and moved his hand toward the edge of the desk that was blocking the door from opening completely. The heavy metal desk suddenly scooted across the room and banged up against the far wall, even though Ms. White was fairly sure that the detective had not actually touched the desk, but had merely waved his hand at it.

With the desk no longer blocking her entry, the door abruptly swung open and the lady, who had been leaning against the door in order to see around it, stumbled awkwardly into the room and would have lost her balance completely if she had not bumped up against the side of the wayward desk. Both of the detectives made audible gasping sounds at her inelegant entrance and as she slowly straightened herself and turned to glare at them, they both had their hands over their mouths in abject horror.

"Oh, dear lady," the one in back mumbled from behind his hands. "We most humbly apologize for this entire, unfortunate incident."

"Indeed we do," the other said, as he reached forward to take her elbow and help steady her. "Most assuredly, I might add."

Ms. White straightened her coat, while gently disengaging her elbow from the little detective's light touch and for just a moment, she thought he only had four fingers on that hand and that the fingers looked rather short and pudgy, much like those of a cartoon character. He dropped his hand quickly, seeing that she obviously did not appreciate liberties being taken with her person and she forgot about how many fingers he might have had on his hand.

"Yes, I'm quite sure," she stated somewhat coldly, as she patted at her hair.

"Madam, I fear we may have gotten off on rather the wrong foot, as it were," Overhill said with a degree of sincerity.

He was the one with the wisps of hair just above his ears, she realized. "So it would seem, sir," she agreed, brushing at imaginary dust along the front of her coat.

"Please allow us the opportunity to make amends," he pleaded softly, as Dale nodded his agreement in the background. "I am sure that we can be of service to you in the quest for your lost loved one," he added, folding his chubby hands over his well rounded stomach.