Well, the conspiracy side of the situation certainly begs to know....what did this doc know?
Probably the best plot development is that the doctor was close to someone involved, and not involved himself, and asked the wrong sort of questions.
Low levels panicked and tried to deal with the situation themselves. That might lead to a series of tying up loose ends while the protagonist was still under the radar.
That way it is believable he’d get close to the big boys.