CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN – ATTENTION TO DETAILS

Inside the lab, Laura navigated the sterile hallways, absorbing every detail. She noted the locations of security cameras, the patterns of staff movement, the access points to restricted areas. As she rounded a corner, she nearly collided with a tall, stern-looking man in a security uniform. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized him as the head of security from their intelligence briefings. "Excuse me," she said, forcing a smile. "I'm afraid I'm a bit turned around. Could you point me towards Dr. Larsson's office?" The security chief's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're new here," he stated rather than asked. Laura nodded, maintaining her composure. "Yes, just started today. I'm Dr. Chen, part of the research exchange program." "Funny," the man said, his tone anything but amused. "I don't recall being notified about any new arrivals today." Laura's mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation. "Oh, there was some last-minute shuffling with the schedule. I can show you the