CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN – GAINING HIS AFFECTION

As Laura left the meeting, she felt the weight of her double life more acutely than ever. The stress was beginning to take its toll - she was losing sleep, jumping at small noises, constantly looking over her shoulder. But she remained resolute. The memory of Mr. Foster's transformation, and the mysterious case of Mr. Dawson, kept her focused on her mission. Over the next few weeks, Laura's plan to get closer to Dr. Carter began to bear fruit. She volunteered for extra shifts in his lab, asked insightful questions about his research, and gradually, she noticed him beginning to let his guard down around her. One evening, as they were finishing up some lab work, Dr. Carter surprised her with an invitation. "Nurse Jay - Laura - would you like to grab dinner? There's a little Italian place nearby that stays open late. I could use a sounding board for some ideas, if you're interested." Laura's heart raced. This was the opportunity she'd been waiting for. "I'd like that, Dr. Carter. Than