Chapter One
Chapter One Lana Knight moved like a shadow through the corridors of the high-security facility , her steps quiet, precise. Dressed in a crisp courier uniform and carrying a plain white cake box, she looked every inch the professional delivery worker. The fake ID badge clipped to her chest had already passed two checkpoints. So far, so good. But this next one would be tighter. A security guard stood in front of the final restricted wing, arms crossed, expression unreadable behind mirrored sunglasses. He stepped forward, scanning Lana’s badge with a handheld reader. “Cake delivery?” he asked, arching a brow as he glanced from the screen to her face. Lana offered a polite smile, shifting the box slightly in her arms. “Birthday surprise for Dr. Hesse in Lab Three. From his wife. Apparently, she’s very insistent on the ‘homemade’ touch.” The guard grunted, still eyeing her. “Didn't know Hesse even had a wife.” “He keeps his secrets,” Lana replied smoothly, then added with a shru...