Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #11 February 2015 | Page 58

by and collect results on the new victim’s samples. It doesn’t seem to contain any hint that there’s been a breakthrough. I almost wait for the feeling of disappointment to surface, but it doesn’t. After five dead ends it’s to be expected. “I’m afraid I’m needed at the labs,” I tell the Doc while trying to seem busy. He doesn’t comment, just looks up from rinsing his instruments and mutters a goodbye. I go back up the stairs and turn into the poorly lit corridor. I briefly consider walking to the labs around the building to smoke another cigarette, but that way is three times as long, so I decide it isn’t worth it. I’m still going to the station across the road later. You can usually know you are approaching the labs when you hear loud retro music coming from around the corner. They always listen to it when they don’t have any audio or video evidence to deal with. Frankly, this habit irritates me. I can never concentrate on my reports if there are any intruding sounds around, but at least my office is in the other building so I don’t have to start