Episode 3 of Lazarus kicks off with a startling revelation: approximately 100,000 Dr. Skinners have suddenly blossomed on the radar screen, a digital mirage indicating a sophisticated hacking of the surveillance system. The perpetrator has manipulated the polygon masks of countless individuals worldwide, creating an intricate labyrinth that obscures the true Skinner's identity. It becomes evident that a hacker, loyal to Skinner, is orchestrating this digital deception – a bold move suggesting that Skinner's visage remains unaltered, untouched by plastic surgery.
Meanwhile, at Skinner's residence, Chris and Leland arrive posing as house cleaners, their true mission to comb through the premises for any hint that might lead them to Skinner's whereabouts. As Chris delves deeper, she unearths an enigmatic pill tucked away in the crevice of a sofa, its surface marked with the numeral '5'. She quips, half-jokingly, about its potential as a Hapna cure, but the discovery proves to be a lone spark in an otherwise dim room.
Elsewhere, Doug embarks on a quest with Axel, chasing a lead that takes them to Claude Cline, Doug's former mentor from his university lab days. Claude's past collaborations with Skinner ignite a glimmer of hope that he might hold some crucial clue. The duo's journey leads them to a homeless enclave, where they seek out an informant known as Jerry – or Jill, as she is now called, having undergone a surgical transformation and adopted a new persona.
This quarter is teeming with individuals who, like Jill, have either weathered life's storms or reinvented themselves entirely. Doug, who understands these struggles all too well, shares his tale of loyalty to Claude, hoping to sway Jill into lending them her aid. His heartfelt appeal resonates, convincing her to extend a helping hand in their pursuit.
As it transpires, Claude is situated close by, prompting Doug to seek him out at his tent for a chat. It becomes evident that Claude severed ties with Skinner due to Skinner's unyielding obsession with his work, which engulfed his entire being. Claude found it impossible to keep pace with such an intense commitment and ultimately struck out on his own path. Nevertheless, envy gnawed at him when he witnessed Skinner's meteoric rise to fame. In a bid to hasten his own progress, Claude resorted to cutting corners, ultimately resorting to falsifying his research results. Consequently, the university dismissed him, leading to his current exile.
Claude does possess valuable information that could prove helpful, gleaned from Skinner's grandmother, Belinda, who resides in Istanbul. Despite extensive scanning, nothing untoward surfaces, but Eleina detects peculiarities in a high-crime area nearby where cameras inexplicably appear to be non-functional—as if deliberately turned off. Could this be a clue?
The group, sensing a breakthrough, concurs. Axel and Leland set out to uncover the mystery, boarding the Hyper Cube, a super-speedy mode of transportation that whisks them to Istanbul within hours. Leland finds it challenging to keep pace with Axel and inadvertently finds himself at gunpoint, cornered by a pair of thugs on the street. Mentioning Belinda and her renowned baklavas, however, earns them an invitation to her home.
Belinda reveals that the last time she spoke with Skinner was three years ago, and he even sent her a video message, promising to return home once things calmed down. Meanwhile, Axel stumbles upon a hidden camera, suggesting that Skinner might be keeping a wary eye on proceedings from afar.
