“Why did you carry her all the way to Summer Camp? Four hundred meters is a long distance in wind chill of minus a hundred. Wouldn’t it have been faster to head back into the station?”
“When I heard that door lock, I figured Delaney would lock the other doors, too. With everyone in the life pod, no one would have heard me knocking. I would have wasted precious minutes trying to find a way in. Instead, I went to the closest shelter I could find, a place I thought might be off Delaney’s radar.”
Tower seemed to consider this. “When you’re armed and the bad guy makes demands, it’s an unusual strategy to give him what he wants. You gave him everything—your weapon, your means of communication, access to the package—to save someone who might already have been dead. In the process, you were shot, got hypothermia and frostbite, and nearly died. But you also saved Dr. Park’s life.”
“Dr. Park could have been anywhere out there. I didn’t have time to fight Delaney or interrogate him. I either needed to find her—or give her up for dead. I couldn’t do the latter. I just couldn’t.”
Tower nodded. “You made some strategically questionable choices, but now I understand why. It all worked out in the end. You saved Dr. Park’s life. The package and the station are secure. Dr. Holcomb’s murder is solved.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You know, I’m tough, and I’ve done a lot of extreme shit. But I’m not sure I could have done what you did. I’m not sure any of us could. You’ve got unusually high endurance. When Corbray and I decided to bring you on board, we knew we were acquiring a somewhat different skillset. Our decision has paid off on this mission. Well, done, Isaksen. Now, heal up, and I’ll do my best to get you all home quickly.”
Thor wasn’t sure he wanted to go—yet. “Thank you, sir.”
Relieved to have the debriefing behind him, Thor disconnected from the satellite VPN, left his room, and made his way upstairs to the galley. The meeting had gone on a little longer than he’d expected, and he was a few minutes late joining Samantha for supper. She’d stayed with him in the infirmary these past few nights—with Kristi’s approval—and had at least gotten some sleep.
He walked through the door—and people got to their feet, clapping and cheering.
Hva’ fanden? What the hell?
An amused smile on her bruised and beautiful face, Samantha walked over to him and spoke for his ears alone. “Hey, it’s okay. You look like a deer in the headlights. They’re happy to see you on your feet and grateful for what you did.”
Thor wasn’t sure what a deer was doing inside headlights, but he forced a smile onto his face. “Can we eat fast and get out of here?”
She picked up a tray for him. “Oh, come on. Don’t tell me a big, tough guy like you can’t handle a little adoration. Lasagna or beef stew?”
23
“You don’t have to go down there.” Thor drew Samantha’s hood up over her woolen hat. “It’s bound to trigger bad memories.”
“Patty was my best friend. Ineedto be there. The rest of it doesn’t matter.” Then it hit her that this might be hard for Thor, too. He’d almost died down there. “You never met her. If you’d rather wait here in the station, I don’t think it will take long.”
“I feel like I have a connection to her through her journal—and through you.” Thor kissed her forehead. “I won’t let you face this alone.”
“I won’t be alone.”
“You know what I mean.” He slipped into his parka.
God, she loved him.
He’d been by her side every day of the past two weeks, supporting her recovery, both physical and emotional, in any way he could. He wasn’t going to back out when she needed to go down to the ice tunnels.
Samantha picked up her mask with a gloved hand, while Thor grabbed a small box of things she’d set aside. Then the two of them walked together toward the Beer Can freight elevator, where a group was waiting for the car to return.
“Hey, Samantha, Thor. Let me carry that.” Ryan took the box from Thor. He had taken over running the station as acting winter site manager. “If either of you start feeling chilled, let us know.”
“Thanks, man.”
“We will—and thanks.” Samantha had hand warmers in her pockets and was wearing her warmest woolies. At this point, she was more concerned about her fingertips and the patches of frostbite on her face than she was about getting hypothermia again. Her skin was healing, and there hadn’t been any deep-tissue damage. Still, she couldn’t risk injuring those areas further.
A brightdingannounced the arrival of the elevator, the doors sliding open, releasing a burst of frigid air. The others entered, talking with one another about their work, about the weather, about news from home.
Samantha’s pulse picked up, but she slipped the mask over her face and followed them, Thor behind her. She would be living here for the next six months. She couldn’t be afraid of this area. The bastard who had tried to kill them was dead.
Then her gaze fell on the moving blankets that were folded and stacked in the corner, the same corner where she’d tried to hide—and her pulse raced.
Thor wrapped an arm around her shoulders, turned her away. “Look at me.”