Thor broke the kiss, looked into Samantha’s eyes. “We’re not finished.”
“Isaksen, you copy?”
He yanked his radio off his waistband. “Isaksen here.”
“Hardin wants to see you right away—both you and Dr. Park.”
* * *
Samantha walkedbeside Thor down to the office wing, her lips still tingling, excitement shivering through her. She’d done it. She’d surprised them both. She’d kissed him. She wasn’t usually that brave with men.
He hadn’t pushed her away. Instead, he’d kissed her back.
It had been as amazing as she’d hoped it would be, the kind of kiss she’d fantasized about but never experienced. He hadn’t rushed her, instead taking his time, his body hard against hers, his arms strong around her.
Now, he walked beside her, awareness stretching between them even though they weren’t touching, his words echoing through her mind.
We’re not finished.
God, she hoped not. She wasn’t sure why Steve wanted to see them, but she hoped she and Thor would pick up where they’d left off afterward.
Someone was practicing in the music room, chords of electric guitar drifting down the hallway. Up ahead, Ryan and a couple of his firefighter buddies left the B1 Lounge, probably heading to bed. It was getting late.
She followed Thor into Steve’s office, found Steve sitting in his office chair, arms crossed over his chest, his expression dark. He didn’t acknowledge them at first but sat, staring at nothing. He looked distressed.
When he said nothing, Samantha said his name. “Steve? Are you okay?”
“You wanted to see us?” Thor asked.
He looked more upset than Samantha had ever seen him, his jaw tight. “I just heard from Katherine Reyna. She’s the Special Deputy US Marshal on station at McMurdo. She had some news you’ll want to hear.”
Samantha’s thoughts jumped to the pilot who’d flown them to the crash site, but he’d made it safely back to McMurdo. It couldn’t be that. The Russians, then?
“Patty’s body made it back to the US. Her family met her at the airport.”
Samantha’s heart hurt for them. “I can’t imagine how hard that was.”
“Yeah, well, it gets harder.”
Her stomach knotted.
What the hell did that mean?
Steve continued. “Her family didn’t want to wait for the coroner’s office and paid for an independent autopsy. The results came back a few hours ago. Patty didn’t die of natural causes. The medical examiner ruled it a homicide. Methanol poisoning.”
“She was … She wasmurdered?” The blood seemed to drain from Samantha’s head, her knees going weak, the room tilting on its axis.
Strong arms caught her. “Hardin, get up. Move!”
Thor settled her in Steve’s chair, knelt beside her. “Put your head between your knees. Just breathe, Samantha.”
He stroked her hair, his face close to hers. “In. Out. That’s good.”
Steve began to speak again, but Thor stopped him.
“Whatever you need to say can wait until she’s had a chance to recover.”
“Should we take her to medical?”