“Dude, you’re going to have lots of time to explain it to us.” That was Malik.
Thor rested a hand in the middle of her back as they grew closer, the brief contact reassuring. People moved aside for him, letting them through. And there on the floor, hands zip-tied behind his back, was Lance, Malik holding his feet while Lev had a knee in the middle of his back.
Malik saw Thor, grinned. “Hey, man. He took a swing at me and tried to run, but, as you can see, he didn’t get far.”
The door to Samantha’s room stood ajar, one of her dresser drawers dumped onto the floor, her panties scattered everywhere, the lamp on her desk toppled.
Rage flared inside her, white-hot. She stomped over to Lance, glared down at the back of his head. “What the hell were you doing in my room?”
“Samantha! Tell these bastards to get off me. I just wanted Patty’s journal.”
“You apologized for trying to take it from me, and now you break into my room to steal it? You jerk! That belongs to her family.”
Thor walked up beside her, knelt, tilting his head to make eye contact with Lance. “Lance, buddy, you’re under arrest.”
“Under arrest? That’s bullshit. Tell your lugnuts to get off me!”
“Lugnuts?” Lev snorted.
Thor got to his feet again. “Get him up. It’s time for us to have a little chat.”
Steve made his way through the crowd. “What the hell is going on here?”
Samantha pointed to her open door, trembling with rage. “Lance broke into my room and was searching it. He wanted to steal Patty’s journal.”
“Jesus, Lance.” Steve rubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw, looking like he hadn’t slept in a week. “What the fuck is wrong with you, man?”
Lev and Malik jerked Lance to his feet, the two keeping hands on him.
Red-faced, Lance craned his head to look at Steve. “Tell them to let me go.”
“They’re deputy marshals now, and breaking and entering is a crime, even here.” Steve turned to Thor. “You can take him to the small conference room if that works.”
“Thanks.” Thor faced Lance. “Did you take anything from Dr. Park’s room?”
Lance gave Samantha a sullen look. “No.”
“You two take him to the conference room. I’ll meet you there. I need to get my laptop so we can film this. Dr. Park, do you want me to walk you back to the Dark Sector, or do you want to stay here and clean up?”
She started to answer, but Lance cut her off.
“Film it? Why do you want to film it? Wait. You think I killed Patty? Is that it? I had nothing to do with that!”
“Come on.” Lev steered Lance down the hallway. “You know the way.”
Hardin spoke to the crowd. “Okay, everyone. Back to work.”
Samantha tried to regain her equilibrium, shock and rage giving way to an overwhelming sense of violation. She hugged her arms around herself. “I’ll straighten things up and then get back to the lab.”
Thor’s eyes were warm with concern. “Come get me when you’re ready to go.”
Kristi made her way through the dispersing crowd. “I’ll help, Sam. There’s no one in the infirmary now. Decker can call if he needs me.”
“Thanks.” Samantha exchanged one last glance with Thor before he disappeared down the hallway. Then she stepped into her room. “It’s not that bad.”
“Why does he want Patty’s journal?” Kristi knelt, picked up a drawer from the floor, and slid it back into the dresser.
Samantha scooped up her panties and began to fold them. “He said he wanted to see what she wrote about him. I told him it was none of his business.”